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Federal Trade Commission Guidelines for Funeral Service Providers--The Funeral Rule

These guidelines are intended to help funeral providers comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) Funeral Rule. The Funeral Rule went into effect on April 30, 1984 and was revised in July 1994.

The Funeral Rule requires funeral service providers to give you, the consumer, accurate, itemized price information and various other disclosures about funeral goods and services. In addition, the rule prohibits funeral service providers from:

• misrepresenting legal, crematory, and cemetery requirements

• embalming for a fee without permission

• requiring the purchase of a casket for direct cremation

• requiring consumers to buy certain funeral goods or services as a condition for furnishing other funeral goods or services

• engaging in other deceptive or unfair practices

Funeral service providers who violate the Funeral Rule may be subject to penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

These guidelines do not amend or modify the Rule. They explain the requirements of the revised Funeral Rule and discuss how funeral service providers should prepare documents required by the Rule—the General Price List, the Casket Price List, the Outer Burial Container Price List, and the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected. The guidelines also include sample price lists and a sample itemized statement form.