What’s the Funeral Rule?

Planning a funeral for a loved one is an emotionally charged experience, often compounded by the burden of financial considerations. Understanding the average cost of funerals in the United States can help ease some of that burden and guide informed decision-making during this sensitive time. The Bottom Line: According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral in the United States in 2024 was approximately $9,150. This figure includes the basic services of funeral homes, embalming, and a casket, but excludes additional costs like cemetery plots, monuments, and death certificates. A Breakdown of Costs: Funeral Home Services: This encompasses basic services like coordinating arrangements, directing the funeral, and providing staff and facilities. It typically ranges from $2,000 to $4,000. Embalming: Embalming preserves the body and is required by law in some cases. It adds $700 to $1,500 to the cost. Casket: Caskets can vary widely in price depending on the material, style, and features. The median cost falls between $2,500 and $6,000. Cemetery Plot and Vault: The cost of a cemetery plot can vary significantly depending on location and availability. It typically ranges from $2,000 to $10,000, and a concrete vault adds another $1,500 to $3,000. Factors Affecting Cost: Several factors can influence the overall cost of a funeral, including: Location: Funeral costs tend to be higher in urban areas compared to rural ones. Type of service: Traditional burials with embalming and viewing are more expensive than cremation, which typically costs $6,280 on average. Casket choice: As mentioned earlier, casket material and features significantly impact the price. Cemetery fees: Plot location, size, and opening/closing fees can vary greatly. Additional services: Flowers, catering, transportation, and personalized touches add to the overall cost. Cost-Saving Tips: Shop around: Compare prices from different funeral homes and cemeteries. Consider cremation: Cremation is generally less expensive than traditional burial. Choose a simpler casket: Opt for a more affordable material or forego features you don't need. Pre-plan your funeral: Discussing and planning your wishes in advance can help your family save money and make informed decisions. Remember: The average cost of a funeral is just a starting point. By understanding the breakdown of costs and considering your individual needs and preferences, you can make informed choices that align with your budget and values. Additional Resources: National Funeral Directors Association: https://www.nfda.org/: https://www.nfda.org/ Funeral Consumers Alliance: https://www.funerals.org/: https://www.funerals.org/ The Cremation Association of North America: https://www.cremationassociation.org/: https://www.cremationassociation.org/

For each year that passes, funeral expenses get more expensive. In fact, you can pay upwards of $10,000 for a funeral today. Missouri prices can be slightly less, depending on the style of service you choose, the means of transportation you use, where you decide to hold the funeral, and which memorial expenses you include. But even funerals in Missouri can reach that amount, and these high prices can cause your loved ones to struggle if they’re left to pay your funeral costs. That’s why so many people are planning their funerals in advance. They don’t want their loved ones to experience financial stress because of the cost of their final arrangements. They’re looking for ways to pay for their funeral to help alleviate the burden. And some options allow you to leave enough money to pay for your funeral as well as other final expenses such as a car payment balance, utility bills, and medical expenses. One option is final expense insurance. Depending on the payout amount you choose, the policy could pay for some or all of these things. You’ll experience a few differences when buying final expense insurance in Missouri compared to other states. We’ll guide you through the process and show you how Funeral Advantage can help make it easier for your loved ones after you’re gone. The Funeral Rule Federal law dictates basic laws surrounding burial services. Known as the Funeral Rule, these rules apply to every state and are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Pricing – Funeral homes must quote prices for products and services over the phone if requested. In person, they must provide a general price list, a casket price list, and a burial container price list (when applicable). Contracts – An itemized statement of charges and estimates must be provided before a contract is signed. Pre-Need Funeral Plans – FTC laws do not apply to the language of pre-need contracts. They do not govern payment options, costs, modifications, transfers, cancellations, or administrative fees. Funeral & Burial Expectations in Missouri Each state has different laws and requirements that govern what happens when someone dies and Missouri is no exception. The state has specific statutes that you will have to follow when someone dies. Death Certificates Missouri has a two-step process for certifying a death, requiring first a medical certification and then a death certificate. The state allows coroners, medical examiners, physicians, physician assistants, assistant physicians, and advanced practice registered nurses to issue medical certifications. The certifier must complete the document within 72 hours of the death. To complete the certification, they use an electronic program called the Missouri Vital Records Electronic system (MoEVR) to file the certificates. The system also allows any of the above-named people to assign the task of entering the medical certification into the electronic system to someone else, such as a funeral director or someone else who has been approved as a data entry person. Once the death is medically certified, the funeral director completes the death certificate. They do this with help from the deceased’s family and the physician. In cases where a funeral director is not involved, the doctor (or other medical professional who recorded the medical certification) typically completes the death certificate. This step can only happen after the original certifier electronically signs the certification. If you work with a funeral director, they can request copies of the death certificate for you, or your family can request one. Embalming & Refrigeration Missouri has some regulations when it comes to embalming and refrigeration. Once a person is deceased for 24 hours, the state requires that the body is refrigerated or embalmed. This is not Missouri law, but rather a regulation that all Missouri licensed funeral homes must abide by. If you plan for a home funeral, this regulation does not apply. However, there are some circumstances in which Missouri requires a deceased person to be embalmed. They are: If someone dies of an infectious disease and won’t be buried or cremated within 24 hours. If a person dies of a contagious disease and is shipped by common carrier. This regulation isn’t true if the shipper wraps the body in a sheet saturated with disinfectant and places it in a sealed casket. If the deceased person is shipped by common carrier but won’t reach the destination for 24 hours or more. This regulation becomes null if that person travels in a sealed casket. Burial Requirements In Missouri, a person does not have to be placed in a casket when buried. But it’s important that you check with the cemetery because they all have different rules. Like most other states, Missouri specifies who can make the burial arrangements for a deceased person. The state allows these individuals to make the decisions, in this order: Your appointed attorney to whom you have granted a durable power of attorney Your surviving spouse Any of your surviving children Any surviving parent Surviving siblings The next of kin A person who is willing to assume financial responsibility The county coroner or medical examiner If a disagreement arises, the funeral director is allowed to use the instructions of any in the deciding party. For instance, if siblings can’t come to a decision, the funeral director can choose which sibling’s instructions to carry out. Cremation Services Missouri allows cremation as long as the funeral director receives two signed documents. The first is a cremation authorization signed by the spouse, a majority of the deceased’s children, a parent, or a legal guardian. The second document is the death certificate, signed by the doctor and filed with the County Health Department. Alternatively, cremation can occur if the medical examiner or coroner releases the deceased for cremation. In addition to traditional cremation, Missouri allows alkaline hydrolysis. This chemical process dissolves the body into liquid and bone and is greener than traditional cremation because no matter enters the air. It is also called flameless cremation. Average Funeral Costs in Missouri Final expenses in Missouri vary widely, from an average as low as $1,000 up to $12,445. The exact cost of a funeral will depend on what services and products you choose.