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Contents
Introduction to Funeral Planning.………………..…..…….3
The FTC Funeral Rule……………….………………………….…….4
Types of Funerals……………….………..…………………….…….….5
Funeral Costs ……………………….…….………………….………....….6
Basic Services Fee……………….…………………………….….…….6
Other Goods and Services…………………..…………….….…..….6
Embalming……………….………………….…….…………...6
Caskets……………….…………………………….………….....6-7
Burial Vaults or Grave Liners………….………….……..7
Cash Advances……………….……………..………….………….…....…7
Funeral Prepayment…….................………………..…………………….11
Frequently Asked Questions………………………………….8-10
Funeral Planning Checklist……………….…………..………..…12
Funeral Planning Form…….……………….……………………….13
Contact Information……………………….…….………………..14-15
The material in this brochure
is for informational purposes only.
It is meant to give you general information
and NOT specific legal advice.
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Death is not something anyone likes to think about – let
alone plan for. But when a loved one dies, grieving family
members and friends often are confronted with dozens of
decisions about the funeral — all of which must be made
quickly – adding additional burdens to an already stressful
and overwhelming process.
• What funeral provider should you use?
• What are you legally required to buy?
• What other arrangements should you plan?
• How much is it all going to cost?
Each year, people struggle with these, and many other
questions, as they spend billions of dollars arranging
funerals for family members and friends…. So while
Funeral Planning may not top your list of favorite things to
talk about, doing so will be very beneficially to you -and
even more so to loved ones you leave behind.
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The FTC Funeral Rule
The Funeral Rule is enforced by the Federal Trade
Commission, which gives you the right to the following:
• Buy only the funeral arrangements you want. You have the
right to buy separate goods, such as caskets and services, such as
embalming. You do not have to accept a package that may
include items you do not want.
• Get price information over the phone. Funeral directors must
give you price information if you ask for it.
• Get a written, itemized price list when you visit a funeral
home. The funeral home must give you a General Price List
(GPL) listing all the items and services the home offers, and the
cost of each one.
• Receive a written statement after you decide what you
want, and before you pay. It should show exactly what you are
buying and the cost of each item. This statement must also
describe any legal cemetery or crematory requirement that
requires you to buy any funeral goods or services.
• Provide the funeral home with a casket or urn you buy
elsewhere. The funeral provider cannot refuse to handle a
casket or urn you bought online, at a local casket store, or
somewhere else — or charge you a fee to do it. The funeral
home cannot require you to be there when the casket or urn is
delivered to them.
Make funeral arrangements without embalming. Some states
require embalming or refrigeration if the body is not buried or
cremated within a certain time; some states don’t require it at all. In
most cases, refrigeration is an acceptable alternative. In addition,
you may choose services like direct cremation and immediate burial,
which don’t require any form of preservation. Many funeral homes
have a policy requiring embalming if the body is to be publicly
viewed, but this is not required by law in most states. Ask if the
funeral home offers private family viewing without embalming. If
some form of preservation is a practical necessity, ask the funeral
home if refrigeration is available
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Types of Funerals
Full-service Funeral
This type of funeral, often referred to by funeral providers as a
“traditional” funeral, usually includes a viewing or visitation and
formal funeral service, use of a hearse to transport the body to the
funeral site and cemetery, and burial, entombment, or cremation of
the remains. It is generally the most expensive type of funeral. In
addition to the funeral home’s basic services fee, costs often include
embalming and dressing the body; rental of the funeral home for the
viewing or service; and use of vehicles to transport the family if they
don’t use their own. The costs of a casket, cemetery plot or crypt, and
other funeral goods and services are additional.
Immediate Burial
The body is buried shortly after death, usually in a simple vessel. No
viewing or visitation is involved, so no embalming is necessary. A
memorial service may be held at the graveside or later. Direct burial
usually costs less than the “traditional” full-service funeral. Costs
include the funeral home’s basic services fee, as well as transportation
and care of the body, the purchase of a casket or burial container and
a cemetery plot or crypt. If the family chooses to be at the cemetery
for the burial, the funeral home often charges an additional fee for a
graveside service.
Direct Cremation
The body is cremated shortly after death, without embalming. The
cremated remains are placed in an urn or other container. No
viewing or visitation is involved. The remains can be kept in the
home, buried, placed in a crypt or niche in a cemetery, or buried or
scattered in a favorite spot. Direct cremation usually costs less than
the “traditional” full-service funeral. Costs include the funeral home’s
basic services fee, as well as transportation and care of the body. A
crematory fee may be included or added to the funeral home’s fee.
There also will be a charge for an urn or other container. The cost of
a cemetery plot or crypt is added only if the remains are buried or
entombed.
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Funeral Costs
Basic Services Fee
The Funeral Rule allows funeral providers to charge all customers a
basic services fee. 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
goods or services
Other Goods and Services
Optional goods and services may include transporting the remains;
embalming; use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony or
memorial service; use of equipment and staff; use of a hearse or
limousine; a casket; and cremation or interment.
• Embalming
Many funeral homes require embalming if you’re planning a
viewing or visitation. But embalming generally is not necessary or
legally required if the body is buried or cremated shortly after
death. Eliminating this service can save you hundreds of dollars.
• Caskets
For a “traditional” full-service funeral- A casket is often the single
most expensive item in a “traditional” full-service funeral. Caskets
vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their
visual appeal. Typically, they’re constructed of metal, wood,
fiberboard, fiberglass or plastic. Although an average casket costs
slightly more than $2,000, some mahogany, bronze or copper
caskets may sell for over $10,000. Traditionally, caskets were sold
only by funeral homes. But more and more, showrooms and
websites operated by “third-party” dealers are selling caskets.
You can buy a casket from one of these dealers and have it shipped
directly to the funeral home. The Funeral Rule requires funeral
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homes to agree to use a casket you bought elsewhere, and doesn’t
allow them to charge you a fee for using it.
SCAM ALERT: Look out for the sale of ‘sealed caskets’. The
Funeral Rule forbids claims that these features help preserve the
remains indefinitely because they don’t. They just cost more!
For cremation- Many families that choose cremation rent, rather
than buy, a casket from the funeral home for the visitation and
funeral. If you opt for visitation and cremation, ask about the
rental option.
• Burial Vaults or Grave Liners
Burial vaults or grave liners, also known as outer burial containers,
are commonly used to prevent the ground from caving in as a casket
deteriorates over time. A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete
and covers only the top and sides of the casket. A burial vault is more
substantial and expensive than a grave liner. It surrounds the casket
in concrete or another material and may be sold with a warranty of
protective strength
State laws do not require a vault or liner, and funeral providers may
not tell you otherwise. However, keep in mind that many cemeteries
require some type of outer burial container to prevent the grave from
sinking in the future. Neither grave liners nor burial vaults are
designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains. It
is illegal for funeral providers to claim that a vault will keep water,
dirt, or other debris from penetrating into the casket if that’s not true.
Cash Advances
Cash advances 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 the
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who can order a Death Certificate?
In Pennsylvania, anyone can obtain a copy of a death certificate if the
death occurred at least 50 years ago. Otherwise, you can obtain a
certified copy of a death certificate if you are:
• An immediate family member of the deceased person
• An extended family member who can show a direct
relationship with the deceased person
• A legal representative of the deceased person’s estate
• The deceased person’s agent under a power of
attorney, or
• Any other person who can show a direct interest in the
record and prove that the record is necessary to
determine a personal or property right.
Is embalming required?
Embalming is a process in which blood is drained from the body and
replaced with fluids that delay disintegration. Though it is still
common, embalming is rarely necessary; refrigeration serves the
same purpose.
Pennsylvania rules require a body to be embalmed, placed in a sealed
casket, or refrigerated if final disposition does not occur within 24
hours.
In addition, if the death was due to a noncontagious disease and will
be shipped by common carrier (such as an airplane) to a place that
cannot be reached within 24 hours after death, the body must be
embalmed or placed in a specially sealed container.
Is a casket necessary for burial or cremation?
Burial- No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should
check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type
of container.
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Cremation- No law requires a casket for cremation. On the contrary,
federal law requires a funeral home or crematory to inform you that
you may use an alternative container, and to make such containers
available to you. An alternative container may be made of unfinished
wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.
Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home?
No. Federal law requires funeral homes to accept caskets that
consumers have purchased from another source, such as an online
retailer. You may also build the casket, if you prefer.
Where can bodies be buried in Pennsylvania?
Most bodies are buried in established cemeteries, but burial on
private property may be possible in Pennsylvania. Before conducting
a home burial or establishing a family cemetery, check with the
county or town clerk for any local zoning laws you must follow. If
you bury a body on private land, you should draw a map of the
property showing the burial ground and file it with the property
deed so the location will be clear to others in the future.
Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation?
In Pennsylvania, there are no state laws controlling where you may
keep or scatter ashes. Ashes may be stored in a crypt, niche, grave, or
container at home. If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many
options. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so there is no public
health risk involved in scattering ashes. Use common sense and
refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious
to others.
• Scattering ashes in an established scattering garden. Many
cemeteries provide gardens for scattering ashes. If you’re
interested, ask the cemetery for more information.
• Scattering ashes on private land. You are allowed to scatter
ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter
ashes on someone else’s land, it’s wise to get permission
from the landowner.
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• Scattering ashes on public land. You may wish to check both
city and county regulations and zoning rules before
scattering ashes on local public land, such as in a city park.
However, many people simply proceed as they wish, letting
their best judgment be their guide.
• Scattering ashes on federal land. Officially, you should
request permission before scattering ashes on federal land.
However, you will probably encounter no resistance if you
conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes
well away from trails, roads, facilities, and waterways. You
can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites for
some national parks. For more information, start with the
website of the National Park Service.
https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
• Scattering ashes at sea. The federal Clean Water Act requires
that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical
miles from land. If the container will not easily decompose,
you must dispose of it separately. The EPA does not permit
scattering at beaches or in wading pools by the sea. Finally,
you must notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering ashes at
sea.
• The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters
such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you may be
legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that
manages the waterway.
For more information, including contact information for the EPA
representative for Pennsylvania, see Burial of Human Remains at Sea
on the EPA website.
https://archive.epa.gov/region4/water/oceans/web/html/
Scattering ashes by air. There are no state laws on the matter, but
federal law prohibits dropping objects that might cause harm to
people or property. The U.S. government does not consider cremains
to be hazardous material; all should be well so long as you remove
the ashes from their container before scattering.
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Funeral Prepayment
You have two options for covering your funeral expenses:
1. Pay in advance, or
2. Set aside an account with enough funds
Pay in advance
Millions of Americans have entered into contracts to arrange their
funerals and prepay some or all of the expenses involved. If you
choose to prepay, make sure you are dealing with a reputable funeral
director or establishment – because if they go out of business, your
careful planning and payments may be lost.
Set aside funds
The simplest and most prudent way to take care of the costs for your
final arrangements is to set aside funds in an interest earning, easily
accessible bank or savings account. You can then designate a
beneficiary to claim the funds for your funeral immediately after your
death. If you do chose this route of prepayment, make sure you write
down your desired funeral plans and preferences.
Note: Make sure you fully trust your beneficiary to whom you
leave your funeral funds, as they will be under no legal
obligation to use them for your funeral arrangements
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Contact Information
Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association
7441 Allentown Blvd
Harrisburg, PA 17112
717-545-7215
http://www.pfda.org
Cremation Association of North America
Association of crematories
499 Northgate Parkway
Wheeling, IL 60090-2646
1-312-245-1077
www.cremationassociation.org
Federal Trade Commission
Federal agency that enforces the funeral rule and works to
prevent business practices that are anticompetitive, deceptive,
or unfair to consumers.
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Toll-Free: 1-877-FTC-HELP
www.ftc.gov
Funeral Consumers Alliance
Nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting a consumer’s
right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral.
33 Patchen Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
1-802-865-8300
www.funerals.org
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National Funeral Directors Association
Educational and professional association of funeral directors;
provides consumer information and advice by telephone.
13625 Bishop’s Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
Toll-Free: 1-800-228-6332
www.nfda.org
Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Association of independent locally-owned funeral homes.
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 205
Deerfield, IL 60015
Toll-Free: 1-800-323-4219
www.selectedfuneralhomes.org
Bucks County Military Affairs
Bucks County Government Services Center, Branch Office
7321 New Falls Rd.
Levittown, PA 19055
267-580-3560 - Veteran's Assistant
http://www.buckscounty.org/government/CommunityServi
ces/MilitaryAffairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery
Administration
Provides burial services in veteran’s cemeteries for veterans
and family members. Maintains cemeteries nationwide.
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20420
Toll-Free: 1-800-827-1000
www.cem.va.gov
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The material in this brochure
is for informational purposes only.
It is meant to give you general information
and NOT specific legal advice.
Presented as a public service by
The Bucks County Commissioners
