Specific Funeral Arrangements
According to the funeral rule, you have the right to only the funeral arrangements you want to purchase. You are under no legal obligation to buy caskets, urns, or other funeral services from the funeral home.
You are entitled to purchase your own urns, caskets, embalming services, or memorial services. You are also under no obligation to accept funeral packages that contain specific services or funeral goods if you are not interested.
Alabama law also does not require embalming for every person who passes away. Embalming may be required in Alabama for those transporting the deceased across state lines, but generally, this is a funeral service you have the right to pass on. Instead, you may opt for refrigeration services, immediate burial, or even direct cremation.
Funeral homes have the right to implement policies requiring embalming for public viewings. However, funeral homes may also offer a private family viewing without requiring embalming. Discuss your funeral home’s policy before you sign any type of agreement.
Written Price Lists and Transparency
Funeral directors and homes must make price information available via telephone. In some instances, you may even find the pricing lists for specific funeral homes online. When considering a particular funeral home, you have the right to an itemized written price list.
They must provide you with a general price list (GPL) to bring home with you for review. It should contain all the available funeral home goods and services, including the costs.
For instance, if you want to purchase a casket, you might want to know how much it costs. With the GPL, you could inquire about caskets within your price range.
You could also speak with the funeral home about the prices of their outer burial containers. Generally, you should have access to the prices of these containers, even if they are not listed on the funeral home’s GPL. If the funeral home does not have such a list, they may violate your rights under the funeral rule.
