The FTC Funeral Rule: Your Rights When Arranging a Funeral
The Funeral Rule is a federal regulation enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (16 CFR Part 453). It applies to funeral providers across the United States and exists so that grieving families can compare prices and buy only what they want. Knowing it takes five minutes and can save real money.
Your rights, in plain English
1. You can get prices over the phone. Funeral homes must give you price information by phone if you ask. You don't have to give your name or visit in person.
2. You get a written, itemized General Price List (GPL). When you meet in person to talk about arrangements, the funeral home must give you a General Price List you can keep.
3. You can buy only what you want. You have the right to buy goods and services individually rather than as a package. Typically you pay a non-declinable basic services fee plus only what you choose (unless state law requires a particular item, which must be explained in writing).
4. You can use a casket or urn bought elsewhere. The funeral home may not refuse to handle a casket or urn you bought somewhere else, and may not charge a fee for using it.
5. Embalming is generally not required by law. Funeral homes may not tell you it is when it isn't. A funeral home may require it for certain choices, such as a public viewing, as its own policy; ask about alternatives such as refrigeration or a closed casket.
6. Direct cremation doesn't require a casket. The provider must make an alternative container (for example, unfinished wood or cardboard) available.
7. You see price lists before products. You must be shown a casket price list before seeing caskets, and an outer burial container price list before seeing vaults or liners.
8. You get an itemized statement of everything you selected and its price before you pay.
What the rule doesn't cover
Cemeteries, monument dealers and some third-party sellers that don't also sell funeral services may not be covered in the same way. Ask them for written prices too. State laws can add further protections.
How to use your rights in practice
- Call two or three funeral homes and ask for prices of the specific items you want (see questions to ask a funeral home).
- Ask them to email the GPL.
- Compare side by side. Bring the comparison to the meeting.
- Before signing, read the itemized statement line by line.
If you believe a provider violated the rule, you can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state's funeral licensing board.
Source: Federal Trade Commission, "The FTC Funeral Rule" (consumer.ftc.gov) and 16 CFR Part 453. General information, not legal advice.
The Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack includes this as a printable page to bring to the arrangement meeting, plus a comparison sheet for three providers.
Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack — $12
17-page workbook with your FTC Funeral Rule rights, funeral home comparison, budget planner, 6 obituary templates, eulogy outline and program template. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Funeral Planning & Obituary PackFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- How To Write an Obituary: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (With Template)
- Obituary Examples: Short, Traditional and Celebration-of-Life Wording
- What Not To Put in an Obituary (Protect Your Family From Scams)
- How To Write a Eulogy: A Simple 4-Part Outline (With Prompts)
- Funeral Planning Checklist: Every Decision, in Order
- How Much Does a Funeral Cost? 2023 Median Prices and How To Budget
- Questions To Ask a Funeral Home Before You Sign Anything
- Funeral Program Template: A Simple Order of Service
- Funeral Thank-You Note Wording: Short Examples for Every Situation