10 Things to Look Out For with Funeral Homes

Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases consumers will ever make. You can keep the costs lower if funeral directors can’t pressure you into buying services you don’t need. Below is a list of 10 things funeral directors don’t want you to know:

1. You can save thousands of dollars by shopping around for funeral services.

2. Funeral homes are in business to make money. Everything that they say is not implicitly trustworthy.

3. If you’re going to bury the person within 24 to 48 hours, embalming is rarely required.

4. If people knew what embalming entailed, more people would probably choose not to do it. You will not have unresolved grief issues from seeing a loved one without the benefit of embalming.

5. Sealed caskets cannot preserve a body so they are not likely worth the extra cost.

6. A funeral director may not charge more for or refuse to handle a casket that you bought elsewhere.

7. A modest casket shouldn’t cost more than $600.

8.  You can pick and choose the services you want out of a funeral home’s package

9. You can plan services for your loved one on your own and you don’t have to depend on a funeral home for services.

10. Funeral and memorial societies such as the Funeral Consumers Alliance, can help you find discounted services and ethical funeral homes.

See 10 Facts Funeral Directors Don’t Want You to Know, ElderLawAnswers, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing  (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.