Funeral Costs: Calculating Costs Of Burial And Funeral Services

Added August 27, 2005 by ThinkGlink.com Staff

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Summary: There are several costs involved to funeral and burial services. Funeral and burial costs include fees for the funeral director and staff, costs for items needed for burial, and money given to vendors for optional services. Funeral and burial costs can get expensive especially if you're unprepared for the planning process.

Q. What do funeral costs include?

A. It's an unfortunate fact of life that most of us will at one time be responsible for planning a funeral. It's a vulnerable time because it's a purchase that you don't frequently make. As such, we've outlined some of the key funeral costs that you may incur as you go through the funeral planning process.

Here are the main types of funeral costs:

Basic services fee for the funeral director and staff - The Funeral Rule allows funeral providers to charge a basic services fee that customers cannot decline to pay. The basic services fee includes services that are common to all funerals, regardless of the specific arrangement. These include funeral planning, securing the necessary permits and copies of death certificates, preparing the notices, sheltering the remains, and coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory or other third parties. The fee does not include charges for optional services or merchandise.

Charges for other services and merchandise - These are costs for optional goods and services such as transporting the remains; embalming and other preparation; use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony or memorial service; use of equipment and staff for a graveside service; use of a hearse or limousine; a casket, outer burial container or alternate container; and cremation or interment.

Cash advance - These are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf, including flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, officiating clergy, and organists and soloists. Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to their cost. The Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance item.

Aug. 30, 2005.

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