Mississippi § 83-37-1 - Unlawful unless organized under this chapter.

§ 83-37-1. Unlawful unless organized under this chapter.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, church burial club or association, or corporation to engage in the business of a burial association or to make contracts in advance of death to bury or to pay the funeral expenses of any person or persons or to make contracts in advance of death to pay any person or persons a sum of money in lieu of funeral expenses except under the conditions hereafter set out. If a church burial club or association enters into any kind of informal agreement or understanding, written or otherwise, to pay for funerals of its members and if it collects premiums, contributions, or any other funds therefor in competition with other burial associations, it shall come under the above definition of a burial association and be subject to all the provisions of this chapter. The secretary, treasurer, secretary-treasurer, or any other officer, by whatever name called, who handles the funds for the purposes set forth in this section shall be required to file annual reports, as required by Section 83-37-19, Mississippi Code of 1972; and failure to file such annual reports or knowingly making any false statement in the reports required shall be punished as provided by Section 83-37-29, Mississippi Code of 1972.