With the unexpected loss of a loved one, the last thing on your mind will be the financial matters of a funeral. Unfortunately, the decisions associated with costs will need to be made right away. Since funeral costs can average between $8,000 - $15,000, this can be a huge expense to families, most of which people may not be able to afford.
So,
what happens if you cannot afford a funeral or need help with funeral costs?
Luckily, there are options.
Who Pays for a Funeral?
Legally,
the estate of the deceased is responsible for the cost of final funeral
arrangements and the executor of the estate is responsible for the handling of bills.
The person who signs the contract at the funeral home is required to pay the
bill. So, before you call funeral homes it is important to decide what you can
afford without sacrificing money for daily living expenses.
It
is also important to remember that cost does not equate to how much you loved
the deceased. A dignified funeral does not have to cost a fortune and it
doesn’t reflect how much you cared for someone.
In
some cases, states offer burial assistance. Florida has the Indigent Burial
Program that is administered by each county’s administrative office. Typically, the Medical Examiner’s office and
your local Office of Vital Statistics will have the name and telephone number of
the person who facilitates this program in your county.
Lower Cost Ways to Pay
for Funeral Expenses
Unfortunately,
in the case of unexpected losses, there may not be time to pre-plan and
research ways to make funerals more affordable.
Here are some ways to pay for funeral expenses that can help with
funeral costs:
Embalming – Embalming is not
a requirement. The process is simply fluids injected into a body to slow
decomposition and preserve the body so it can be publicly displayed in an open
casket funeral.
Donation – Donating your body to
medical research or science is one of the least expensive and most impactful
funeral options available to people.
Home
Funerals & Services – These are legal across the country although there are
certain laws relating to the details of a home burial. In Florida you are still
required to prepare the appropriate paperwork required by the Department of
Health’s Office of Vital Statistics. Having
your service at home also allows you to plan exactly how you would like to
grieve with loved ones.
Direct
Cremation –
This is the most popular alternative to a traditional burial and is one of the
most affordable options. Ashes can be kept in an urn, buried, or scattered. You
can also skip a traditional memorial service and host a memorial or celebration
of life service at your home.
Purchase
Your Own Casket or Urn – These are often marked up by funeral homes, and they may
also try to upsell you on their products. Purchasing online gives you more
options, and you can even personalize to create a tribute to your loved one.
Flowers – Flowers don’t need to
be expensive to be beautiful. Local florists may offer better prices than
funeral homes and there are also online florists that will deliver
arrangements.
Direct
Burial –
If you have already chosen against cremation it is possible to have a direct
burial. This skips the process of having a formal funeral, viewing, or service.
Some funeral homes may offer a graveside service at an additional cost. Keep in
mind you will still need to pay for a burial plot. At in green cemeteries, you
may be able to opt for a biodegradable casket or even a simple shroud which is
more environmentally friendly.
Crowdfund – If you are going
to have a traditional funeral with many attendees, it may be possible to
crowdfund online and allow people to make donations to help with your costs.
You may need the funds to pay the funeral home straight away so keep this in
mind when planning one of these.
Payment
Plans
– Some
funeral homes may offer payment plans and although this may not cut down on
overall costs, it is a way to create a more manageable way that allows you to
pay for funeral expenses without having to come up with a large sum of money.
There
are a multitude of ways to help cut down the costs of saying goodbye to a loved
one. If you find yourself in a difficult position, remember that cost in no way
reflects on how much you cared, and make the right financial decision for you.
