FTC Funeral Rule
The federal regulation governing what funeral homes can and cannot do. In effect since 1984. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
The Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to: provide a written General Price List on request, quote prices over the phone, allow families to buy a casket from a third party without charging a handling fee, itemize every charge, and not require embalming when state law does not require it.
The Rule does not apply to cemeteries, crematories that don't deal directly with families, or third-party casket sellers. It also does not regulate prices themselves — only disclosure and itemization.
Families who believe a funeral home has violated the Rule can report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also maintains a consumer guide at ftc.gov/funerals.
- 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.)
- Non-declinable basic services fee— The one fee a funeral home is allowed to charge every family regardless of what services they pick. Covers overhead — facility, staff time, paperwork.
- 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.
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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