Guided FAQ doorway
Funeral home, cremation, burial, and price questions
Existing PathAfter FAQ answers about funeral homes, cremation, burial, pricing, and pressure to pay.
Prices and choices
What if a funeral home demands payment in full before releasing the body?Funeral homes can require payment before services, but they cannot hold a body indefinitely as leverage. In California, if a funeral home is acting impr… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat is funeral home price gouging after a death?Charging significantly more than the stated price list, applying hidden fees, or pressuring a grieving family into unnecessary upgrades. In California,… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudHow do I know if a funeral home is overcharging me?The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give you an itemized General Price List when you ask — by phone, in person, or in writing. Compare at lea… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat funeral home charges are actually legally required in California?Almost none. The only things truly required are: a basic container for cremation or a casket for burial, a transportation permit, and filing of the deat… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat is a "direct cremation" upsell scam?Advertising a low price for direct cremation, then pressuring families to upgrade once they call — claiming the low-price option is unavailable or inade… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat is a prepaid funeral plan and is it safe?A contract paying in advance for funeral services. In California, prepaid funeral funds must be held in a trust account separate from the funeral home's… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat is the funeral rule and how does it protect me?The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) requires funeral providers to: give you an itemized price list when asked, not require you to buy a package, allo… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudCan I bring a casket I purchased elsewhere to a funeral home?Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule prohibits funeral homes from refusing to use a casket purchased elsewhere or charging a handling fee for doing so. You can pur… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudWhat is a funeral home's obligation to itemize charges?They must provide an itemized statement of charges before performing services, and a final itemized statement after. Review both carefully. Question any… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudDo I have to decide about burial or cremation right now?No. The body can be refrigerated while you take time to decide. Ask the funeral home about refrigeration-only options. Do not let anyone pressure you in… Right After It Happens
Release and next steps
Who picks up the body after someone dies?A funeral home or cremation provider you choose. The coroner or medical examiner only takes the body if the death requires investigation. Once they rele… Right After It HappensDo I need to be there when the body is picked up?No. Someone should be accessible by phone, but you do not have to be present. Make sure the funeral home has access to the location and that you have co… Right After It HappensHow long can a body stay at home after death?Not long without refrigeration. In California, the body should be transferred within 24 hours in most situations. A funeral home can handle refrigeratio… Right After It HappensCan the body be cremated right away?Not immediately. California requires a 24-hour waiting period after death before cremation. The cremation permit and death certificate must be filed fir… Right After It HappensWhat happens to the body if I can't afford a funeral?You can ask about direct cremation — the lowest-cost option, usually $700–$2,000 in California. If you truly cannot afford anything, ask the county publ… Right After It HappensWhat if I'm far away and can't get there immediately?Call the hospital, coroner, or funeral home by phone. They can hold the body with refrigeration while you travel. You do not need to be physically prese… Practical and ImmediateWhat if a funeral home demands payment in full before releasing the body?Funeral homes can require payment before services, but they cannot hold a body indefinitely as leverage. In California, if a funeral home is acting impr… Funeral Home and Cremation FraudDo I have to decide about burial or cremation right now?No. The body can be refrigerated while you take time to decide. Ask the funeral home about refrigeration-only options. Do not let anyone pressure you in… Right After It Happens