You are probably reading this under significant pressure. There are decisions in front of you that feel enormous, and a clock in the background you didn't ask for. This guide will help you slow that down just a little — and make sure you don't miss anything important.
Funeral planning gets less overwhelming when you break it into a few decisions: disposition, budget, timing, and the kind of gathering the person would have wanted.
- Ask for itemized prices before discussing packages or add-ons.
- It is okay to separate the immediate disposition from the memorial service and plan them on different timelines.
- Veteran families should check burial and memorial benefits early because they can change the options and the cost.
Planning a funeral doesn't require expertise. It requires knowing your rights, asking the right questions, and taking things one step at a time.
Before You Call the Funeral Home
The first thing to know: you are not required to call a funeral home immediately. In most states, you have 24 to 48 hours before the body must be moved or refrigerated. That window matters. It gives you time to make a considered decision rather than a rushed one.
Before you do anything else, check whether your loved one left any pre-arranged funeral instructions. Many people make funeral plans in advance — sometimes with a specific funeral home, sometimes just written preferences. These instructions should guide every decision that follows.
If the death was expected and a hospice provider was involved, call them first. They will handle the immediate steps, including coordinating with a physician to sign the death certificate. If the death was unexpected and occurred at home, call 911 — emergency services will respond and the medical examiner will be involved if needed. This is routine, not alarming.
Burial vs. Cremation: Understanding Your Options
This is often the first decision you'll need to make, and it shapes everything else. If your loved one left instructions, follow them. If not, here is what you need to know. For a dedicated side-by-side comparison, see Cremation vs. Burial.
Burial
Traditional burial typically includes embalming, a casket, a graveside service, and interment in a cemetery. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial in the US was approximately $8,300 in 2025 — and that figure does not include cemetery costs, a headstone, flowers, or obituary publication fees, which can add several thousand dollars more.
Cremation
Cremation has become the more common choice: the NFDA projects a 2025 cremation rate of 63.4%, compared to 31.6% for burial. The median cost of a cremation service with viewing is approximately $6,280. A direct cremation — with no viewing or formal service — averages around $2,202 nationally, though prices range widely from under $1,000 in some markets to over $3,000 in others.
Cremation does not prevent a meaningful memorial service. Many families choose cremation and hold a celebration of life days or weeks later, which allows out-of-town family members time to travel and reduces the pressure of immediate planning.
Other options
Green or natural burial (without embalming, using biodegradable materials) is a growing option in many states. Alkaline hydrolysis (also called aquamation or water cremation) is available in some states and is less carbon-intensive than flame cremation. If these are of interest, ask funeral homes in your area whether they offer them or can facilitate them.
How to Choose a Funeral Home
You are not obligated to use the first funeral home you contact, and you don't need to visit in person to get accurate pricing. Under the federal FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home is legally required to provide itemized pricing over the phone to anyone who asks. Use this.
Contact two or three funeral homes and ask for their General Price List. Compare the basic services fee (a non-declinable overhead charge present at every funeral home), transport costs, embalming fees, and casket or urn prices. The differences between providers — even in the same city — can be substantial.
Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule
- You must be given a written General Price List when you visit in person, and pricing must be provided over the phone on request
- You cannot be required to purchase a package — you may select only the specific goods and services you want
- Funeral homes cannot refuse to use a casket or urn you purchased elsewhere, and they cannot charge you a handling fee for doing so — this is a binding federal rule
- Embalming is not legally required in most states, and funeral homes must have your permission before performing it
Understanding the Costs
Funeral pricing is not straightforward, and many families are surprised by how quickly costs accumulate. Here is an honest breakdown. For a fuller line-by-line estimate, read Average Funeral Cost in 2026.
What's typically included — and what isn't
The basic services fee covers the funeral home's staff and overhead and is present on every funeral home's price list. It is non-declinable — you pay it regardless of how simple the arrangements are. Beyond that, every other item is individually priced: transportation, embalming, use of facilities, the casket or urn, death certificates, obituary publication. None of these are automatically included.
What can reduce costs significantly
- Direct cremation is the most affordable option, averaging around $2,202 nationally
- Direct burial (no embalming, no viewing) is also significantly less expensive than a traditional service
- Third-party caskets — purchased online or from a casket retailer — can cost thousands less than funeral home caskets, and funeral homes must accept them by law
- Holding the service at a family home, place of worship, or outdoor location rather than at the funeral home can eliminate facility fees
- Veterans may be eligible for burial at no cost in a VA national cemetery, including a gravesite, government headstone, and burial flag. Burial allowances are also available: as of October 2025, the VA provides up to $1,002 for burial expenses and $1,002 toward a plot for non-service-connected deaths, and up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths
Order enough death certificates upfront
You'll need certified copies of the death certificate for banks, insurers, government agencies, and the probate court. Order 8 to 12 copies through the funeral home when making arrangements. It is easier and less expensive to order them now than to go back and request additional copies later. See our full guide: How to Get a Death Certificate.
Planning the Service
A meaningful service doesn't need to be elaborate. What matters is that it reflects the person who died — their personality, their relationships, the life they lived.
Start with the format: a traditional religious ceremony, a secular celebration of life, a graveside service, or a small private gathering. Once that's decided, the rest follows more naturally — date, venue, speakers, music, readings, and any visual tributes like photo slideshows or memory tables.
Divide the tasks. Assign specific roles to willing family members or close friends — someone to write or deliver the eulogy, someone to coordinate flowers and programs, someone to manage the reception. No single person should be carrying all of this weight, especially while grieving.
If your loved one was part of a faith community, reach out to their clergy or spiritual leader early. They can provide both guidance on the format of the service and meaningful personal support.
Writing the Obituary
An obituary has two jobs: it notifies the community of the death and service details, and it preserves a brief record of the person's life. Most include the full name, dates and places of birth and death, surviving family members, a short life summary, and service information.
Newspapers typically charge by the word or line, so a concise, well-organized draft keeps costs manageable. You can also publish the obituary at no cost on platforms like Legacy.com or directly through the funeral home's website.
For a step-by-step guide: How to Write an Obituary.
After the Funeral: What Comes Next
Once the service is over, the administrative work begins. It can feel as daunting as the funeral planning — but it doesn't have to happen all at once.
In the days following the service, the priority notifications are the Social Security Administration (call 1-800-772-1213), the deceased's bank and financial institutions, life insurance companies, and any pension or retirement account providers. If there is a will, it should be filed with the probate court in the county where your loved one lived.
For a complete breakdown of every step, including a checklist: The AfterKin Guide.
Funeral Planning Checklist
Use this to stay oriented. Check off items as you go — you don't have to do everything at once.
- Check for any pre-arranged funeral instructions or pre-paid plans
- Contact the hospice provider, doctor, or 911 to handle the immediate steps
- Contact 2–3 funeral homes and request their General Price List
- Decide on burial vs. cremation, in consultation with immediate family
- Choose a funeral home and confirm what is and isn't included in the price
- Order 8–12 certified death certificates through the funeral home
- Decide on the type of service and choose a date, time, and venue
- Assign tasks to family members: eulogy, flowers, reception, programs
- Write and publish the obituary
- Check VA eligibility if your loved one served in the military
- Notify Social Security, insurers, and financial institutions after the service
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a funeral cost in 2026?
The median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is approximately $8,300, not including cemetery costs, headstone, or flowers, which can add several thousand dollars more. A cremation service with viewing averages around $6,280. A direct cremation — with no viewing or formal service — averages around $2,202 nationally, though prices range from under $1,000 to over $3,000 depending on location.
Is embalming required by law?
No. Embalming is not legally required in most states. Funeral homes must have your explicit permission before embalming and cannot require it as a condition of other services. It is typically only required if the body is being transported across state lines or if there will be a significant delay before burial.
Can I buy a casket somewhere other than the funeral home?
Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes are legally required to accept a casket or urn purchased elsewhere and cannot charge a handling fee for doing so. Caskets purchased online or from third-party retailers are often thousands of dollars less than those sold by funeral homes.
Do I have to use the first funeral home I contact?
No. You are free to contact as many funeral homes as you like and compare prices. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must provide itemized pricing over the phone to anyone who asks. Contact two or three and compare their General Price Lists before committing to anything.
What is the cheapest funeral option?
Direct cremation — with no embalming, no viewing, and no formal service at the funeral home — is the most affordable option, averaging around $2,202 nationally. You can still hold a meaningful memorial service separately at a time and place that works for your family. Veterans may also qualify for free burial in a VA national cemetery.
Helpful planning tools and providers
Use the calculator first if you are trying to budget.
We reviewed this page against official government, court, regulator, and primary-source materials where available. Exact procedures can still vary by state, county, institution, or provider.