6 min read
You have the legal right to shop around. Learn what questions to ask, how to compare prices, and the red flags that signal a predatory funeral home.
Choosing a funeral home is one of the most important financial decisions a family makes in their grief — and one of the few where they often feel they have no choice. You do have a choice. You are legally protected by the FTC Funeral Rule. Here is how to use that protection to find the right funeral home for your family.
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule gives you specific protections every time you interact with a funeral home:
Call at least 3 funeral homes before making a decision. Ask each of them:
Approximately 20% of funeral homes in the US are owned by large corporations — primarily Service Corporation International (SCI, which operates under brands like Dignity Memorial, Neptune Society, and hundreds of local names) and Lapida.
Corporate funeral homes are not inherently worse, but research consistently shows they charge higher prices than independent funeral homes. An independent family-owned funeral home often provides more personal service and more flexibility on pricing.
To find out if a funeral home is independently owned, simply ask. You can also look up ownership on the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association) member directory.
Avoid funeral homes that exhibit any of these warning signs:
When comparing quotes, make sure you are comparing the same services. Ask each funeral home for an itemized quote for the specific services you want — not a package quote. A package comparison is difficult because packages often include different items.
Total cost is what matters. Some funeral homes quote a low "basic services" fee but charge high amounts for individual items. Others quote a higher base but include more. The only fair comparison is the total all-in price for your specific service selection.
Do not be embarrassed to negotiate or ask for a discount. Many funeral homes will work with families, especially if you are comparing multiple quotes.
Yes, in most cases. If the body has not been embalmed or prepared, you can generally transfer to another funeral home by signing a release and paying any transport or storage fees the first funeral home has incurred. Once embalming or preparation begins, it becomes more complicated.
Pre-paid funeral plans can be valuable for estate planning purposes — they remove the financial and decision-making burden from family. However, research the funeral home carefully before prepaying. Make sure funds are held in a state-regulated trust, not held by the funeral home directly. Confirm what happens to the funds if the funeral home closes or is sold.
Ask for recommendations from your doctor, hospice nurse, or hospital social worker. Check Google Reviews (look for consistent themes, not just the star rating). Ask your local church or religious community. The NFDA member directory lists funeral homes that follow professional standards.
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