Checklist for Comparing Funeral Home Charges

Print out several copies of this checklist. Use it to help you compare charges for like services. You will then be able to make an informed choice.

Get the "official" price list for services and goods from the funeral home or crematory as well. Use the following checklist and the funeral home list to help you compare.

Name of Funeral Home:	_____________________________
Person in Charge:	_____________________________
Address:	_____________________________
Address:	_____________________________
Phone:	_____________________________
Person in Charge:	_____________________________
Person Giving Quote:	_____________________________
Date:	_____________________________

"Simple" disposition of the remains:

Immediate burial	$_________
Immediate cremation	$_________
If the cremation process is extra, how much is it?	$_________
Donation of the body to a medical school or hospital	$_________
Total	$_________

"Traditional," full-service burial or cremation:

Basic services fee for the funeral director and staff*	$_________
Pickup of body	$_________
Embalming	$_________
Other preparation of body	$_________
Least expensive casket	$_________
Description of casket, including model #
Outer Burial Container (vault)	$_________
Description of Container
Visitation/viewing - staff and facilities	$_________
Funeral or memorial service - staff and facilities	$_________
Graveside service, including staff and equipment	$_________
Hearse	$_________
Other vehicles	$_________
Total	$_________

Other Services:

Forwarding body to another funeral home	$_________
Receiving body from another funeral home	$_________
Cash Advances**	$_________
Total	$_________

Cemetery/Mausoleum Costs:

Cost of lot or crypt (if you don't already own one)	$_________
Perpetual care	$_________
Opening and closing the grave or crypt	$_________
Grave liner, if needed	$_________
Marker/monument (including setup)	$_________
Total	$_________

Note: There may be separate charges for very specific services. Get a list with a price for every item. There will be no way to compare if you do not. If a "package deal" is offered, get the price for each item in the package. It is only a deal if you wanted each service anyway and the total cost is less than those items priced individually.

*A consumer must pay this fee if they contract with the funeral home. This fee should include:

funeral planning
securing the necessary permits and copies of death certificates (ask how many they provide)
preparing the notices
sheltering the remains
coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory or other third parties

Be sure to ask what this fee includes. Get it in writing. All other services are selected by the consumer.

**Cash Advances are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf, including:

flowers
obituary notices
pallbearers
officiating clergy
organists and soloists

Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to their cost. The Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance item.

If the funeral provider doesn't know the cost of the cash advance items at the time of your inquiry, he or she is required to give you a written "good faith estimate." An estimate is only that. What is quoted may not be what you will pay. The funeral home does have to tell you if they charge a fee for providing the services, however. They do not have to tell you how much the fee will be. Get everything that is to be provided, with cost, in writing before signing.

It is required by law that the funeral home or crematory give you a written price list as soon as you begin to discuss what they offer. Keep this list and compare it with what is said and what is on any contract or agreement that you sign. Feel comfortable having an attorney check out the agreement before signing. It is your right and your money.

Be sure to ask this final question: "Are there any other charges, costs, or fees?" Include this question and the response on your agreement before signing, with initials of the person at the funeral home.

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