Funeral Related Expenses

There are many expenses connected with death in addition to the medical concerns. The greatest of these are the services of the funeral home, the casket and vault, and the place of burial.

There is a great variance in how much the services of a funeral home will cost, but even the most economical can be a financial burden, especially when no provision has been made. Payment for most of these services is usually expected prior to actually providing the service. Although most expenses can be paid through the estate, those funds often can not be accessed quickly enough to make payment at time of arrangements unless there is a joint financial account with a survivor. Therefore, a survivor may need to pay for the services and be reimbursed.

The expenses include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Funeral home including funeral service
• Casket, vault or urn
• Cemetery plot, mausoleum
• Opening and closing of burial plot
• Memorial marker
• Clergy
• Musicians
• Transportation
• Motorcycle escort for funeral procession
• Flowers
• Death certificates
• Place of funeral or memorial service (church, temple, funeral home)
• Newspaper obituary
• Acknowledgment cards and postage

The majority of people in the United States use the services of a funeral home. The cost will vary considerably depending upon the type of services you request from the funeral home.Although specific limited services may be requested, most common is to purchase a packaged service program.

This may include such items as:

• Services of funeral director and professional staff to coordinate and direct the service
• Transportation of deceased from place of death to funeral home and preparation of body
• Use of funeral home facilities for visitation and for services or set-up at a church
• Cemetery committal or cremation process
• Obtaining and filing legal documents and processing necessary paperwork such as ordering death certificates, notifying the Social Security Administration, processing application to the Veteran's Administration if applicable
• Fax obituary to newspaper(s)

Cost of these services, depending on service selected, vary a great deal. Minimum expense, based on 2004 prices, will probably be at least $1,000 with “typical” or “average” services costing $4,000 or more.

Another major expense is the cost of casket and the grave liner or burial vault. Prices vary considerably.Funeral homes will show you caskets and prices to help you with your planning. Expect to pay $2,000 to $4,000 (2004 prices) for a casket although you may be able to purchase one for less. The outer burial container (grave liner or burial vault) can range from $500 to $2,600 or more (2004 prices).Cremation is less expensive and price varies by funeral home.

Grave markers often are purchased later if there isn't an existing one on the grave site.

With many types of services and choices to be made, the cost of a funeral and burial vary considerably. Funeral homes are willing to explain costs and options to help you plan.

According to a 2001 survey of 497 members of the National Funeral Directors Association, the average price of a funeral was $6,130. This did not include cemetery charges such as the plot, opening-closing grave, monument or marker.

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