The average cost of an adult funeral, as of 2010, was $7,755. That cost included an outer burial container, but not cemetery costs which could average $1,400 – $2,500.

References:

National Funeral Director’s Association

• http://www.nfda.org/media-center/statisticsreports.html#fcosts
• http://www.funeralwise.com/plan/costs

Typical Funeral Costs

• $2,295: Casket (metal)
• $1,817: Professional services (non declinable basic services)
• $1,195: Burial vault
• $628: Embalming
• $450: Funeral at funeral home (facilities and staff)
• $395: Viewing time (also sometimes referred to as visitation or wake) (facilities and staff)
• $275: Hearse (local)
• $250: Transfer of remains to funeral home
• $200: Cosmetology, hair, etc. (other preparation of body)
• $125: Service car or van (transports flowers)
• $125: Acknowledgement/Thank you/Remembrance cards/Register Book & Pen (basic memorial printed package)

Average Total: $7,755.00*

* Does not include price of a grave site or other cemetery costs.

The “Funeral Rule” refers to the federal requirements for the practice, goods and services provided by the funeral industry. The “Funeral Rule” prohibits misrepresentations about various aspects of the funeral industry and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which receives complaints from consumers about the funeral industry.

The “Funeral Rule” applies to anyone who offers to sell both funeral goods and funeral services. For example, it may not apply to a casket warehouse because it only sells caskets and does not sell funeral services.

Once you ask for any information about the type of funeral, prices or products offered, this triggers the Funeral Rule and requires that you be given a General Price List (GPL) to keep. If the GPL is provided any later in your discussion, such as after you begin viewing products, services and activities the funeral home provides, discussing preferences of the person to be buried, or how to coordinate with other service providers like the pastor of the loved one, the crematory or the cemetery, a violation of the law has already occurred.

There should be specific disclosure information in six areas:

1. Right of Selection
2. Embalming
3. Alternative Container
4. Basic Services Fee
5. Casket Prices (if these are not on the GPL, a separate “casket price list” is required)
6. Outer Burial Container Price List

An itemized list of prices are required for the following:

• Forwarding of remains to another funeral home
• Receiving remains from another funeral home
• Price range for direct cremation
• Price range for immediate burials
• Transfer of remains to funeral home
• Embalming
• Other preparation of the body
• Use of facilities and staff for viewing
• Use of facilities and staff for funeral ceremony
• Use of facilities and staff for memorial service
• Use of equipment and staff for graveside service
• Hearse
• Limousine

While the actual cremation process is the same, there are differences in how the cremations are conducted that vary the pricing.

A basic or direct cremation involves the transportation of the body from the place of death to the crematory, in most instances, or first to the funeral home where the body is refrigerated until it can be transported to the crematorium. There it is cremated and the ashes or "cremains" are returned to the family or funeral home in a container.

Cremations may also involve viewing by the immediate family prior to the actual cremation process. In many instances, family is allowed to view the cremation or a portion of it.

Some cremations follow a funeral service where a viewing or visitation is held.

In Georgia, one can arrange a cremation for as little as $700, but added goods and services can exceed $2,500. The national average cost for a direct cremation – with the container provided – is between $1,146 and $1,542.

There are additional costs for different services, ceremonies, and merchandise, in addition to costs for facility and staff time related to selected services.

Urns can range from $12.00 – $1,300 depending on the material from which they are made. They are made of materials such as paper or cardboard as well as crystal, glass, cloisonné, pottery, stone, marble, wood, brass, bronze and pewter.

Self Directed Home Funeral

Funerals planned, arranged and to the extent possible, carried out by an individual(s) (i.e., filing the required paperwork, arranging for the transportation of the body to a cemetery or crematorium, holding a home vigil and purchasing any burial items such as a casket or urn from a retailer)

Traditional Funeral

A service with the deceased present in an open or closed casket where family and mourners gather to pay tribute or last respects ending with a processional to the cemetery for burial of the deceased’s remains.

Memorials

A service to commemorate the life of the deceased, usually without the presence of the body of the deceased following an earlier burial or cremation or sometimes after one has been declared dead and no body has been recovered.

Graveside

Usually an abbreviated service held at the cemetery in either the chapel or at the site of the grave of the deceased followed by an immediate burial, typically without any formal viewing.

Non-commemorative

A direct disposition without any service to recognize or remember the life of the deceased; from point of death straight to cremation, burial or donation to medical science.

Funeral and Body Disposition in Separate City/State

Combination of a traditional funeral or memorial with the body of the deceased transported to the site of the final disposition.

The fact that memorialization isn’t a normal state matter (outside of State controlled parks and lands) makes it difficult to find an appropriate answer.

If your scattering ceremony is to be held within a city or town limits this suggests that city/town ordiance and bylaws should be consulted.

If your scattering ceremony is to be held outside of city or town limits then municipal or county ordiance and bylaws should be consulted.

That said, our standard response often applies — there are no “cremains police” in any state to ensure proper etiquette, permits, or permission are obtained and used. There are no health, safety or environmental issues to be concerned about. Your own moral compass/judgment can be equally right within the reasons of common sense.

Private Property

It’s a good practice to get the permission of the landowner to do anything on private land.

Controlled Public Lands

Most controlled lands such as public city parks have rules and regulations, and permits.

Uncontrolled Public Lands

When it comes to non-specific public land, (e.g. rural woodlands) don’t ask, don’t tell is as fitting advice as any. No laws say “yes” and no laws say “no.”.

Be advised that cremated remains can be stark white, a little like aquarium gravel, and therefore rather conspicuous, not at all like the “ashes from a fireplace”. You may wish to consider a shallow burial unless you’re scattering in water.

It is also highly advisable to use roads (areas) less traveled for the scattering ceremony; cremation and/or scattering is offensive to many people and cultures.

As a guide, you should not scatter ashes within 100 yards of public roads or walks or public trails.

Within all the literary writings at all levels; federal, state, and local legislation – the only commonally agreed point of principle we have found is that the container which carries the remains must be disposed of separately – preferably is a waste receptacle.