Sources and method
Where the words and numbers come from
Everything this site says about your rights is quoted from two public sources. The totals are plain addition of the prices you type.
Sources
- 16 CFR Part 453, the Funeral Industry Practices Rule (“the Funeral Rule”), as published on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), text current as of September 1, 2026: ecfr.gov, Title 16, Part 453.
- The FTC’s consumer page “The FTC Funeral Rule” (part of its series “Shopping for Funeral Services”), read October 10, 2026: consumer.ftc.gov.
This site does not publish average funeral prices or any funeral home’s prices. It has none to show: only the prices you type.
How the Reader adds up
- Only ticked items are counted. A ticked item with an empty box is listed as “No price”, and that list’s total is marked as not complete.
- Death certificate copies: the price for one copy times the number of copies.
- When a direct cremation, immediate burial, forwarding or receiving price is ticked, the basic services fee is not added on top. The Rule’s required wording says that fee “is already included in our charges for direct cremations, immediate burials, and forwarding or receiving remains” (16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(iii)(C)(1)). If a list says otherwise, ask the funeral home.
- Totals are split into the funeral home’s own goods and services, cash advance items (paid to others through the funeral home, 16 CFR 453.1(b)) and cemetery charges.
- With two or more lists, each total is compared with the lowest total you entered. The comparison is of your numbers only.
The rows
The funeral home rows follow the items a General Price List must price if they are offered (16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii) and (iii)). Row names are ours; the references are exact.
- Direct cremation (package price) 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(C)
- Immediate burial (package price) 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(D)
- Forwarding remains to another funeral home 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(A)
- Receiving remains from another funeral home 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(B)
- Basic services of funeral director and staff 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(iii)(C)
- Transfer of remains to the funeral home 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(E)
- Embalming 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(F)
- Other preparation of the body 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(G)
- Facilities and staff for viewing 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(H)
- Facilities and staff for funeral ceremony 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(I)
- Facilities and staff for memorial service 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(J)
- Equipment and staff for graveside service 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(K)
- Hearse 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(L)
- Limousine 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(ii)(M)
- Casket 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(iii)(A)
- Alternative container 16 CFR 453.1(a)
- Outer burial container (vault or grave liner) 16 CFR 453.2(b)(4)(iii)(B)
- Crematory fee 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Death certificate copies (price for one copy) 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Obituary notice 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Clergy honorarium 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Flowers 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Musicians or singers 16 CFR 453.1(b)
- Other cash advance items 16 CFR 453.1(b)