The profession that prepares the body of a deceased person through embalming and arranges funeral and cemetery services. Licensed funeral directors and embalmers must comply with health related regulations.
TFSC regulates the profession and funeral and cemetery establishments through licensing, inspections and investigations of complaints. TFSC also conducts audits of preneed funeral trust funds, cemetery improvement care trust funds and cemetery preneed merchandise and service trust funds.
Services
The Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services regulates professions and occupations associated with the death care industry. It establishes the qualifications for those entering these fields, oversees licensed establishments and conducts inspections of their facilities, as well as investigates complaints from consumers/providers.
The Office of Burial Services (OBS) provides financial assistance to help meet the cost of a final disposition for a low-income New York City resident (decedent). Payment may be authorized to reimburse funeral expenses that have already been paid or pre-approval may be given to cover the costs of a planned funeral.
The Association of Funeral Service Education serves as the national accrediting body for college and university programs in funeral service and mortuary science education. It also provides examination services, information and regulatory support to state licensing boards and educators, and governmental agencies. ABFSE is a not-for-profit voluntary organization funded through fees and donations. The organization has been in operation since the 1940’s.
Pricing
As a consumer, you have the right to request a copy of a funeral home’s General Price List before making arrangements. It is against the law for a funeral home to charge you more than the prices listed on the GPL.
If you are purchasing a casket, federal rules require that the funeral director show you at least three different models and their prices before making any sales. It is against the law for a casket seller to make any false claims about a casket’s preservative qualities or to charge you contagious disease fees.
Consumer advocates want federal regulators to bring a long-standing rule on funeral home pricing into the internet era by requiring that they post detailed prices online. But a few websites that help consumers compare prices also earn referral fees from funeral homes, and those sites may have financial incentives to steer shoppers toward particular funeral homes. This could create an obstacle to full disclosure.
Locations
The Bureau licenses and investigates complaints against 13 licensing categories (funeral establishments, funeral directors, embalmers, apprentice embalmers, mortuary salespersons, cremated remains disposers and crematories). Additionally, the Bureau regulates nearly 200 licensed private cemeteries throughout California. However, the Bureau has no jurisdiction over cemeteries operated by religious organizations, cities, counties, cemetery districts or the military or by Native American tribal organizations. In these cases, please contact the appropriate organization for assistance.
Select businesses earn BBB Accreditation by undergoing a comprehensive evaluation and upholding our BBB Accreditation Standards. To see a list of accredited businesses, visit BBB’s website. For more information about BBB, please visit our About Us page.
Contact Us
For more information about a funeral provider, contact the company directly by phone or through an online form. You can also check whether a business is accredited by BBB, which means it has undergone a thorough evaluation and upheld the highest standards.
BBB accredits businesses in the following categories:
Funeral Directors, Embalmers and Preneed Sales. The Bureau regulates these professions by establishing qualifications, licensing, investigating complaints, and ensuring professional discipline. It also inspects licensed establishments, cemeteries and grave sites.
The Bureau does not regulate funerals performed by religious organizations, city, county, or government agencies, or those conducted by the military or Native American tribal organizations. For more information, see our Guide to Arranging a Funeral or Burial.
Licensing requirements vary by state for funeral directors, embalmers and morticians. To find out more, check with your local board of health or funeral home regulatory agency.