800Seniors created this page for families who have lost a loved one and for senior citizens who choose to pre-plan their own funeral arrangements. Mourning is a difficult and painful process and 800Seniors hopes to ease the burden as much as possible. There are a variety of Funeral Arrangements to choose from and it can sometimes be difficult to make decisions especially during such a stressful time. Some common funeral arrangements include Visitation, Memorial Services, final disposition such as Cremation or traditional Burial. Most funeral homes offer Bereavement Counseling to the surving family members as part of their services. Understanding all of the options will help make the decision-making process easier and perhaps less stressful. 800Seniors puts families in touch with reputable state licensed funeral parlors in their city.
Funeral Planning FAQ's
Who Can Make The Funeral Arrangements? The "customer." It's very important for family members to agree about the type of services and merchandise to be purchased. Ideally, the family should designate one person to make the arrangements and to convey the family decisions to the funeral director. The customer will be responsible for the payment of the bill.
Do I Need A Funeral Director? Yes, only a licensed and registered funeral director can arrange for the care, moving, preparation and burial/cremation of a deceased person. The funeral director will file the death certificate, transfer the body and coordinate with cemetery or crematory representatives.
Do All States Require The Use Of A Casket Or Outer Interment Receptacle? No, but many cemeteries do require the use of a "suitable container." Most State laws allow for the use of an unfinished wooden box or an "alternative container" made of cardboard, pressed wood, composition materials, canvas or other materials. Even though law does not require burial vaults or grave liners, some cemeteries require them to prevent collapse or sinking of the grave.
Is Embalming Required By State Law? No. In fact, a funeral director must obtain specific approval to embalm from the customer. However, a funeral home may require embalming if certain services, such as a viewing with an open casket is chosen or if the body will be transported long distances. The funeral home must clearly state the embalming fees on both the General Price List and on the Itemized Statement of Services and Merchandise provided.
Can The Funeral Director Refuse To Embalm The Body? No. The funeral home may not refuse to embalm or otherwise handle the body, regardless of the cause of death of the deceased. The home also may not charge extra for preparing or handling the body of a person who has died of an infectious disease, such as AIDS, hepatitis B or tuberculosis.
Can The Funeral Director Refuse To Allow Me To View The Body When Visitation Has Been Selected? No. While the funeral director may advise against a viewing due to the cause of death or condition of the body, the final decision is left to the customer.
Can I See The Body For The Purposes Of Identification? Yes. No matter what the funeral arrangements are, the customer has the right to see the body briefly, in fact, the funeral director is required to facilitate an identification process. If this process is prolonged, the funeral director may consider it a viewing or visitation and a fee will be required. Customers who choose not to view the body, can provide the funeral director with a photo of the deceased to use as identification.
What Will The Funeral Arrangements Cost? The costs of funeral arrangements vary greatly depending on the type of service and merchandise chosen. For example, if the service you select involves viewing the remains, the funeral home may require embalming and preparation of the body, which can be expensive. Also, there is a tremendous range in the price of caskets, depending on style, type of wood, lining, etc. The least expensive funeral service offered by funeral parlors is direct burial or direct cremation.
If I Choose A Direct Burial, Can The Funeral Home Charge For A Graveside Service? A direct burial includes a graveside ceremony if the customer wants it. The price for the ceremony, excluding cash advances, must be included in the fee for a direct burial. However, if the service requires staff in addition to the funeral director supervising the burial, an additional charge may be added. If so, this charge must be clearly listed on both the General Price List and the Itemized Statement of Services.
What Can I Do If I Feel The Prices Are Too High? Families can call several funeral homes and compare prices. (Funeral homes are required to give price information over the telephone.) 800Seniors offers a list of affordable funeral homes in cities across the nation. Browse 800Seniors listings to find reputable funeral service providers in your city.
Can I Rent A Casket For A Viewing? Possibly. Casket rentals are not prohibited and some funeral homes offer this option. If a funeral home offers rental caskets, it must be stated on the General Price List. If a casket is rented for a viewing only, a less expensive suitable container for burial can be purchased.
Can The Funeral Home Director Criticize My Selections? No. It is illegal for funeral home staff to state or imply that any merchandise they offer for sale is unsatisfactory in any way. You do not have to accept services or merchandise that you don't want. The funeral home is obligated to inform you of all charges in advance. Always get a receipt from the funeral home that outlines what you purchased.
Do I Need More Than One Copy Of The Death Certificate? Probably. You will need to give certified copies to insurance companies, banks, etc. The funeral home will obtain them for you. They cannot charge you more than the actual fee for each certificate. Death certificates are filed by the funeral director with the registrar of Vital Records in the locality where the death occurred.
Can I Pre-pay My Funeral? Yes. Pre-paid funeral arrangements can lift much of the financial burden from your survivors. It also allows you to select the type of arrangements according to your wishes. Prepaid Funeral plans are regulated by law.
Can The Funeral Home Change Arrangements Without My Permission? No. The funeral director must obtain your approval before making any substitutions or changes.
What If I Decide To Change Funeral Homes? You have the right to change funeral homes at any time. You will need to pay for any services that have already been carried out (for which you had given approval). The funeral home must allow the transfer of the body to another funeral home, even if you haven't paid yet. It may not hold the body in exchange for payment.
Funeral Service Terminology
Arrangement Conference: The meeting between the customer and the director of the funeral home during which they choose the services and merchandise they would like.
Basic Arrangements Fee: This refers to the charge made by the funeral parlor for making all the arrangements for final disposition of the body. It covers the availability of a funeral director, staff and equipment to respond to the death. The fee also includes the arrangement conference and securing necessary authorizations such as filing the death certificate and getting certain permits. This charge cannot be declined. However, if you choose to have a direct burial or direct cremation, the arrangements fee cannot be added since it is already figured into the price for these services.
Burial: Burial is the most commonly chosen final disposition. Costs associated with burial include services such as grave opening and closing and/or perpetual care (maintenance) of the gravesite. You will also be charged by the funeral home for the purchase of a gravesite if you buy the plot through them.
Cash Advance Items: This refers to the items of service or merchandise for which the funeral home pays directly to a third party, such as fees for the cemetery or crematory, death certificates and clergy. The funeral parlor cannot profit on these items. Some funeral homes require you to pay for these items before the funeral service. You may be able to pay some of these fees directly if you choose. Be sure to get receipts for any money you spend, whether it's to the funeral home or to third parties.
Casket Price List: This is a printed or typewritten list which the funeral home presents to you before you discuss or are shown their range of caskets. This list provides a brief description of each casket and alternative containers regularly offered by the funeral home. The casket price list will show the retail price of each item offered.
Cemetery Deed: This refers to the document from the cemetery which establishes your right to bury the deceased in the plot. If the funeral director has the deed, he or she must return it to you within 7 days of the funeral. Cemetery deeds are difficult to replace so be sure to keep it in a safe place.
Columbarium: This is a type of vault with spaces for storing urns containing ashes or cremains.
Cremation: A process which reduces the body to ashes, also known as Cremains. The ashes may be buried, placed in a columbarium, or kept in your home. Some people choose to purchase an urn for the cremains rather than use the container provided by the crematory. There will be charges for the cremation process and, if you choose, for an urn and space in a columbarium. You may also dispose of the cremains in any manner that complies with local health department or other regulations.
Custodial Care: This is a fee the funeral home may charge for days that the body is being held and no other services are being provided. This fee must be disclosed and identified by the funeral parlor as a daily, weekly or one-time fee.
Customer: The person making the funeral arrangements. The customer may be a family member, legal representative or a friend legally designated by the decedent. The customer is legally responsible for the payment of the funeral bill.
Customer's Designation of Intentions: This refers to a specific form that the funeral director will complete if you select cremation. It includes a space for "disposal of cremains" (what you plan to do with them.) If you do not claim the cremains within 120 days after the cremation, the funeral home has the right to dispose of them. The form provided by the funeral home has to clearly state this fact, and the manner of disposition. A copy of this form should be provided to you by the funeral home when the arrangements are made.
Direct Burial: This refers to the disposition of human remains by burial without a formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony, except for a graveside service.
Direct Cremation: This is the disposition of human remains by cremation without a formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony.
Entombment: Entombment is a burial in an aboveground crypt in a mausoleum or in a lawn crypt. There is a charge for the use of the crypt.
General Price List: This is a form which lists the prices for all funeral services and merchandise offered by the funeral home. This form is given to you to keep at the beginning of the arrangement conference. You can request a copy from a funeral home when a personal visit is made. You do not need to complete funeral arrangements to receive this form.
Itemized Statement of Services and Merchandise: This is a detailed outline of the specific goods and funeral services you have chosen, the price of each item and the total cost. This also includes an estimate of the cash advance fees to be paid on your behalf to third parties. The Itemized Statement will serve as your contract.
Outer Interment Receptacle: This is a container in the ground in which the casket is placed. Vaults and grave liners are some examples of Outer Interment Receptacles. Some cemeteries require outer interment receptacles to prevent graves from collapsing or sinking. If you do not want to buy one, choose a cemetery that does not require it.
Outer Interment Receptacle Price List: A printed or typewritten list which the funeral home presents to you before you discuss or are shown an outer interment receptacle. This list will provide a brief description of each outer interment receptacle regularly offered by the funeral home. It must contain the retail price of each item offered.
Refrigeration Fee: A fee charged by some funeral homes for cooling the body when embalming is not selected. If such a fee is charged, it must be stated up front, on both the General Price List and the Itemized Statement.
Topical Disinfection: This refers to an external cleansing of the body for which you will be charged. There cannot be an additional charge for this service when embalming is selected, since topical disinfection is part of the embalming process.
Transfer of Remains Fee: A fee for transportation of the body from the place where death occurred (or from the airport or morgue) to the funeral home.
Funeral Pre-Planning
Many seniors are making their own pre-planned funeral arrangements so their surviving loved ones are not left with the financial and decision-making burden. Making pre-planned arrangements is easier than it may seem. Most financial arrangements for pre-paid funerals involve a low monthly payment that may be affordable for elderly citizens living on a fixed income.
Pre-planning arrangements can be made with any type of Funeral Parlor or Funeral Home. The Funeral Director will meet with the senior in their home or at the Funeral Parlor to discuss what services and products are available. It is important for seniors to choose a Funeral Home they feel comfortable with. Funeral Directors will discuss the price listings for caskets, grave plots, burials, funeral flowers, memorial services, cremation services and more. If seniors set up their meeting at the Funeral Parlor, the director will show them the actual products so they have a better idea of what they look like. Once the senior has finalized their decisions, an installment plan is created so they can start making monthly payments.
Funeral Flowers Explained
With so many flowers and plants available it can be a daunting experience choosing funeral flowers to commemorate a loved one’s passing. 800Seniors has outlined basic funeral flower options to consider making the decision process easier. Flowers play an important role in the funeral service. Flowers are a token of comfort for the grieving family and loved ones.
Floral Pieces are flower arrangements that are placed close to the casket. The floral pieces that are from relatives are placed closest to the casket. Floral pieces can be in the form of baskets or standing sprays. They can be designed into the shape of hearts or wreaths and can be accessorized with ribbons, pillows and rosaries.
Casket Sprays. This refers to large flower arrangements that are draped over the casket. Depending on the situation, community organizations the deceased was affiliated with may contribute to the cost of a casket spray or other flower arrangements.
Veteran Funeral Flowers. If the deceased was a member of the military, the flag is to be placed on top of their casket. Casket sprays can be placed above and behind the portion of the casket draped with the flag. However, flowers should never be placed on top of the flag. There is the option of placing a properly folded flag inside the casket so the casket spray can be placed on top of the casket.
Making funeral arrangements is an unpleasant endeavor involving emotional stress and financial decision-making at a difficult time. With the guidance of a reputable funeral director, the process will be made as easy as possible under the circumstances. Because 800Seniors.com and HelpSeniors.com are independent of the funeral industry, the information we provide is with your best interest in mind, and with the goal of helping you make the most comfortable personal and financial choices.
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