What You Should Know as a Consumer...
The FTC "Funeral Rule"

While many funeral service providers look out for the best interests of the consumer, not all are ethically sound. To protect your interests, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission mandated the Funeral Rule in 1982 and has developed consumer guidelines so you can know your rights. However, these regulations apply only to actual funeral homes and directors. Other service providers such as crematories and cemeteries are not subject to the FTC Funeral Rule.

The rights afforded comsumers through the FTC Funeral Rule include:

• The right to choose the funeral goods and services
• The right to receive information, in writing, about funeral services and merchandise before any decisions and purchases are made. This information should come in the form of a General Price List.
• The right to receive information concerning the purchase of any items that are required by law.
• The right to use a casket purchased from someone other than the funeral home.
• The right to have alternative containers available from funeral providers that perform cremations
  

Selected Independent Funeral Homes monitors its members to ensure they abide by the FTC rule and our stricter Code of Good Funeral Practice. In fact, our code existed long before the Funeral Rule and provided the foundations for the FTC guidelines. Selected Independent Funeral Homes (then National Selected Morticians) acted as a key participant in the original Funeral Rule proceeding and has been involved with every amendment hearing since.

PDF Files to view or download:

• FTC Facts for Consumers
• FTC: Paying Final Respects: Your Rights When Buying Funeral Goods & Services
• FTC: Pre-Planning Funerals Helps Make Decisions Easier
• The FTC Rule: Part 453 Funeral Industry Practices
• Our Association's Comments to the FTC on the "Funeral Rule"

Please use our Contact page to ask any questions regarding the rule and your rights as a consumer.