My dad passed away a few months ago, and his funeral has already taken place.
My uncle handled all the funeral arrangements with the funeral home. I wasn't involved in the arrangements, never spoke directly with the funeral home about payment, and never signed a funeral service contract or payment agreement.
I was named as a beneficiary on one of my father's life insurance policies. My uncle told me that a portion of my beneficiary payout would go toward paying for the funeral. At the time, I thought this was something that had to happen and didn't realize I might have a choice.
About a month ago, my uncle asked me to complete a funeral assignment/payment form, but I never filled it out or signed it because I hadn't gotten around to it. He made it seem as though my beneficiary payment HAD to cover some of the funeral. It was presented to me as a choice, and at the time I didn't know I had a choice.
A few days ago, I received my life insurance payout directly from the insurance company. I've since used some of the money to pay down debt, put some into savings, and spent some.
Now, the funeral home has apparently contacted the insurance company that paid my claim and is asking for funds to cover the funeral. They're asking me to provide a check for the amount of my insurance payout so they can deduct the funeral expenses and return whatever remains to me.
I never signed the funeral assignment form, never agreed orally or in writing with the funeral home to pay for the funeral, and never authorized them to receive any portion of my insurance proceeds. I also don't know exactly what my uncle told the funeral home or what documents he may have signed himself.
Am I legally responsible for any of these funeral expenses under these circumstances, even though I never agreed to pay for them or authorized my life insurance proceeds to be used for that purpose? Can the funeral home legally require me to pay anything, or would responsibility fall on whoever signed the funeral contract?
I'm trying to understand my actual legal obligations before responding to the funeral home or agreeing to pay anything.
Location: Louisiana