A complete walkthrough of how to file a funeral home complaint, what your State Funeral Board can do, and when it’s time to call a lawyer.
§ 01 · Getting StartedFiling a Funeral Home Complaint
Filing a funeral home complaint is straightforward and can usually be done online, by mail, or by phone. These complaints help ensure that your concerns are addressed and that funeral homes are held accountable for their actions.
What counts as grounds for a complaint?
Funeral homes are bound by state licensing laws and by the FTC’s Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453). Conduct like the following is commonly the basis of a complaint:
- Mishandling, losing, or misidentifying a loved one’s remains
- Embalming or cremating without the family’s authorization
- Refusing to give price information over the phone, or failing to provide the itemized General Price List at the arrangement meeting
- Claiming embalming or a casket is legally required when it is not
- Charging extra fees because you bought a casket or urn somewhere else
- Hidden fees, or a final bill that doesn’t match the itemized statement
- Failing to honor the terms of a signed funeral contract
Several of these are Funeral Rule violations you can report to the FTC — see the federal oversight section below. The rest are state-law issues your state funeral board investigates.
To file a complaint, visit the website of the State Funeral Board in your state and look for the section on filing a complaint. Provide as much detailed information as possible, including the funeral home’s name and location, the individuals involved, and a description of the issue. It’s important to provide documentation or evidence supporting your claims, such as contracts, receipts, or emails.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the funeral home may be required to take corrective action, face fines, or have its license revoked.
In addition to the complaints process, you may wish to seek legal representation to pursue financial compensation. At Traction Law Group, we understand the complexity of legal matters related to funeral homes, and we are here to help you. Our experienced funeral home negligence lawyers focus on these cases and can guide you through the legal process.
§ 02 · The RegulatorWhat Does a State Funeral Board Do?
State Funeral Boards are state agencies that oversee and regulate the funeral industry. They play a crucial role in protecting consumers and ensuring funeral homes comply with state laws and regulations. In many states, these boards are responsible for licensing funeral homes, overseeing funeral directors and embalmers, and investigating complaints against funeral homes.
State Funeral Boards also have the authority to investigate a funeral home complaint and take corrective action when necessary, such as revoking a funeral home’s license or imposing fines. By filing a complaint, you can help prevent similar issues from happening in the future and ensure that funeral homes are held accountable for their actions.
Contact your State Funeral Board
Select your state on the map to open the appropriate State Funeral Board, or use the full directory below it.
Funeral board directory for all 50 states & D.C.
Every state regulates funeral homes through a licensing board or state agency that accepts consumer complaints. Call or visit your state’s regulator below, or read our guide to hiring a funeral home negligence lawyer in your state.
- AlabamaAlabama Board of Funeral Service (334) 242-4049State Guide
- AlaskaAlaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (907) 269-8160State Guide
- ArizonaArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Licensing for Professions and Occupations, Funeral Services Licensing (602) 364-2079State Guide
- ArkansasArkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services (501) 371-2683State Guide
- CaliforniaCemetery & Funeral Bureau (916) 574-7870State Guide
- ColoradoOffice of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services (303) 894-7800State Guide
- ConnecticutConnecticut Department of Public Health, Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (860) 509-7603State Guide
- DelawareDelaware Board of Funeral Services (302) 744-4500State Guide
- FloridaBoard of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services (850) 413-3039State Guide
- GeorgiaGeorgia State Board of Funeral Service (404) 424-9966State Guide
- HawaiiHawaii Department of Health, Sanitation Branch (808) 586-8000State Guide
- IdahoIdaho Board of Morticians (208) 334-3233State Guide
- IllinoisIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (888) 473-4858State Guide
- IndianaIndiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service (317) 234-3031State Guide
- IowaIowa Board of Mortuary Science (515) 281-0254State Guide
- KansasKansas State Board of Mortuary Arts (785) 296-3980State Guide
- KentuckyKentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (502) 426-4589State Guide
- LouisianaLouisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (504) 838-5109State Guide
- MaineBoard of Funeral Services (207) 624-8624State Guide
- MarylandMaryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors (410) 764-4792State Guide
- MassachusettsBoard of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing (617) 701-8628State Guide
- MichiganMichigan Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science (517) 241-9288State Guide
- MinnesotaMinnesota Department of Health, Mortuary Science Section (651) 201-4200State Guide
- MississippiMississippi State Board of Funeral Service (601) 932-1973State Guide
- MissouriBoard of Embalmers & Funeral Directors (573) 751-0813State Guide
- MontanaMontana Board of Funeral Service (406) 444-6880State Guide
- NebraskaNebraska Board of Funeral Directing and Embalming (402) 471-2117State Guide
- NevadaNevada Funeral and Cemetery Services Board (775) 825-5535State Guide
- New HampshireBoard of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (603) 271-2152State Guide
- New JerseyNew Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science (973) 504-6425State Guide
- New MexicoNew Mexico Board of Funeral Services (505) 476-4622State Guide
- New YorkBureau of Funeral Directing (518) 402-0785State Guide
- North CarolinaNorth Carolina Board of Funeral Service (919) 733-9380State Guide
- North DakotaNorth Dakota Board of Funeral Service (701) 776-6222State Guide
- OhioOhio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (614) 466-4252State Guide
- OklahomaOklahoma Funeral Board (405) 522-1790State Guide
- OregonOregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board (971) 673-1500State Guide
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors (717) 783-3397State Guide
- Rhode IslandRhode Island Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (401) 222-2828State Guide
- South CarolinaSouth Carolina Board of Funeral Service (803) 896-4497State Guide
- South DakotaSouth Dakota Board of Funeral Service (605) 642-1600State Guide
- TennesseeTennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (615) 741-5062State Guide
- TexasTexas Funeral Service Commission (512) 936-2474State Guide
- UtahUtah Division of Professional Licensing, Funeral Service (801) 530-6628State Guide
- VermontVermont Office of Professional Regulation, Funeral Service (802) 828-1505State Guide
- VirginiaVirginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (804) 367-4479State Guide
- WashingtonWashington State Department of Licensing, Funeral and Cemetery Board (360) 664-1555State Guide
- Washington, D.C.DC Board of Funeral Directors (202) 442-4320State Guide
- West VirginiaWest Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners (304) 558-0302State Guide
- WisconsinFuneral Directors Examining Board (608) 266-2112State Guide
- WyomingWyoming Board of Funeral Service Practitioners (307) 777-5403State Guide
Funeral home negligence or abuse occurs when a funeral home has neglected to fulfill its duty of care for the body or memory of your deceased loved one.
Although your loved one has passed, their rights survive through your family. You may have the right to sue the funeral home for personal injuries resulting from emotional distress caused by a funeral home’s harmful acts.
If you or a loved one suffered neglect or abuse at a funeral home, our funeral home negligence lawyers are standing by to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01What types of issues can be reported to a State Funeral Board?
State funeral boards often investigate complaints concerning issues such as funeral home negligence, overcharging, and failure to deliver contracted services.
Q.02What should I do if I'm not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint process?
If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of the complaint process, you may wish to seek legal representation to pursue your potential case. Our law firm has experienced attorneys who focus on funeral-related cases and can guide you through the legal process.
Q.03How long does resolving a complaint with a State Funeral Board take?
The length of time it takes to resolve a complaint can vary depending on the complexity of the issue and the workload of the State Funeral Board. However, most boards are committed to resolving complaints quickly and efficiently.
Q.04Are there other resources available for individuals dealing with funeral-related issues?
Several other helpful resources are available, including grief support groups and death-care professional organizations that can assist with funeral-related issues.
Q.05What do most funeral home complaints involve?
The most common complaints involve mishandling or misidentification of remains, embalming or cremation performed without authorization, overcharging and hidden fees, failure to honor a signed contract, and FTC Funeral Rule violations such as refusing to provide an itemized price list.
Q.06Who regulates funeral homes?
Funeral homes are licensed and disciplined by state funeral boards, listed in the directory above, which can investigate complaints, impose fines, and revoke licenses. At the federal level, the FTC enforces the Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453), which governs pricing transparency and sales practices nationwide.
Q.07Can you get a refund from a funeral home?
Sometimes. A state board complaint can lead to restitution in some states, and a Funeral Rule violation or breach of contract can support a refund demand, a small-claims case, or a negotiated settlement. Whether a refund is available depends on your state’s rules and the facts, so keep every contract, receipt, and itemized statement.
Q.08What are the red flags of a bad funeral home?
Warning signs include refusing to give prices over the phone, not providing the itemized General Price List the FTC Funeral Rule requires, pressure to buy package deals, claims that embalming is legally required when it is not, vague or changing bills, and evasiveness about where your loved one’s remains are being held.
The FTC Funeral Rule & Funeral Services Complaints
While state funeral boards play a crucial role in addressing individual complaints and ensuring local compliance, it’s essential to recognize the broader oversight provided at the national level. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) steps in here, offering a comprehensive framework of guidelines and protections specifically tailored for funeral services. This dual layer of state and federal oversight ensures that consumers are shielded from potential malpractices, no matter where they are in the country.
What Does the Funeral Rule Cover?
The Funeral Rule, established by the Federal Trade Commission, offers several key protections to consumers when they’re dealing with funeral homes. Here’s what the rule safeguards against:
- Hidden Costs:Funeral homes must provide itemized price lists for all their services and products, so consumers aren’t surprised by unexpected fees.
- Forced Package Deals:Funeral homes can offer packages, but cannot force consumers to buy services they don’t want.
- Misrepresentation:Funeral homes must provide accurate information about legal requirements — e.g., they can’t falsely claim embalming is legally required.
- Undisclosed Fees: All costs, including any additional fees or service charges, must be clearly disclosed before finalizing the agreement.
- Casket and Urn Sales Pressure: If consumers buy a casket or urn elsewhere, funeral homes cannot charge extra fees or refuse to use the purchased items.
- Misleading Product Descriptions:Funeral homes must provide clear descriptions of products, without using misleading terms about a casket’s protective features.
- Delayed Information: Funeral homes must provide price information over the phone if requested, and a written price list when consumers visit in person.
By offering these protections, the Funeral Rule ensures that consumers are treated fairly, transparently, and respectfully during the difficult process of planning a funeral.
§ 06 · Federal ComplaintFiling a Complaint with the FTC
If you believe a funeral home has violated the Funeral Rule or engaged in deceptive practices, you have the right to file a complaint with the FTC.
Why File with the FTC?
While state funeral boards handle local complaints and licensure issues, the FTC addresses violations of federal regulations, ensuring nationwide standards are upheld.
How To File an FTC Complaint
- Online: Visit the FTC’s Complaint Assistant. Choose the category that fits your concern, provide details, and submit.
- By Phone: Call the FTC’s Consumer Response Center at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
- By Mail: Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580.
What Information to Include
Provide the name and location of the funeral home, descriptions of any misleading practices, copies of contracts or receipts, and any other relevant documentation.
What Happens Next
The FTC reviews complaints and, where appropriate, can launch investigations. While they may not intervene in individual cases, the information you provide can help identify patterns of misconduct and lead to broader actions against offending businesses.
Note: While the FTC plays a vital role in upholding national standards, also consider filing a complaint with your state funeral board, especially if you’re seeking immediate resolution or specific local actions.
Speak with our funeral home negligence team today.
Free, confidential case review. No fees unless we win.
Contacting a Funeral Home Negligence Lawyer
State funeral boards are an essential resource for individuals who have lost a loved one and need help navigating issues with the funeral process. If you have damages due to funeral home negligence, you may also wish to seek legal representation from a funeral home negligence lawyer who can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
At Traction Law Group, we understand the complexity of legal matters related to funeral homes, and we’re here to help. Our experienced attorneys focus on these cases and can provide legal representation and guidance to help you seek the financial compensation you deserve.
If you need legal assistance related to funeral home complaints, reach us by phone at 833-236-8253.