Court asks for documentation on $29,000 prepaid funeral in Darlene estate before final accounting is approved

The court reviewed the 4th and final accounting for the estate of the late Darlene and flagged an unusually large prepaid funeral expense. Michael McFarland told the court, "The question I have is I see a $29,000 prepaid funeral bill, which I've never seen a funeral bill prepaid to that extent," and asked for documentation supporting the charge.

Deborah Sissin, appearing for conservator Denise Ketchmark, said estate paperwork had been filed with the county circuit court and that the conservator was awaiting appointment papers to open the estate account and transfer funds. Charles Gross, appearing for the estate, said he was newly retained and had not yet filed estate paperwork but would follow up with the conservator.

The judge said she was inclined to grant the accounting but asked parties to confer and produce documentation about the funeral expense; she offered August 19 at 10:30 a.m. as a date for follow‑up. The court also directed counsel to coordinate on the estate transfer paperwork so the personal representative can open the estate account and complete distributions.