Funeral Planning Guide

Funeral planning is the process of making arrangements for a funeral or memorial service to honor a deceased loved one or to plan your own funeral. It involves making decisions about burial or cremation, the type of service (e.g., traditional, religious, or personalized), selecting the venue, casket or urn, music, readings, and other details. It also encompasses logistical aspects, including budgeting, coordinating with funeral homes, and fulfilling legal requirements such as obtaining death certificates or permits.

The best time to plan a funeral is before you need it. Planning allows you to create a meaningful tribute that truly reflects the life, values, and wishes of the deceased while helping to provide closure and comfort to those grieving. Funeral planning reduces the stress for the family of the deceased and ensures that your wishes are met. It can also help you manage costs.

The key steps to planning a funeral are to:

1. Decide how the body will be handled (interment).
2. Select the type of service (funeral, memorial service, etc.).
3. Calculate the cost and budget.
4. Share your plan with your family.
5. Arrange financing.
6. Organize your paperwork and personal information.

For more information on planning a funeral, visit our Funeral Arrangements page.

Yes! When you preplan, you give a very generous gift to your loved ones: the freedom to begin their path through grief without the added emotional and financial stress of trying to decide what you would have wanted.

The time it takes to plan a funeral varies depending on the type of funeral you have in mind. You will need to make numerous decisions, and the complexity of the service will determine the number of details you must arrange. When collaborating with others, it can take some time to reach a consensus on the details. Generally, a traditional funeral with a viewing typically takes one to two weeks to complete. If you plan well in advance, the availability of the funeral home you select will likely not be a factor. If the person has already passed, their schedule will affect the timing. You will also have to consider the travel arrangements for the family coming from out of town. Another factor that can influence the timing is religious and cultural requirements. Some cultures require burial within 24 hours of death. Others include a multi-day ritual. For more details on making funeral arrangements, visit our Arrangements page.

A funeral is a service where the body is present. It will typically happen shortly after death.
A memorial service occurs without the body present. A memorial service can be held at any time.

Learn more about the elements of a funeral or memorial service.

A celebration of life is a more personal or informal event focused on honoring the person’s legacy. These days, many people choose to have a portion of the funeral include a celebration of life. In such cases, the formal structure of a funeral often incorporates more personalized elements.

More on Celebrations of Life.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the average cost of a traditional funeral with burial was $8,300 in 2023. For a funeral with cremation, the cost was $6,280. The exact price will depend on a lot of factors, such as the location, the type of service, and the funeral merchandise you select.

For more details on what a funeral costs, visit our page on funeral costs.

Once you have created a list of possible funeral homes, review their online presence and verify their credentials. Take tours and compare the services they offer—request price lists. You want to find a company or funeral director with whom you are comfortable, so consider factors such as location, communication, and services.

For more information on funeral homes, funeral directors, and how to choose them, visit the Funeral Homes and Funeral Directors page.

In most states, a funeral director is required for certain services (like embalming or transport), but direct cremation and home funerals are legal in many areas. To confirm the regulations for your state, check with the funeral service commission in your state.

In the best of worlds, there is money set aside for this specific purpose. Even if funds are available, they may not be sufficient, especially if the death is unexpected. However, there are ways to ensure that you have enough resources to cover funeral and burial costs.

Several financial tools are available to help cover the cost of a funeral. These work best when you plan ahead. These include funeral/burial insurance, final expense insurance, pre-need funeral contracts, and funeral trusts.

Each of the financial tools listed above can be complex and justify further research. We suggest clicking on the links for each to learn more about them.

Situations do arise where there isn’t any money available to pay for a funeral. What can you do?

1. Ask for help: Try asking friends and family members for help. If they can’t help, they may have ideas about how to raise the money.
2. Talk to the deceased’s employer: If the deceased was employed, the employer may offer a program to help families in situations such as this.
3. Contact the county coroner: Many counties offer programs to assist with funeral arrangements. While the services you receive may be basic, it may be a good alternative.
4. Fundraise: There are many ways to fundraise, but one of the most popular and effective these days is to sponsor a crowdfunding campaign.
5. Request state or federal assistance: Depending on where you live, your state may offer help with funeral expenses. There may also be federal programs you can take advantage of.
6. Donate the body to science: When a body is donated to science, it is cremated at no cost. It may be possible to receive the ashes after cremation, but that will depend on the program. Body donation programs almost always require that you make arrangements well in advance of death.