In the midst of grieving the death of a loved one, it can be difficult to switch gears and think about financial arrangements to pay for the funeral. However, you and your funeral director can ensure there are no surprises by making finances a part of the discussion throughout the process.

A licensed funeral director will be open and transparent when discussing the costs related to planning a meaningful tribute for your loved one. This begins when you first meet with your funeral director. He or she will provide you with the funeral home’s General Price List and payment policy to fully disclose the costs of the goods and services related to planning a funeral.

Similarly, as you discuss options with your funeral director, it is very important that you are open and honest about your budget. Regardless of your family’s financial plan, you will be able to plan a meaningful tribute that beautifully memorializes the life of your loved one.

When selecting service and merchandise options, ask yourself two questions with regard to costs:

1) Does this help me meaningfully memorialize the life of my loved one?

2) Does this fit within my budget? If it does not, ask your funeral director to recommend similar items that are more budget-appropriate. You can likely achieve a similar result by spending a little less.

Remember, no one should feel pressured into purchasing anything that does not fit within a budget or that does not provide value to the service.

Many funeral homes have established a uniform payment policy to serve all families fairly and to prevent misunderstandings.  It is not uncommon for funeral homes to require partial or 100% of all expenses prior to your loved one’s service.  It is also important to know that prices of funeral products and services vary depending upon where you live.

Payment Options

Funeral homes may offer families the following payment options:

• Verifiable and assignable insurance policy
  
• Pre-arranged funeral plan
  
• Cash
  
• Check
  
• Major credit cards
  
• Some funeral homes offer, through a third-party provider, simple and affordable financing terms with no interest on principle if paid in full within six months.
  

Some expenses such as floral arrangements, officiant honorariums and published tributes, are considered cash advanced items.  The funeral home, for your convenience, may advance cash on those selections.