Funeral Planning Rules and Regulations & FAQ’s

What is “The Funeral Rule”?

Federal law, known as “The Funeral Rule,” grants you the following rights when dealing with funeral directors:

•  Purchase only the funeral goods and services you desire.

•   Buy caskets or other goods from manufactures and provide them to funeral homes

without incurring additional charges.

• Refuse packages that include items you do not want.

•  Avoid being misled or having federal and state laws misrepresented to you.

What Does “The Funeral Rule” Mean for You?

 It is completely legal in all 50 states to buy a casket or coffin from manufactures and

arrange for its delivery to your chosen funeral home for use in a funeral service.

 Funeral providers cannot reject caskets or coffins purchased from manufactures or

impose unreasonable delivery or acceptance restrictions.

Federal law prohibits funeral directors from charging extra fees if you provide your own

casket. They cannot charge “casket-handling” or similar fees for online purchases.

 You are not required to buy any goods or services that are not legally mandated. Funeral

homes can only charge one non-declinable basic fee, which should cover essential

goods and services.

 Funeral homes must not lie or misrepresent funeral or cemetery laws, rules, or

regulations. If something is claimed to be legally required, request a copy of the law.

 Other misrepresentations, such as the quality of manufacturers-purchased caskets or

potential damages during transit, are also illegal. State licensing boards in all 50 states

can discipline funeral directors for dishonesty, and federal law prohibits deceptive and

unfair practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home?

 No. Federal law mandates that funeral homes accept caskets bought from other sources, including manufacturers like UCI Caskets.

Q2: Can funeral directors impose conditions and restrictions on accepting caskets from third-party providers, such as delivery timing and acceptance requirements? 

No. Federal law requires that deliveries of your goods are treated the same as those the funeral home buys directly.

Q3: Are funeral homes allowed to charge handling or other fees for using a casket not purchased from them? 

No. It is illegal for funeral establishments to charge extra fees if you

bought your casket elsewhere, including from UCI Caskets.

Q4: Can funeral homes, cemeteries, or crematories reject a casket not purchased from them due to size or material specifications?

 No. Third-party caskets must meet the cemetery’s or crematory’s standards and must consider the body’s size. All UCI Caskets comply with size and material regulations in all 50 states and the recommendations of funeral, cemetery, and crematory industry organizations. A standard UCI casket is about 80" long and 29"  wide, generally fitting someone up to 6’10” and 350 pounds. Confirm dimensions with your funeral director. Extra-large caskets are available for larger adults, as well as small caskets for children and pets.

Q5: How do I prepare for my Funeral Home visit?

1. Before you visit, prepare a draft of your preferences for the service and burial.

2. Ask for a General Price list of itemized goods and services. DO NOT mention that you

plan to purchase your casket, coffin, or other items from an external vendor.

3. Select the list of goods and services that you want. You are the client and in charge of

the process.

4. Do not leave without a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services, outlining your funeral

plan.

5. Contact UCI Caskets or other external vendors to compare prices and finalize your

funeral plan.

Do you have other questions? UCI Caskets is here to help.

For more Information about FTC funeral rule visit: 

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule?fbclid=IwY2xjawJiehVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHnS3IRYainSb1FXofB9MRwrTELC7ID0O9UDoHPJZYQS7IGUS9XPtke4L9oEP_aem_xJQ42pb1LVyiyJ53nfR-Hw

UCI Caskets

Braulio Mejia A.

(323)-317-73-05

ucicarpentry@gmail.com