A Funeral Planner's Guide To Understanding Rights About Funeral Planning
It is important to remember that even though you want a nice service at the funeral home for a loved one who left you with making plans, you do not have to pay an expensive bill for a funeral if you do not have the money. Most funeral home directors will take the planning process a step at a time to help you understand your options, but when there is so much emotion involved on your part, it can be difficult to remember that there may be ways you can save.
You Do Not Have to Buy Funeral Items From the Funeral Home
From the small details, like clothing and flowers, to the large staples at a funeral, such as the casket, if you believe that you can get what is needed elsewhere for a better price, you absolutely can. The funeral home director may try to encourage you to get everything from them, but this is only to make the whole process easier on you at your time of grief. You can shop elsewhere for what you need if you have the time, and you may find that other places can offer funeral items at a better rate.
You Have the Right to Opt Out of Embalming
You are not required by law to have a person embalmed, but this is one fact that most people do not know, simply because it is rarely ever talked about. If you would prefer to skip embalming, which typically costs between $495 to $1290, depending on the funeral home, that is your decision. You should keep in mind, however, that if your loved one is not embalmed, you may have to have a direct burial or a quick viewing with immediate family only, as embalming slows the natural progression of the body breaking down.
You Can Choose to Skip Funeral Services Completely
Even though a final send off for your loved one is a nice gesture, it is not something that you have to do. If your loved one has few remaining friends or relatives, or lived a rather solitary life, it may be illogical to pay for a fancy funeral service for only a few people. If you would rather not have a funeral service at all, talk openly with the funeral director about your wishes.
Even though you may be left with planning a funeral unexpectedly, there are ways to save money. If you would like to know more about what your rights when you are left to plan a funeral, talk to a funeral home director or funeral home like Sturtevant Funeral Home for more information.
