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FTC Funeral Rule Compliance Guide for Funeral Directors (2025)

Everything funeral directors need to know about FTC Funeral Rule compliance, pricing disclosures, and avoiding costly violations. Updated for 2025.

What Is the FTC Funeral Rule?

The FTC Funeral Rule is a federal regulation enacted in 1984 (and amended in 1994) that protects consumers' rights when purchasing funeral services. It requires funeral homes to provide transparent pricing, prohibits certain deceptive practices, and gives consumers the right to choose only the services they want.

Before 1984, funeral homes could refuse to provide pricing over the phone, require consumers to purchase packages instead of individual items, and engage in other practices that limited consumer choice. The Funeral Rule was created to ensure transparency and protect grieving families from predatory pricing practices.

The 7 Core Requirements of the FTC Funeral Rule

1Telephone Price Disclosures

You must provide accurate pricing information over the phone to anyone who requests it. This includes:

• Prices for specific caskets, outer burial containers, and services
• Must provide prices without requiring the caller to identify themselves
• Cannot require an in-person visit before disclosing prices

Common Mistake: Telling callers "we need to meet in person to discuss pricing" is a Funeral Rule violation.

2General Price List (GPL) Requirements

The GPL is the cornerstone of Funeral Rule compliance. You must:

• Provide the GPL at the start of any in-person discussion about funeral arrangements
• Give the GPL to the family to keep (they can take it home)
• Include all required disclosures and specific pricing for all goods and services
• Update it whenever prices change

Required GPL Items: Basic services fee, embalming, other preparation, use of facilities, transportation, caskets, outer burial containers, and immediate burial/cremation options.

3Casket and Outer Burial Container Price Lists

You must provide separate itemized price lists for:

• Caskets (show before discussing casket selection)
• Outer burial containers/vaults (show before discussing vault selection)
• Must include descriptions and prices for all available options
• Can be printed lists or electronic displays

4Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected

After arrangements, you must provide an itemized written statement showing:

• Every item the family selected
• Price for each item
• Total cost
• Any legal or cemetery requirements that compel the purchase of specific items

5Embalming Disclosure Requirements

Special rules apply to embalming:

• Cannot require embalming unless required by law
• Must disclose when embalming is not legally required
• Cannot charge for unauthorized embalming (except in certain refrigeration situations)
• Must clearly state embalming is not required for direct cremation or immediate burial

Major Violation: Embalming a body without authorization is one of the most common and serious Funeral Rule violations.

6Casket and Container Purchase Rights

Consumers have the right to:

• Buy a casket from a third party and have you use it
• Buy an unfinished wood box or alternative container for cremation
• Cannot charge a handling fee for caskets purchased elsewhere
• Cannot refuse service if they bring their own casket

7Required Disclosures About Legal/Cemetery Requirements

When claiming something is "required by law" or by the cemetery:

• Must identify the specific legal requirement
• Must identify which cemetery requires it (if applicable)
• Cannot misrepresent cemetery or legal requirements
• Must have documentation proving the requirement exists

Common FTC Funeral Rule Violations to Avoid

Top 10 Violations Funeral Homes Make

These violations account for 90% of FTC enforcement actions against funeral homes:

1. Not providing GPL at the start of arrangements

Waiting until later in the conversation or only providing it upon request

2. Refusing to provide prices over the phone

Requiring in-person visits or caller identification before disclosing prices

3. Requiring package purchases

Forcing families to buy packages instead of allowing itemized selection

4. Charging handling fees for third-party caskets

Adding fees when families bring caskets from Costco, Amazon, or other retailers

5. Embalming without authorization

Proceeding with embalming before getting family permission

6. Misrepresenting legal requirements

Claiming embalming or vaults are required by law when they're not

7. Not disclosing that embalming is not required for direct cremation

Failing to inform families choosing cremation that embalming is optional

8. GPL missing required disclosures or items

Incomplete GPL that doesn't include all mandatory language and pricing

9. Not providing casket/vault price lists before selection

Showing merchandise without first providing itemized price lists

10. Outdated or inaccurate pricing on GPL

Using old price lists or charging prices different from what's on the GPL

FTC Funeral Rule Penalties and Enforcement

Financial Penalties

Up to $50,120 per violation (as of 2025)
Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation
Penalties can add up to millions of dollars

Other Consequences

Consent decrees requiring compliance monitoring
Required FTC compliance training for all staff
Public disclosure of violations (reputation damage)
State licensing board investigations and sanctions

2023: Large funeral home chain settled with FTC for $45 million over allegations of deceptive pricing and Funeral Rule violations across multiple locations.

2021: Independent funeral home paid $25,000 in penalties for refusing to provide telephone price quotes and requiring embalming without authorization.

2019: Funeral home ordered to pay $15,000 and undergo compliance monitoring after charging handling fees for third-party caskets.

How Sacred Grounds Helps with FTC Compliance

Sacred Grounds makes FTC Funeral Rule compliance simple and automatic:

Digital GPL Management

Store your GPL digitally and generate updated versions instantly when prices change. Email or print GPL for every family automatically.

Never worry about outdated price lists or missing required disclosures.

Itemized Statements

Automatically generate compliant Statement of Goods and Services Selected with every arrangement, showing all items and total costs.

Ensures you never forget to provide required documentation.

Phone Price Quote Tracking

Log all phone price quotes with date, time, and items quoted. Creates audit trail proving FTC compliance.

Staff can quickly look up and provide accurate pricing over the phone.

Authorization Documentation

Digital forms for embalming authorization, third-party casket acceptance, and all required family authorizations.

Timestamps and tracks all authorizations with electronic signatures.

Stay Compliant, Avoid Penalties

Sacred Grounds builds FTC compliance into your daily workflow, so you can focus on serving families instead of worrying about regulatory violations.

Start Free Trial

No credit card required • 14-day free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to provide funeral prices over the phone?

Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide accurate pricing information over the phone to anyone who requests it, without requiring the caller to identify themselves or visit in person. This includes prices for caskets, burial containers, and specific services.

What is a General Price List (GPL) and when must I provide it?

The GPL is an itemized price list of all funeral goods and services you offer. You must provide it at the beginning of any in-person discussion about funeral arrangements, before discussing specific options. The family gets to keep this list to take home.

Can I charge a handling fee if a family brings their own casket?

No. The FTC Funeral Rule prohibits charging handling fees or refusing service when families purchase caskets from third-party retailers like Costco, Walmart, or online stores. You must accept and use third-party caskets without additional charges.

Can I require embalming for all services?

No. You cannot require embalming except when required by law. You must disclose that embalming is not required for direct cremation or immediate burial, and you cannot perform embalming without authorization except in limited circumstances involving refrigeration.

What are the penalties for violating the FTC Funeral Rule?

Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $50,120 per violation (as of 2025). Each day of a continuing violation counts as a separate violation. The FTC can also require consent decrees, compliance monitoring, staff training, and public disclosure of violations.

Do I need to let families buy just one service or must they purchase packages?

Families have the right to purchase individual items and services. You cannot require them to buy packages, though you can offer packages as an option. They can select only the goods and services they want.