The death of a loved one is an emotional time for families. It is important to have the right information to make informed decisions regarding funeral and cremation arrangements.
Funeral directors, embalmers and original funeral establishments must be licensed. Charges imposed under the law are directed to be deposited in the Cemetery and Funeral Fund, which is continuously appropriated.
Arrangements
For many people, the death of a loved one can be traumatic. For the survivors, arranging funeral and cemetery arrangements can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Funeral pre-arranging allows you to make your arrangements in advance, sparing your family the extra burden of making decisions at a very difficult time.
If you provide funeral goods and services to persons who are entitled to government benefits, you must comply with the Rule. You must give those consumers a General Price List when they inquire about your prices, even if the inquiry is by telephone or mail.
You must also provide a General Price List to anyone who is purchasing a casket or funeral service from you, regardless of the way the transaction is made. This information can be provided at the arrangement conference, or in some cases, in writing before the arrangement conference begins. You may not charge more for your services than the prices listed in your General Price List.
Burial
Burial is one of the most common ways for individuals to honor their loved ones after a death. It is also a necessary step in many cultures for those who believe in an afterlife. Geography, religion and social attitudes affect whether the body is buried in soil, in water or left to decompose in the open air.
It is important to have copies of the death certificates. The funeral director can assist in obtaining these. These will be needed by the bank, insurance companies and the probate court.
HRA has funds available for low-income families to cover burial expenses. The funeral home can help you file an affidavit to receive the funds. The affidavit must be notarized. There is a fee for this service. This fee is not included in the total amount of the bill. It is a separate charge that the funeral home must disclose in advance. This fee is subject to change.
Cremation
The cremation process is a physical, mechanical and thermal dissolution of human remains that reduces them to bone fragments no larger than one-eighth inch. It is usually done after a funeral or memorial service and before burial or scattering.
Typically the body is not embalmed for cremation, only cleaned and dressed. Jewelry and other personal belongings are removed and placed in a temporary container. A metal ID tag is attached for identification. The remains are then transported to the crematory and put into the cremation chamber. After the cremation, the cremated remains are swept out of the chamber and checked again for proper identification. Then the ashes are placed in an urn for permanent storage.
If you have a problem with a funeral director or cemetery, contact your local district attorney or the state’s consumer protection or licensing agency. If you file a complaint, send a copy to the company being complained about (with a “cc” to Funeral Consumers Alliance) and also to the licensing authority.
Preparation
Preparation services include embalming and other preparation of the body for burial or cremation. Funeral homes also help consumers with obtaining permits for final disposition and filing death certificates.
Funeral directors must offer a general price list to anyone who asks. This must be written or printed and contain the prices of all outer burial containers, except caskets, and a brief description of each container.
Funeral homes can also help you make arrangements for a wake, or informal gathering of friends and family after a service. They can arrange for food and drink, and may even be able to book a restaurant that was special to your loved one. They can also assist with obtaining donations for charities that were important to your loved one. They can also make death announcements and place obituaries in newspapers. They can also create video tributes using photos or other videos provided by you. This can be a meaningful way to share your loved ones’ memories.