In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforced the provisions of the \u201cFuneral Industry Practices\u201d law, which governs the sale of funeral goods and services in the United States. \u00a0Usually referred to as the \u201cFuneral Rule\u201d.<\/p>\n
The “Funeral Rule” contains a wide array of consumer protection, that many families are unaware of these days. Please review the following important key points when purchasing funeral services:<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0Select Only What You Want<\/strong><\/p>\n Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you have the right to select only the services you want; you are not required to purchase a funeral package.<\/p>\n 2. \u00a0You Can Buy a Casket\/Urn Elsewhere<\/strong><\/p>\n Before the Funeral Rule was implied you had to buy the casket from the funeral home. \u00a0Now that the \u201cFuneral Rule\u201d is enforced, you may buy a casket elsewhere. \u00a0For example: \u00a0Costco, Walmart and local casket vendors.<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0Casket Are Not Required for Cremation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A casket is not required for cremation. \u00a0Although, a funeral home must tell you that an \u201calternative container\u201d is required by law for all cremations. \u00a0The \u201calternative container\u201d can be made of combustible materials. \u00a0For example, a simple cardboard box. Per the FTC: \u201cExcept in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law.\u201d In other words,\u00a0there is no federal law requiring the embalming of a body in every case. Moreover, a funeral provider may not represent that embalming the deceased is required if you have selected direct cremation or immediate burial as the form of final disposition.<\/p>\n
4. \u00a0Embalming<\/strong><\/p>\n