Work with Funeral Home on Details

The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide an itemized General Price List (GPL) in person and price information by phone. You have the right to choose only the services you want, buy a casket from a third party without penalty, and decline embalming in most situations. Funeral homes cannot require package deals or claim that specific products are legally required when they are not.

Embalming is almost never required by law. No state mandates embalming for all deaths. It may be required if the body is being transported across state lines, if burial or cremation will be delayed beyond a certain number of days (varies by state, typically 24-72 hours), or if the body will be publicly viewed. Refrigeration is a legal and less expensive alternative in most cases.

The only universally required fee is the funeral home's basic services fee (non-declinable, typically $2,000-$3,500), which covers staff, facilities, and coordination. Everything else is optional: embalming, viewing, casket rental, hearse, flower car, printed programs, and guest books. A simple direct cremation can cost as little as $800-$1,500. Ask for the itemized price list and build only what matters to your family.

You can and should compare prices between funeral homes—the FTC Funeral Rule guarantees your right to do so. While the basic services fee is generally non-negotiable, you can decline optional services, bring your own casket or urn (from retailers like Costco or Amazon), and choose less expensive alternatives for each line item. Ask about package discounts and whether the funeral home price-matches.