01 · Practical guidance
Stabilize the first decisions
Confirm legal authority, the person's location, immediate transfer needs, written wishes, disposition preference, cultural or religious needs, budget, and the people who must be consulted. Not every decision belongs in the first conversation.
Verify
Collect the current price, terms, and constraints.
Compare
Put realistic alternatives on the same basis.
Act
Choose the next move and document the follow-through.
02 · Practical guidance
Request itemized prices
The FTC Funeral Rule gives consumers important price and selection rights. Request the General Price List and applicable casket or outer burial container lists before choosing merchandise, then ask for an itemized statement of the arrangement.
03 · Practical guidance
Compare the complete total
Include provider services, merchandise, cemetery or crematory charges, grave opening and closing, markers, permits, death certificates, transportation, obituary, flowers, clergy, reception, and taxes.
A strong decision is not just cheaper. It is complete, usable, documented, and ready to carry out.
Your action plan
Make the next move without reopening the research.
- Confirm authority and locate written wishes.
- Set priorities and a total family budget.
- Request the required price lists.
- Ask providers to price the same arrangement.
- Review the itemized total with a second person before signing.
Questions people ask
Common questions, answered directly.
Must a family buy a funeral package?
Federal consumer rules generally allow selection of individual goods and services, with limited exceptions. Ask the provider to identify any legally required item and the reason.
Is embalming always required?
No. The FTC states that routine embalming is not required by law in most cases, though circumstances and state or local rules can differ.
Can I ask for funeral prices by phone?
The FTC Funeral Rule includes important telephone price-disclosure requirements. Ask for itemized prices before making selections or visiting a showroom.
Primary resources
Verify availability and terms at the source.
Use these independent primary resources to confirm rules, availability, and current details: