The Funeral Rule

Furthermore, The Rule prohibits them from: misrepresenting legal, crematory, and cemetery requirements embalming for a fee without permission requiring the purchase of a casket for direct cremation require you to buy certain funeral goods and services as a condition for furnishing other funeral goods or services engaging in other deceptive or unfair practices

Any Funeral Provider in violation of The Rule is subject to penalties of up to $10,000 per violation!

With that being said, you should know what to expect when you visit your local funeral provider.

The funeral provider is required to give you a "General Price List" (GPL), when they begin to discuss any of the following: type of funeral or disposition that they arrange specific goods and services that are offered price of goods and services

Information Required on A General List Price

According to The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule, dated August 1995, the General Price List (GPL) should: be printed or typewritten contain the name, address, and telephone number of the funeral provider's place of business, including address and telephone number of each branch (if relevant) the caption "General Price List" the effective date of the price list

GPL's six required disclosures:

• YOUR right to select only the goods and services desired
• Embalming
• Alternative containers for direct cremation
• the basic services fee
• The Casket Price List
• The Outer Burial Container Price List

For more information on "The FTC Funeral Rule", please visit their website.

A funeral provider is anyone who sells or offers to sell funeral goods and both types of funeral services.
They do not have to be a licensed funeral director and the business does not have to be a licensed funeral home to be covered by the Funeral Rule. Cemeteries, crematories, and other businesses can also be "funeral providers" if they market both funeral goods and services.