Casket handling fee
A fee some funeral homes try to charge when a family buys a casket from a third party (Costco, Amazon, an online supplier). Illegal under federal law.
The FTC Funeral Rule explicitly prohibits funeral homes from charging a 'casket handling fee' or any equivalent surcharge for accepting a casket the family bought elsewhere. The home must accept delivery and use the casket without penalty.
Third-party caskets typically cost 40–70% less than the same casket bought through a funeral home. A casket the home prices at $3,000 often sells for $900–$1,200 online. This is the largest single area of savings for families who choose burial.
Some homes rebrand the handling fee as a 'casket inspection charge,' a 'storage fee,' or an 'increased basic services fee.' All of these are illegal. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- GPL (General Price List)— The itemized price list every funeral home in the US must hand you when you ask in person. They must also answer price questions over the phone. (Federal law does not yet require them to email it or post it online — though good homes do.)
- FTC Funeral Rule— The federal regulation governing what funeral homes can and cannot do. In effect since 1984. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
- Casket— The container the body is placed in for viewing and burial. Required for traditional funerals; optional for direct cremation (a cardboard 'alternative container' suffices).
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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