Funeral Costs: Your Essential Checklist

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Make a copy of this essential checklist.  Take a clean copy to each funeral home that you visit and fill in the sections that apply.  You will then be able to compare services offered by different funeral homes and their costs.

Funeral Home Visit

Name of Funeral Home: _____________________________________________________________________

Address of Funeral Home: _____________________________________________________________________

Basic Services

(This section is mandatory)

Service or Product

Cost ($)

Pickup of body

Basic service fee for funeral director and staff

Facility use (including storage and refrigeration of the body)

Documentation and registration

Subtotal:

Body Disposition

(You must pick one option)

Service or Product

Cost ($)

Option A:

Cremation

Fee for cremation work

Container or urn

Burial of ashes – cemetery plot

Burial of ashes – urn garden

Burial of ashes – columbarium

Memorial marker – e.g. bronze plaque (include a description here):

Temporary memorial marker

Other fees

Subtotal:

Option B: 

Full Body Burial

Embalming

Other preparation of body (cosmetology, dressing, casketing)

Casket

(include a description of the casket and the model number here):

Outer burial container – e.g. vault (include a description and the model number here):

Grave liner (if required)

Cost of a cemetery plot or crypt (if you don’t already own one)

Perpetual care

Opening and closing the grave or crypt

Grave marker or monument

(include a description here):

Temporary grave marker

Grave marker or monument set up fee

Subtotal:

Option C:

Donation of the Body to a Medical School or Hospital

Transportation of the body to the school or hospital

Other fees

Subtotal:

Ceremonies

(Complete this section if you are having a service)

Service or Product

Cost ($)

Viewing or visitation fees – funeral home facility and staff fees

Clergy’s honorarium or celebrant’s fees

Funeral or memorial ceremony fees

Flowers

Graveside service fees

Guest register book

Hearse or funeral coach

Limousine or lead vehicle

Service car or flower car

Printed materials (e.g. programs)

Musicians

Subtotal:

Other

(Optional)

Service or Product

Cost ($)

Obituary

Funeral reception venue fee

Funeral reception catering

Subtotal:

GRAND TOTAL: