Immediate Planning

If you have found yourself at this page then you are grieving and in need of impartial, comprehensive funeral planning information, including laws, that outline your rights. You can use this site to help educate yourself and make funeral plans from the privacy and comfort of your own home.

When planning a loved one’s funeral in a short time frame many people feel vulnerable and hurried into quick, hasty decisions. We suggest consulting with other family members or close friends to discuss your options and concerns with them.

The first step in planning a funeral is to determine if the deceased had specific requests or a funeral plan in place. These would be the wishes of the deceased and care should be observed to comply with their requests. You will want to incorporate these requests into your funeral planning. Unfortunately the overwhelming majority of people do not have funeral plans in place. As family members, we are left with a seemingly daunting job of creating an appropriate, meaningful send off for our loved one, Fortunately, Planningafuneral.com can help

Please download our planning forms to get started. The first two forms listed (comparison and Immediate Planning funeral checklist) will be particularly helpful to you at this time as they tell you what questions to ask and have space to record the answers. After services take place, you can work on the Final Affairs checklist and forms for assistance with numerous details such as closing accounts, sorting through policies and distribution of assets.

Choosing a Funeral Home, Crematorium, and or Cemetery

Please consider contacting a minimum of two funeral homes, crematoriums, and or cemeteries for pricing. Check to see if the funeral homes are owned by the same corporation or family. Many funeral homes have been quietly purchased by national corporations or other funeral homes but the original “family” name is maintained in order to give customers the impression that they are dealing with a local family owned business. Simply ask them who they are owned by to assure that you are not receiving multiple quotes from the same owner.

Which funeral home or crematorium to use? Use our free directories to locate funeral providers and other resources near you. Click here for directories.

Options and Decisions

If no funeral planning instructions were left by the deceased then you will need to determine what type of funeral arrangements to make. Only choose the funeral services that you want. Do not be pressured into something that you did not want. For example (some items may seem frivolous like gloves for the pallbearers, 6 pair at $20 per pair for a total of $120. One group of widowers interviewed thought the gloves had to be purchased). Use our funeral planning checklist to keep track of things that need to be done. And, use our funeral provider’s comparison form to compare packages and pricing for funerals cremations and burial. It is very helpful to have everything in one place while you are making the necessary funeral arrangements during a stressful time. Click here to order the forms.

Traditional funerals typically include a 1or 2 day viewing and a service followed by a burial in the ground, vault, mausoleum or niche. It may include a graveside ceremony. Other items usually purchased under this heading include a hearse, family limo, and flower car, etc . View cost cutting options
Visitation as part of the funeral arrangements, whether final interment will be burial or cremation, you will need to decide on an open or closed casket. If the deceased had not expressed prior wishes and there has been an accident or long illness some families opt for a private viewing and then a closed casket with pictures of the deceased on display.
Cremation you may have the option to rent a casket for the visitation at the funeral home or other location (church hall, etc.) and then purchase a simple container or cremation casket for the cremation.
Direct cremation or Direct Burial without a viewing - If choosing this option the family should be aware that many times they can arrange a brief private viewing at the crematorium or funeral home.

When choosing either direct burial or direct cremation the body will not need to be embalmed. Funeral homes are not allowed to embalm the body without permission and law does not require it. However, when choosing a visitation, embalming may be required by the funeral home for the proper presentation of the deceased.

Direct Burial - can include a gravesite ceremony or a memorial service at a later date. When planning a memorial service you are able to give out of town mourners more time to make travel arrangements. But don’t wait too long; some type of closure is important in the healing process for survivors.
Direct Cremation- can be followed up with a ceremony for the burial or placement of the ashes in a niche. Other popular choices are a scattering service or a memorial service at a later date.

Special Situations

Death out of town or when holding two visitations in different locations (i.e.; retiree to Florida, originally from Ohio). This truly is the most expensive type of arrangement to be made. However it is done occasionally. It involves the services of two funeral homes and greater distance than a hearse would typically travel. If the deceased remains need to be flown, special arrangements will need to be made for this with the airlines. Funeral homes will be able to make the necessary logistical arrangements.

Note. For more information and options please review the death away from home Click here.

Important Information

According to the FTC Funeral Rule funeral homes must give you an itemized statement of the cost of all goods and services you have selected. You should be able to get this information in person or on the phone so you can comparison shop in the comfort of your own home without additional sales pressure. You may ask for pricing and information to be e-mailed or faxed to you, but these two options are not mandated by law. But it would be in the funeral home’s best interest to accommodate you). See general price list resource for more information.

Many funeral providers offer specially priced packages that contain a variety of commonly selected goods and services for a funeral. You have the right to buy individual goods and services. You may not be interested in some of the items or services that they have in their package deals. Only buy what you want.

Be aware of a common practice especially for people who have an immediate need, where the funeral provider will show three caskets knowing that families usually choose the one priced in the middle. Unfortunately, many times the lower cost caskets are not even on display or shown. Remember to ask to see a less expensive casket to see if that better meets you needs or economic situation.

*Please note if state or local law requires you to purchase a particular item. The funeral provider must disclose these items on the price list, with a reference to the specific law.

Buying a casket is usually one of the most expensive individual funeral items. Consider buying a casket online or from a casket store.. Many locations can deliver within 24 to 48 hours. Call and check how quickly they can get the casket and arrange delivery to the funeral home of your choice. This can save money and according to the FTC funeral law all funeral homes must receive delivery of a casket that was purchased from an outside source. Funeral homes can not charge a handling fee.