Guides
The FTC Funeral Rule: your rights when arranging a funeralPrices by phone, the general price list, casket and vault price lists, buying only what you want, embalming, cremation without a casket, the itemized statement and cash advances.Direct cremation: prices, containers and what the Funeral Rule requiresWhat direct cremation includes, why you don't need a casket, embalming, funeral homes vs. crematories, authorizing cremation, urns and questions to ask.How funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries are licensed in California, Connecticut, Illinois and VirginiaWhat each state licenses, the state rules that add to the Funeral Rule, Illinois cemetery exemptions, Virginia perpetual care trust funds and how to read the listings.Planning ahead: who decides, preneed contracts and cemetery propertyCalifornia's order of decision-makers, questions to ask about preneed arrangements, state protections, cemetery property, paying for a funeral and comparing providers.