Understanding the Cost of a Funeral

When a family member dies, it can be a devastating experience. In the midst of this despair, you will need to deal with a lot of bureaucratic things, such as registering the death with the local authorities, arranging for the storage of the body and arranging how the funeral will be paid for. This final point can be something which can be confusing. Below is a guide to how the cost of a funeral will be calculated. This information should help you to select a funeral home which offers good value for money.

Cash Deposit 

When you first instruct a funeral home to act on your behalf, you may be required to pay a cash deposit. This deposit secures the services of the funeral director and helps to pay for any immediate costs which arise during the planning process such as payments to the cemetery. The amount you pay as a deposit will be deducted from the final bill. A part of the deposit may also be used as a donation to the religious official who is carrying out the service.

Basic Fee

Every funeral home will charge a basic fee. The basic fee will cover unavoidable costs which must be paid in order for a funeral home to handle the deceased. The basic fee will typically include the cost of any documentation which needs to be completed, the cost of storing and preparing the body for burial and any other administrative costs.

Additional Services

When the funeral director is talking you through your options, they should also present you with a list of additional services which you can choose to include in the funeral service. For example, you may be offered a range of different transport methods. The cheapest will typically be the use of a modern hearse. If you wish to use a vintage horse-drawn hearse, this will incur a larger cost. The funeral home may also be able to supply flowers and a range of burial caskets or urns at a discounted price. If you wish to have the body laid out so it can be viewed in the chapel of rest, you may need to pay an additional fee for this service as the body will need to be specially prepared for this occasion.

If you would like to find out more about the cost of organising a funeral, you should contact a funeral home today.