New York law requires that only a licensed funeral director may arrange for the transportation, care, preparation, and burial or cremation of a dead person. A funeral director must also file the death certificate and coordinate with a cemetery or crematorium.
The Board licenses funeral directors, embalmers and funeral establishments, investigates complaints, and takes disciplinary action when necessary. It also enforces the laws and regulations relating to funeral service.
Professionalism
A funeral bureau should always be professional in all their dealings with a family. This means that they should never use inappropriate language or show up at an arranged time without prior notification. They should also not charge interest on any money owed to them by the family.
The South Dakota Board of Funeral Service licenses funeral practitioners and establishments to ensure consumers that they are working with qualified professionals. It also receives consumer inquiries and complaints and investigates them. It also updates statutes and rules and administers an apprenticeship program for trainees in funeral service.
In New York, funeral directors, undertakers and hospitals must register all deaths at one of two Burial Desks located in Manhattan or Brooklyn. They must also file a permit for burial or cremation. It is also important for the family to honor the decedent’s wishes if they chose to be an organ and tissue donor by signing their license as a donor or including it in their will.
Confidence
The death of a loved one is often the most traumatic experience that people will ever have. By asking the right questions, comparing prices and services, and making informed decisions, consumers can make arrangements that are meaningful to them and control costs for themselves and their survivors.
If you offer packages, the Rule requires that you also list each of the goods and services included in the package separately on your General Price List (GPL). If a consumer selects a package, you must give them an itemized Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected.
Some funeral providers enter into agreements with religious groups or burial societies to arrange funerals at discounted prices for group members. Even when you offer packages exclusively to these groups, however, you must comply with the Funeral Rule’s requirements, including giving them a GPL and Casket Price List and providing them with an itemized Statement of Funeral Goods and Service Selected.
Peace of Mind
The death of a loved one is a traumatic experience for any family. Taking care of funeral arrangements ahead of time gives families peace of mind knowing that their loved ones’ wishes are respected. It also helps alleviate financial worries for survivors.
Preplanning allows consumers to compare prices and services from different providers, and it provides the opportunity to pay for goods and services in advance. This prevents unforeseen expenses from occurring when the time comes for the funeral, and it ensures that loved ones receive the services they want.
Funeral homes can offer package funeral arrangements, but they must also provide a General Price List (GPL) with itemized prices and all required disclosures. They can also include a non-declinable fee for basic services of the funeral director and staff, but this should not be used to recover overhead expenses that would otherwise be included in the other items on the GPL. Some funeral homes enter into agreements with religious groups, burial societies or memorial societies to arrange funerals at special prices for group members. In these cases, they must still comply with the Rule’s requirements when individual members inquire about arrangements for themselves or on behalf of their estates.
Transparency
The mission of the South Dakota Funeral Service Board is to license funeral practitioners and establishments, register trainees in the profession, investigate consumer/provider complaints related to the practice of funeral service, and provide educational and training opportunities for funeral directors, embalmers, and apprentices. It also inspects and regulates funeral homes, crematories, and burial vaults.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the City is working with NYC funeral homes and crematories to ensure that remains are being buried or cremated within religious guidelines and in accordance with the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records Burial Desks will accept death certificates only from licensed Funeral Directors, Undertakers, Hospitals or their representatives.
Licensing requirements for funeral service workers vary by state. The International Conference of Funeral Service Examiners provides licensing information by state for students and funeral service professionals. Additional resources can be found at O*NET.