Understanding Funeral Charges and Costs

Basic Service Fees

The Funeral Rule allows funeral providers to charge a basic services fee that customers cannot decline to pay. The basic services fee includes services that are common to all funerals, regardless of the specific arrangement.

Our fee for the basic services of funeral director and staff include, but is not limited to, around the clock staff to respond to initial request for service; conducting the arrangement conference with the family or responsible party; arrangement of the funeral; preparation and placement of obituary and/or death notices; filing of the death certificate and permit; assistance with notification to social security, life insurance companies and the veterans administration; register book and acknowledgement cards for service; shelter of remains; cosmetology, dressing, and casketing of body; use of administrative car; staff assistance prior to, during, and following the funeral, including coordination with those providing other portions of the funeral. Also included in these charges are overhead expenses relative to our facility such as insurance, maintenance, and utility expenses, secretarial and administrative costs, equipment and inventory costs. This fee for our basic services and overhead will be added to the total cost of the funeral arrangements you select. (This fee is already included in our charges for direct cremations, immediate burials, and forwarding or receiving remains.)

The fee does not include charges for optional services or merchandise.

Embalming or Refrigeration

Most people think that the funeral home is required to embalm every human remains that they handle. Embalming by definition is the art and science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall decomposition to make them suitable for public display at a funeral. In practice since ancient Egypt, embalming is most often done by using chemical substances. We use embalming today for two primary reasons--to allow adequate time between death and burial to observe social customs such as visitations and funeral services, and to prevent the spread of infection. Cosmetic work is often used for aesthetic reasons. Contrary to popular belief, except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it. Florida Law requires the funeral home to bury the remains within 24 hours of the death, embalm the remains or refrigerate the remains.

The Funeral Rule statement on embalming requires funeral service providers to inform consumers that the law does not require embalming (unless in a specific special case when it does). The language the FTC requires says: "Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial."

Refrigeration is another alternative to embalming. Most funeral facilities have refrigeration units that allow for this selection. The funeral facility would place the loved one in a refrigeration unit that is maintained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below until the choice of final disposition is made or until the time for disposition.

Use of Facilities, Equipment & Staff

These are costs for optional goods and services such as transporting the remains; use of the funeral home, equipment and staff for the viewing/visitation, ceremony or memorial service; use of equipment and staff for a graveside service; use of a hearse, limousine or flower van; register book; memorial folders; prayer cards; crucifix, a casket, outer burial container or alternate container; and cremation. Depending on the services you desire, there typically are charges for the staff, equipment or facilities utilized for the services you select. (ie: Viewing / Visitation, Funeral Service or Memorial Service at Harper-Morris Chapel, Funeral Service at a Church, Graveside Service etc.)

Understanding Casket Cost

Most people feel that the casket is the most expensive item you'll buy if you plan a "traditional," full-service funeral. Contrary to popular belief this isn’t always the case. In today’s market some funeral facilities charge higher service charges and drop the cost of their caskets to the public. Caskets vary widely in style and price. Typically, they're constructed of various types of metal (20 gauge steel up to high-end metals like Copper and Bronze) or wood selections (Pressed wood up to high-end woods like Cherry or Mahogany). Although average casket costs are around $1,500-$2,500, some other caskets like copper, mahogany or bronze caskets can go even higher.

While you are at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel to look at a casket selection, we conveniently have a large showroom with approximately 20 different full size caskets on display that you can see and touch (some selections are available for customization/personalization). If you do not find something, we also have a large selection for ordering as well. A lot of today’s funeral homes only show images or corner slices of caskets for selection. Our family believes in allowing our clients to see the quality and touching the value in what they are purchasing. The Federal Trades Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule requires all funeral homes to show you a list of caskets the company sells, with descriptions and prices from lowest to highest.

It's important to remember when buying a casket that its purpose is to provide a dignified way to move and display the body before burial or cremation. No casket, regardless of its qualities or cost, will preserve a body forever. Metal caskets frequently are described as "gasketed," "protective" or "sealer" caskets. These terms mean that the casket has a rubber gasket or some other feature that is designed to delay the penetration of water into the casket and/or help prevent rust. The Funeral Rule forbids claims that these features help preserve the remains indefinitely because they don't.

Most metal caskets are made from rolled steel of varying gauges - the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. Some metal caskets come with a warranty for longevity. Wooden caskets generally are not gasketed and don't have a warranty for longevity. They can be hardwood like mahogany, walnut, cherry or oak, or softwood like pine. Manufacturers of both wooden and metal caskets usually warrant workmanship and materials.

Outer Burial Containers / Vaults

Burial vaults or grave liners, also known as outer burial containers, are commonly used in "traditional," full-service funerals and in some cases cemeteries may require them for cremated remains. The vault or liner is placed in the ground before burial, and the casket is lowered into it at burial. The purpose is to prevent the ground from caving in as the casket deteriorates over time. A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete and will satisfy any cemetery requirement. Grave liners cover only the top and sides of the casket. A burial vault is more substantial and expensive than a grave liner. It surrounds the casket in concrete or another material and may be sold with a warranty of protective strength.

State laws do not require a vault or liner, and funeral providers may not tell you otherwise. However, keep in mind that many cemeteries require some type of outer burial container to prevent the grave from sinking in the future. Neither grave liners nor burial vaults are designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains. It is illegal for funeral providers to claim that a vault will keep water, dirt or other debris from penetrating into the casket if that's not true.

Before showing you any outer burial containers, a funeral provider is required to give you a list of prices and descriptions.

Cash Advances / Third Party Items

These are charges for goods and services from outside vendors the funeral home puts on its contract on your behalf, including certified copies of the death certificate from the local Health Department, flowers, obituary notices, officiating clergy honorariums / tips, musicians, cemetery fees, etc. Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to their cost. Harper-Morris’ policy is to just pass along whatever the outside vendors charge to our families. The Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance item.

Calculating Actual Costs

The funeral provider must give you an itemized statement of the total cost of the funeral goods and services you have selected when you are making the arrangements. If the funeral provider doesn't know the cost of the cash advance items at the time, he or she is required to give you a written "good faith estimate." (e.g. obituary costs, cemetery costs, etc.) This statement also must disclose any legal, cemetery or crematory requirements that you purchase for any specific funeral goods or services. The Funeral Rule does not require any specific format for this information. Funeral providers may include it in any document they give you at the end of your discussion about funeral arrangements. When a Harper-Morris Funeral Director meets with you or your family we go over an itemized statement/contract at this time to assure complete understanding. We will always assist in helping offer suggestions or advice to help facilitate what your family wants at the best possible price.