Deciding on a Funeral Home
Funeral homes play a larger role than just being the caretaker
In modern times, funeral homes have played a large part in the dealings with the deceased. Funeral homes generally are able to accommodate the many different faiths and customs.
You can visit the Federal Trade Commission site for the complete details of the Funeral Law but the short about it is that it’s designed to enable funeral consumers to be aware of the charges prior to agreeing to engage a funeral home and to only choose what services and goods they need. It also makes it illegal for funeral homes to pressure consumers to purchase a certain package, or to impose a handling fee for any third party’s merchandise and services, or to add in extra charges for any services or goods not selected. All funeral homes must provide you with a details list of services and goods and their prices.
The basic service provided by a funeral home include the transportation of the body to the funeral home, the custodial care and preparation of the body, the embalming (if required), the funeral service – either at the chapel, or gravesite, and the burial itself or cremation of the body.
A funeral home is responsible in procuring the death certificate and burial permit. They will also help with paperwork for social security, insurance as well as wills and probate. They will take care of obituaries and help you with the application for veterans benefits such as flag, marker and cash funeral benefit.
Other services it offers include securing a cemetery plot and acquiring the interment vessel – a coffin or any other outer burial vessels or grave liners as required by the cemetery, perpetual upkeep of the plot, or securing a place at a columbarium . If you choose an above-ground burial, they can assist you with a mausoleum.
There are also funeral homes that offer ‘green burial’ services. This typically means that no formaldehyde-based embalming technique is used, no metal or concrete grave liners are used and the casket is usually made from pinewood or other sustainable natural materials, have no metal handles and utilizes only non-toxic wood glue. You also have the option to open and close the graves yourselves either by hand or using a backhoe.
Funeral homes now have evolved and offer online memorial services as well. Some funeral homes require a promissory note as a personal guarantee for the settlement for any unpaid bills. Generally, funeral expenses shall be borne by the deceased estate or insurance.