The funeral industry is highly regulated. In New York, only licensed funeral directors may arrange for the care, transport and preparation of a body for burial or cremation.
When you visit a funeral home showroom, the Funeral Rule requires that they first show you a price list and an itemized statement. This will include the funeral director’s fees.
Licensing
To ensure that the dead are handled with dignity and respect, a funeral bureau must be licensed. The Bureau of Funeral Services regulates these businesses and investigates complaints. It also conducts inspections of funeral homes, crematoria and cemeteries. It also ensures that death care professionals meet the necessary educational requirements for licensure.
To become a funeral director, you must graduate from a mortuary science program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and pass state and national licensure exams. To be an embalmer, you must complete an apprenticeship and pass the International Conference of Examiners’ National Board Examination (NBE – Arts and NBE – Sciences).
Funeral directors are required to register with the Department of Health on a biennial basis. To register, they must present a valid funeral director registration card issued by the New York State Bureau of Funeral Directing and a letter on their employer’s business stationery signed by the firm’s manager (licensed funeral director) stating their name and license number.
Arrangements
In a time of grief and sorrow, many people are asked to take on the task of arranging the funeral. This can be very stressful. It is important to know your rights as the “customer.” Under New York State law, only a licensed funeral director can make arrangements for final disposition. These services may include the care, moving, preparation and burial or cremation of the body, filing the death certificate, securing permits and arranging for notices. A basic arrangements fee is included in the price of the casket or urn purchased.
Funeral directors also work with clients to choose funeral or memorial services that reflect the wishes of the deceased and their family. They also help write an obituary and provide information about casket and interment options.
Funeral homes must provide a General Price List, which lists the prices (or range of prices) for the merchandise and services they regularly offer. The list must be given to you at the beginning of the arrangement conference and you cannot be charged more than the prices listed on the list.
Caskets
In most countries outside of the United States, people use the word ‘coffin’ to describe the ceremonial box that holds your loved one during the funeral and burial. A casket is also used to hold something else, like jewelry or important documents.
Caskets come in a variety of shapes, materials, and prices. Basic coffins cost between $800 and $1,500 and are typically made of plywood or medium-density fiberboard. They have flat lids and plastic handles, while more elaborate caskets have metal handles and a tiered top.
You can also choose a casket made of wood, steel, or precious metals. These are usually more expensive than wooden caskets. Some caskets even include a memory tube, which is a small glass tube that screws into the exterior of the casket to identify who it belongs to in case of an unattended grave or cremation.
If you choose to purchase a casket from a manufacturer or warehouse store, funeral homes are required to include it in your total bill for services rendered. This is a result of a federal law known as the Funeral Rule.
Cemeteries
In many countries, cemeteries are considered to be sacred grounds and a final resting place for the dead. As such, they are protected from redevelopment and may require a permanent care plan in order to be allowed to operate. These plans typically include the sale of burial plots and crypts. This income is then put into a managed fund and used to maintain the cemetery in perpetuity.
As people are increasingly choosing cremation, older cemeteries are running out of space. This has led to a move away from traditional graveyards and toward landscaped memorial parks and newer cemetery facilities on the edge of towns and cities.
Pre-arrangement for funeral and cemetery services is a way to save your family the burden of making last minute decisions at a time of great emotional distress. It is also a way to secure lower costs. Pre-arrangement includes the selection of a cemetery and casket, as well as a headstone or marker for the grave.