Telephone Inquires: Retail prices can be asked for and obtained by telephone.
Obtaining Information: You may want to follow up with a visit to the funeral home. Any consumer entering a funeral home and making inquiries is entitled to the retail price list. By law, you must be presented a retail price list itemizing the costs of a funeral and the merchandise for sale from a funeral director. Kansas law requires that each funeral service casket shall have a card or brochure in it, listing the price of the casket.
Please note that there may be additional charges for items such as cemetery fees, flowers, classified newspaper notices and honoraria.
After completing all arrangements, you must be given an itemized funeral purchase agreement that should be signed by a funeral home representative., known as the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected.
At the actual time of making funeral arrangements and prior to the performing of services and/or merchandise by the funeral home, Kansas law (KAR 63-3-17) requires that a licensee provide a written statement signed by a funeral home representative. This statement shall show:
- Service price and what services are included;
- Price of supplemental service items or merchandise, or both requested, and
- The amount for any cash advance monies (items the funeral home is paying as a convenience for you such as an organist or soloist's fee, flowers...) that can be specified at the time.
Choosing A Casket/Outer Container: Each casket/outer container should have a separate price. Caskets/outer containers are not required by law; however, there may be cemetery or mausoleum requirements. The law does not require caskets for cremation although some type of container may be necessary such as a wooden box, canvas pouch or simple combustible container. Individual crematories may have separate policies.
Caskets and outer containers range in prices. They are constructed from various materials including steel, copper, bronze and wood. The only warranties, expressed or implied, granted in connection with casket products are the express written warranties, if any, extended by the manufacturers thereof. There is no direct relationship between the protective features of the casket/outer container and the preservation of the body.
Caskets can be purchased from several locations, including funeral homes, casket stores, some cemeteries, and businesses located via the internet.
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule prohibits funeral homes from charging a handling fee when families purchase a casket at a location other than the funeral home.