Funeral Director
What is a Funeral Home or Funeral Director?
A funeral home, also called a funeral
parlor, is a place where friends and family go to pay their
respects to those who have died. Of the approximately 21,000
funeral homes across the United States, 85% are family-owned
businesses and 15% are owned by large corporations. Some
neighborhood funeral homes, thought to be family owned, could be
owned by a national corporation. If this issue is important to you,
you may want to ask if the funeral home is locally owned.
A funeral director, also called
mortician or undertaker, is a professional
licensed by the state in which they practice, except in Colorado. In Colorado, they can work for
(or own) a funeral home and must have a degree from an accredited
mortuary science school or program.
In order to become a Licensed Funeral Director, they must
fulfill the requirement of the state they want to practice in, have
attended a two- or four-year program in mortuary science and pass
the state board's written and oral examination. For each state a
funeral director would like to practice in, they must pass the exam
for that state (unless the state has reciprocity). To find out
more, contact your state licensing board.
Mortuary science courses include anatomy, physiology, pathology,
embalming techniques, restorative art, business management,
accounting, use of computers in funeral home management, and client
services. They also include courses in the social sciences, legal,
ethical, and regulatory subjects such as psychology, grief
counseling, funeral service law, business law, ethics, oral
communication and written communication.
How to choose a Funeral Home or Funeral
Director
Consumers often select a funeral home or cemetery because it's
close to home, has served the family in the past, or has been
recommended by someone they trust. People who limit their search to
just one funeral home may risk paying more than necessary for the
funeral, or narrowing their choice of goods and services.
There is no legal requirement to use a funeral home to plan and
conduct a funeral. Many people find the services of a professional
funeral home to be a comfort since they have little experience with
the details and legal requirements. For more information on how to
plan and conduct your own funeral, visit our page on Home Funeral
Guides.
To understand your rights as a consumer, please visit our page
on Funeral Consumers Alliance.
What to expect from a Funeral Director
A funeral director is expected to keep their composure, be
tactful, and have the ability to communicate easily and
compassionately with their clients. Funeral directors should have
the desire and ability to comfort people in a time of sorrow.
The profession usually expects appropriate dress (suits and ties
for men and comparable business attire for women) as a way to show
respect for the families. Neat hair and trim beards, if any, are
customary.
Funeral directors arrange the details and handle the logistics
of a funeral, taking into account the wishes of the person who died
and the family members. They help establish the location, dates,
and times of wakes, memorial services, and burials. They can
arrange to have the body transported locally, or from a
distance.
They also handle the paperwork involved with a person's death,
including submitting papers to state authorities so a formal death
certificate may be issued and copies distributed to the heirs. They
may help family members apply for veterans' burial benefits or
notify the Social Security Administration of the death. Also,
funeral directors may apply for the transfer of any pensions,
insurance policies, or annuities on behalf of survivors and often
assist in writing the obituary and submitting it to the appropriate
newspaper(s).
What does it cost to hire a funeral home?
Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many consumers
will ever make. The median price of a full-service funeral with a
funeral home, including a casket and vault, is about $7,755,
although "extras" like flowers, obituary notices, acknowledgment
cards or limousines can add thousands of dollars to the bottom
line. Many funerals run well over $10,000.
Unlike any other major purchase we make in our lives, we spend
this money with little or no research. We encourage you to
research, have a budget and try and stick to it. If you don't feel
up to making phone calls to check pricing, ask a friend to do it
for you. For more detailed information on funeral costs, please visit our page on this
topic.
Compare prices
Comparison shopping need not be difficult, especially if it's
done before the need for a funeral arises. If you visit a funeral
home in person, the funeral provider is required by law to give you
a General Price List
(GPL) itemizing the cost of the items and services the
home offers. If the GPL does not include specific prices of caskets
or outer burial containers, the law requires the funeral director
to show you the price lists for those items before showing you the
items.
Sometimes it's more convenient and less stressful to price shop
funeral homes by telephone. The FTC's The Funeral Rule requires a
funeral director to provide price information over the phone to any
caller who asks for it. In addition, many funeral homes are happy
to mail you their price lists or provide them online. Only funeral
homes in California are required by law to list their specific
services and merchandise (or GPL) on their websites, if they have
one.
When comparing prices, be sure to consider the total cost of the
items together, in addition to the costs of single items. Every
funeral home should have price lists that include all the items
essential for the different types of arrangements it offers. Many
funeral homes offer package funerals that may cost less than
purchasing individual items or services. Offering package funerals
is permitted by law, as long as an itemized price list also is
provided. But only by using the price lists can you accurately
compare total costs.
Price lists are available from third-party
resources.
Price lists should be used as a guide to help narrow down your
options and see what works within your budget. Once you have made
your selections, we encourage you to confirm pricing, ask for
references and interview any funeral professional you are
considering hiring. A price report does not communicate the
personality, personal service or appearance of the funeral home -
it's a starting point to help you make educated choices during a
difficult time.
Most local Funeral Consumers Alliance
representatives have compiled a price comparison list of affordable
funeral homes in the chapter area. Funeral Consumers Alliance is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Most FCA price lists are
available free, though some chapters require membership to access
them. FCA membership contributions range from $25-50.
You can also purchase Everest's PriceFinder
Report. For $29 the PriceFinder Report creates a 7-page
customized report comparing itemized prices for up to 8 funeral
homes within a specified mile radius of the zip code you select.
Click here to see an example of an Everest PriceFinder
report.
Understanding fees
Below is additional information about fees you may see on your
bill and what they mean from the Federal Trade Commission:
Funerals: A Consumer Guide:
Basic services fee for the funeral director and
staff
The Funeral Rule allows funeral providers to charge a basic
services fee that customers cannot decline to pay. The basic
services fee includes services that are common to all funerals,
regardless of the specific arrangement. These include:
- funeral planning
- securing the necessary permits and copies of death
certificates
- preparing the notices
- sheltering the remains
- coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory or
other third parties
The fee does not include charges for optional services or
merchandise.
Charges for other services and
merchandise
These are costs for optional goods and services such as:
- transporting the remains
- embalming and other preparation
- use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony or memorial
service
- use of equipment and staff for a graveside service
- use of a hearse or limousine
- a casket, outer burial container or alternate container
- cremation or interment
Cash advances
These are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and
services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf,
including:
- flowers
- obituary notices
- pallbearers
- officiating clergy
- organists and soloists
Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they
buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to their cost. The
Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose
that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify
the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral
providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts or rebates
from the supplier on any cash advance item.
Calculating the actual cost
The funeral provider must give you an itemized statement of the
total cost of the funeral goods and services you have selected when
you are making the arrangements. If the funeral provider doesn't
know the cost of the cash advance items at the time, he or she is
required to give you a written "good faith estimate." This
statement also must disclose any legal, cemetery or crematory
requirements that you purchase any specific funeral goods or
services.
The Funeral Rule does not require any specific format for this
information. Funeral providers may include it in any document they
give you at the end of your discussion about funeral
arrangements.
