Are funeral homes regulated?

Yes. The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide itemized pricing over the phone (General Price List) and in writing before any services are rendered. They cannot require you to purchase package deals, cannot charge handling fees for caskets purchased elsewhere, and must disclose what items are required by law. Beyond federal requirements, most states have their own funeral home licensing boards that regulate practices, investigate complaints, and can sanction or revoke licenses. The Funeral Consumer Alliance maintains resources on consumer rights.

Do I have to use the funeral home nearest to where the death occurred?

No. You can choose any licensed funeral home — including one in a different city or state if you want the body transported. Families sometimes use a funeral home near where the death occurred for initial body transport and care, then transfer to another funeral home in their home city for services. Transport between funeral homes incurs additional cost, but the choice of provider is entirely yours. You're not obligated to use a hospital's "preferred" funeral home or any specific provider.

What is the difference between a funeral home and a mortuary?

"Funeral home," "mortuary," and "funeral parlor" are generally interchangeable terms for a licensed business that provides funeral services, including body care, embalming, cremation coordination, and service arrangements. Some businesses specialize — cremation-only providers, for instance, may call themselves "cremation services" rather than funeral homes. The terms are used somewhat differently by region; in most of the U.S., "funeral home" is the most common term. What matters is that the provider is state-licensed and follows FTC Funeral Rule requirements.

Can I arrange a funeral without a funeral home?

In most states, yes — though it requires navigating legal requirements yourself. The body must be transported in a state-approved manner, death certificates must be filed, and burial permits must be obtained. "Home funerals" — in which families handle all or most of the arrangements themselves — are legal in most states and supported by organizations like the National Home Funeral Alliance. This is a meaningful option for some families but requires planning and comfort with the logistics. For most families, a funeral home handles the necessary procedures and provides significant logistical support.

How to Choose a Funeral Home: What to Look For and What to Ask

Choosing a funeral home is typically one of the hardest consumer decisions a family makes — often under time pressure, in the immediate hours or days after a death, while in acute grief. Knowing what to look for in advance makes the decision significantly easier.

Why This Decision Is So Difficult

Funeral services rank among the largest purchases most families ever make — often $7,000–$15,000 or more for a traditional burial funeral, $3,000–$7,000 for cremation. At the same time, the purchase is made:

Under significant time pressure
In a state of acute grief
Without comparison shopping in the normal sense
Often without prior research or relationships with providers

The result is that families frequently pay more than necessary for services they hadn't intended, accept package deals without understanding what's included, or choose a provider based only on proximity or a name they recognize.

The Funeral Rule: Your Consumer Rights

The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule gives you specific protections. Funeral homes are required to:

Provide a General Price List when you visit in person — a written, itemized list of all goods and services with individual prices
Provide prices over the phone — if you call and ask, they must give you prices for specific services you ask about
Allow you to purchase only what you want — they cannot require you to buy a package; you can select individual items
Not charge a "casket handling fee" for a casket purchased elsewhere (though they can charge a "basic services" fee)
Disclose what is required by law — they can't tell you something is legally required if it isn't (embalming, for instance, is almost never legally required)

Types of Funeral Providers

Traditional full-service funeral homes

Offer the full range of services: body care and preparation, embalming, viewing and visitation, funeral services, coordination with cemeteries, cremation, and more. Range from independent family-owned businesses to national chains (Service Corporation International / Dignity Memorial, Park Lawn, etc.).

Cremation-only providers

Specialize in cremation services, often at lower cost than traditional funeral homes because they carry less overhead. Some offer direct cremation only (no viewing or service); others also offer memorial services after cremation.

Direct cremation or direct burial providers

Handle the minimum legal requirements — transporting the body, filing paperwork, performing cremation or burial — without additional services. These are the lowest-cost options. Direct cremation typically costs $700–$2,500 (vs. $3,000–$7,000+ for a funeral home cremation with services). Families handle their own memorial service separately.

What to Look For

Licensing

Confirm the funeral home is licensed in your state. State funeral boards maintain license registries; you can verify licensure online or by calling the state board. Unlicensed providers are rare but the risk exists.

Pricing transparency

Request the General Price List before making any decisions. A funeral home that is reluctant to provide this, pressures you to commit before you've reviewed pricing, or presents only package deals rather than itemized options should be a caution signal.

Complaints and reputation

Check: the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), your state's funeral regulatory board for disciplinary actions, Google Reviews, and the Funeral Consumer Alliance's consumer resources. A history of unresolved complaints or disciplinary action is significant.

Services offered

Confirm they offer the specific services you need: cremation, specific religious ceremonies, green burial coordination, transport to another city, live-streaming of services, whatever is relevant to your situation.

Facilities

If you'll hold a visitation or service at the funeral home, visit in person. Note the condition, capacity, parking, and accessibility for elderly or disabled attendees.

Staff demeanor

Your family will be in close contact with funeral home staff during an extremely difficult time. Pay attention to how they communicate: Do they listen? Do they respect your wishes? Do they pressure or rush you? Do they answer questions clearly and without condescension?

Questions to Ask

Can I see your General Price List?
What is included in your basic services fee?
Is embalming required, or is refrigeration an option for the same time period?
Can I provide my own casket? What would you charge for handling it?
What are the payment terms? Do you accept payment plans?
What is your process if I want to compare you to another provider?
Are you independently owned or part of a corporate chain?
Who specifically will be handling the arrangements and the body?

Common Upsells to Be Aware Of

Embalming when not required. Embalming is rarely legally required; refrigeration achieves the same preservation for a viewing within a reasonable timeframe. Some funeral homes present it as standard or required when it isn't.
Upgraded caskets framed as respect. The difference between a mid-range and high-end casket is almost entirely aesthetic and has no practical significance. No one who loved the deceased will love them more because of a mahogany casket.
Outer burial containers. Vaults and grave liners are required by many cemeteries (to prevent grave settling) but are not legally required. Shop for these separately if the funeral home is presenting only expensive options.
Flowers through the funeral home. Funeral home flowers are almost always significantly more expensive than ordering directly from a florist.

Pre-Planning a Funeral

One of the best ways to remove this decision from the stress of the immediate death period is to make it in advance. Pre-planning — or even pre-purchasing — funeral services allows you to:

Make decisions calmly and without time pressure
Document your preferences (so your family doesn't have to guess)
Potentially lock in current prices
Relieve your family of a significant logistical and financial burden

If you pre-pay, use a state-regulated funeral trust or insurance policy (not a direct payment to the funeral home, which can be lost if the business closes).