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Welcome to the Indiana Funeral Directors Association Web Site. We have provided this information as a service to all Indiana residents so that you may be better informed about the funeral profession.

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CONCERNING THE ARREST OF ROBERT NELMS

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The Funeral Service Help Line is operated by the National Funeral Directors Association and is your next best resource for information on all aspects of funeral service.

They can assist you with any questions or concerns you have regarding funeral service including questions on funeral planning, grief issues, cremation, and many other topics.

They can also provide you with a copy of free brochures on subjects such as  funeral planning, healing after the loss of a loved one, helping children through grief, and planning a funeral in advance.

If you have concerns about a particular funeral service experience or have been unable to resolve an issue with a particular funeral home, they may also be of assistance to you.

They can be contacted toll-free at: 

1-800-228-NFDA 

(1-800-228-6332)

Response to the announcement of the arrest of Robert Nelms and Debora Johnson-Nelms, owners of Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. 

“The arrests today are testimony that Indiana has strong laws regulating the deposit of cemetery trust funds. But no law can guarantee compliance. It must be backed with strong prosecution. "

"We hope that the Nelmes are fully prosecuted and if found guilty, severely punished and that the funds are recovered and returned to their rightful place. "

"We hope the state sends a strong message that you can not come to Indiana and defraud its citizens.” 

“While it is our understanding that the charges filed are over the use or misuse of cemetery trust funds, this situation has understandably raised concerns in the mind of many consumers who have prepaid funeral accounts with their home-town funeral director.” 

“Consumers who have prepaid funeral accounts with one of our member firms that utilizes MasterChoice®, the Indiana Funeral Trust Fund administered by IFDA through its subsidiary, Hightower Services, can rest assured that their money is still safely deposited and can not be released until proof of death and the completion of services,” says IFDA Executive Director, Curtis Rostad. 

“In addition, many other consumers have prepaid accounts funded with preneed insurance policies. These companies and policies are regulated by the Indiana Department of Insurance and separate policies are issued for each consumer which can not be easily and fraudulently converted to cash.” 

“Any consumer with concerns about their prepaid funeral accounts may confirm the safety of their funds by contacting the trustee or insurance company used to fund their contract. If they do not have this information, they may contact their local funeral home to get the name of the trustee or insurance company.”