Funeral Homes

Although it is not required to use a funeral home when planning or conducting a funeral, most people lack the experience or legal knowledge necessary to manage the details on their own.  According to the National Funeral Directors Association, there are 2,368 funeral homes in the United States. How do you decide which one is right for you? 

Most people don’t shop around for a funeral home, they just pick the one closest to them or select a funeral home their family or friends have done business with in the past.  It is recommended to call or visit more than one to ensure the funeral home you're working with provides the best fit for your situation.        

                                        
By federal regulation, funeral homes are required to provide you with printed price lists or quote them over the phone. It is a good idea to call or visit several funeral homes to ensure the one you prefer is competitively priced. Many funeral homes offer package deals that save money versus purchasing items or services individually. Offering package funerals is permitted by law, as long as an itemized price list also is provided.

If doing business with a locally owned and operated family business is important to you, ask about ownership. More and more small, privately owned funeral homes are being bought out by large corporations. Approximately 11 percent of the funeral homes in the United States are owned by publicly-traded corporations.

You may find several funeral home listings for your area in the section above titled, Find the Perfect Resource by Location.