Unexpected Costs When Planning for a Funeral
When planning your own funeral, there can be hidden or unexpected costs that aren't always immediately obvious. I can’t stress to you enough that it is important to ask about all potential expenses up front to avoid surprises. With my experience, I would love to share with you some hot topics that might give you a second thought when planning.
To help ensure all your questions are answered and everything has been covered, consider purchasing my Funeral Questionnaire to help you in this process. This tool is used to gather detailed information and preferences for planning a funeral service and helps ensure that the arrangements align with your wishes and values. There is also an option for a bundle of all the top forms you’ll need. View my Store for more info.
1. Funeral Home Fees
Basic Service Fees: Most funeral homes charge a "basic services fee" that covers administrative costs, such as coordinating the arrangements, legal filings, and transportation.
Viewing / Funeral Services: Look at the details, a funeral home might charge $4,000 to hold the funeral service at the funeral home. Another option, see if you can have just a graveside service. If that doesn’t work out, perhaps you could have the service at your local church. If you are a Veteran, there is no cost to have your service at one of the many Veterans Cemetery.
Embalming or Body Preparation: If you choose embalming, there’s a separate charge for this process, as well as costs for any necessary body preparation like dressing or cosmetics. In some rural areas, embalming may not be required.
2. Casket or Urn Costs
Caskets: Prices vary significantly based on materials (wood, metal, etc.), design, and additional features like lining or engraving.
Urns: If you're opting for cremation, urns can range widely in price, from inexpensive to luxury designs. I recommend going to Amazon and purchasing your Urn for a much cheaper option.
3. Grave or Burial Plot
Plot Purchase: If you're opting for burial, the cost of purchasing a grave or plot is often a significant expense, and it can be expensive depending on the cemetery’s location. In some rural areas, some cemeteries do not charge for the plot. They might ask for donations to maintain the cemetery.
Opening and Closing Fees: These fees cover the cost of digging and filling in the grave, and they may vary depending on the cemetery and whether it’s a traditional or green burial.
Grave Liner or Vault: Many cemeteries, not all, require a grave liner or vault to protect the casket, which adds to the cost. They call this the “Outer Burial Container”. Depending on the water table and rural cemeteries, they too might not require an Outer Burial Container.
4. Headstone or Memorial Marker
Gravestone or Marker: Memorials, whether a traditional headstone or a plaque, come with a range of pricing based on material, size, and custom engravings.
Installation Fees: You may need to pay for the installation of the memorial after the burial.
5. Transportation Costs
Funeral Coach (Hearse): The cost of the hearse or other transportation for the deceased and family members can add up, especially if you're planning a long-distance service or multiple locations.
Family Transportation: You may need to arrange transportation for family members attending the funeral.
6. Death Certificates
Additional Copies: You’ll likely need multiple copies of the death certificate for settling estates, handling financial accounts, insurance claims, and more. The cost of extra copies can add up quickly. It is better for you to order more than you need on the first request. If you need to go back and order more death certificates, they will charge a premium. As a general rule, if you have 15 bank accounts, then I would order a minimum of 30 death certificates.
7. Obituary and Notice Fees
Newspaper Obituary: Publishing an obituary in a local or national newspaper can be quite costly, with fees depending on the size, location, and publication.
Online Obituary Service: Some funeral homes or independent services offer online obituary postings for a fee.
Opt Out: Opting out of this expense might be an option for the family. Please keep in mind that there are nefarious individuals out there who may attempt to steal the identity of your loved ones. Advertising sometimes isn’t the best option.
8. Flowers and Decorations
Floral Arrangements: The cost of flowers for the service, casket sprays, and any arrangements for the venue can add up quickly. When my mom passed away, she wanted to hold 4 roses in her hand for each child. We asked if we could take 4 roses out of the main casket spray to make a small arrangement for her to hold in her hand. By asking that one question, we saved $75.00.
Decorations: Additional costs for things like candles, program booklets, and decorations for the service.
9. Reception Costs
Catering: If you plan to have a reception following the service, food and drink can be an unexpected expense.
Venue Rental: If the reception is not held at the funeral home or another included location, there may be charges for renting a space.
10. Mausoleum or Crypt Costs (If Applicable)
If you're planning for a mausoleum or crypt, there are often additional expenses for both the space itself and maintenance fees.
11. Specialized Services
Military Honors or Veteran’s Benefits: If you’re a veteran, there may be some special services and honors available, but there could also be extra costs for coordination.
Video Tributes or Streaming: If you’d like to record the service or have it streamed for those who can’t attend, there may be charges for videography and livestreaming services.
12. Pre-Planning or Pre-Paid Options
Pre-Paid Plans: If you’ve pre-paid for the funeral, there could still be fees for managing the trust or any changes to the prearranged plan.
Cancellation or Changes Fees: If you decide to change your plans after you've made arrangements or pre-paid, there may be fees for adjustments.
13. Legal and Administrative Costs
Executor Fees: If you’ve named someone to be the executor of your estate, they may charge a fee for their services.
Estate Settlement Costs: The costs associated with the legal process of settling an estate can also be a significant and unexpected cost, especially if it involves legal or administrative assistance.
14. Cemetery Maintenance Fees
Some cemeteries charge annual or perpetual maintenance fees to keep the cemetery grounds in good condition. It’s worth asking whether this is included in the plot price.
15. Memorial Keepsakes
Memorial Jewelry or Gifts: Many families opt for memorial jewelry (such as a locket with a photo or a piece of cremation jewelry) or other keepsakes as a way to remember the deceased.
How to Manage Hidden Costs
Get an Itemized List: Ask the funeral home for an itemized breakdown of all potential costs before you make any decisions.
Research Prices: Check prices for caskets, urns, cemetery plots, and other services at multiple locations to compare costs.
Pre-Pay Carefully: If you're pre-planning, ensure that you fully understand what’s included in the plan, and consider inflation or price changes over time.
By thinking ahead and asking about these costs in advance, you can avoid surprises and ensure your plans align with both your wishes and budget. Would you like help diving deeper into any of these points? Get organized and ensure you’re covering everything you need to with my comprehensive Funeral and End-of-Life Planning Tools Bundle, which includes all my editable PDF forms and is available at a special bundled rate to help you save. From funeral, end-of-life, financial and estate planning to a helpful family history questionnaire, this bundle has everything you need to have peace of mind through end-of-life planning.