cemetery and funeral bureau - consumer guide to funeral and … · 2017. 10. 25. · cemetery &...

consumer guide to

Funeral & Cemetery Purchases

C E M E T E R Y A N D F U N E R A L B U R E A U

february 2008 www.cfb.ca.gov

California Department of Consumer Affairs Cemetery & Funeral Bureau1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S-208Sacramento, CA 95834(800) 952-5210 | TDD (800) 326-2297 (916) 574-7870

This publication may be copied if:• Thetextisnotchangedormisrepresented.• CreditisgiventotheDepartmentofConsumer

Affairs’CemeteryandFuneralBureau.• Allcopiesaredistributedfreeofcharge.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 3

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 4Disposition Arrangements • Prices • Embalming • Cremation • Burial • Home Death Care • Coroner Fees • Retail Casket Sellers

DECIDING IN ADVANCE 8For a Loved One • For Yourself • Check the License Status • Compare Prices and Services • Prearrangement • Prepayment Options

BURIAL 12Purchasing Items Elsewhere • Multiple-Depth Graves

CREMATION 14Disposition of Cremated Remains • Scattering

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES 17Death Out of State • Death Out of the Country • Donation for Medical Purposes

PRICE LIST REQUIREMENTS 17

COMPLAINTS 19

GLOSSARY OF TERMS 20

FOR MORE INFORMATION 22

The death of a loved one is one of the most traumatic experiences any of us will ever have. The California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Cemetery and Funeral Bureau has developed this booklet to assist you in making the difficult decisions about funeral and cemetery arrangements for yourself or someone close to you. By asking the right questions, comparing prices and services, and making informed decisions, you can make arrangements that are meaningful to your family and control the costs for yourself and your survivors.

The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau licenses and regulates, and investigates complaints against, California funeral establishments, funeral directors, embalmers, apprentice embalmers, cemetery brokers, cemetery salespersons, cemetery managers, cremated remains disposers, crematories, crematory managers and the nearly 200 fraternal and private cemeteries in the State.

If you need help with a cemetery or funeral issue, visit the Bureau’s Web site at www.cfb.ca.gov or call the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Consumer Information Center at (800) 952-5210.

4 | FUNERAL AND CEMETERY PURCHASES

Legal RequirementsDisposition ArrangementsCalifornialawliststhosewhohavetheright,duty,andresponsibilitytomakedecisionsaboutdispositionarrangementsafteraperson’sdeath.Theyare,inorder:

i Aperson,priortohisorherdeath.

i Anagentunderapowerofattorneyforhealthcare.

i Thesurvivingcompetentspouse,ortheregistereddomesticpartner.

i Thesurvivingcompetentadultchildorthemajorityofthesurvivingcompetentadultchildren.

i Thesurvivingcompetentparentorparents.

i Thesurvivingcompetentadultsiblingorthemajorityofthesurvivingcompetentadultsiblings.

i Thesurvivingcompetentadultpersonorthemajorityof thesurvivingcompetentadultpersons,inthenextdegree ofkinship.

Details: Apersonmaydirectinwritingthedispositionofhisorherremainsandspecifythefuneralgoodsandservicesdesired.Unlessthereisawrittenstatementtothecontrarythatissignedanddatedbytheperson,thesedirectionsmaynotbechangedinanymaterialwayexceptasrequiredbylaw.

Thelawprotectsapersonafterdeathprovidingthat:

1) Thewrittendirectionsareclearandcomplete;and

2) Arrangementforpaymentoffinalservicesviatrusts,insurance,commitmentsbyothers,oranyothermeanshavebeenmadewhichprecludesthepaymentofmoneybythesurvivors(s)whomightotherwisehavetherighttocontroldisposition.

i Insteadofgivingwritteninstructions,apersonmaygivetherightanddutyofdispositiontoanagentunderapowerofattorneyforhealthcareoranadvancehealthcaredirective.

CEMETERY AND FUNERAL BUREAU | 5

Thisagentwillhavethefullrighttoactandcontrolthedecedent’sdispositionunlessthepowerofattorneyoranadvancehealthcaredirectivelimitsorremovesthatright.

i Intheabsenceofawrittendirectiveorpowerofattorneyforhealthcare,therightanddutyofdispositionnextmovestoasurvivingcompetentspouseorregistereddomesticpartnerorwritteninstructionshavebeengivenpursuanttotheprecedingparagraph.

i TobeconsideredaregistereddomesticpartnerinCalifornia,apersonmusthavefiledaDeclarationofDomesticPartnershipwiththeSecretaryofStateunderFamilyLawCodeSection297.

i Intheabsenceoftheabovedocumentsandpeople,therightanddutyofdispositionwouldfalltothesurvivingcompetentadultchildorthemajorityofthesurvivingcompetentadultchildren,thenthecompetentparentorparents,thenthecompetentadultsiblingorthemajorityofthesurvivingcompetentadultsiblingsandthenthecompetentadultpersonorthemajorityofthesurvivingcompetentadultpersons,inthenextdegreeofkinship.

Inaddition,thelawgovernsissuessuchasthetimeinwhichfamilymembersmustact,whatoccursifallmemberscannotbelocatedorcannotagreeonwhatistobedone,andwhoisresponsibleforthecostsofdisposition.Besuretoreviewandunderstandalltheprovisionsoflawwhenyouareconsideringthesechoices.

(NOTE: Exceptions may apply in certain situations. You have the right to select a different person to make the decisions about your arrangements, if you wish. You may wish to consult with an attorney about including such instructions in your will or in another written document, such as a power of attorney for health care. Be sure to provide copies of your instructions to family members and keep your own copy in a handy place.)

PricesThelawrequiresfuneralestablishmentstoquotepricesoverthetelephoneandtogiveyouaGeneralPriceList(GPL)andaCasket


PriceList(CPL)whenyouinquireinpersonaboutarrangementsandprices.Ifthefuneralestablishmentsellsouterburialcontainers,itmustalsoprovideyoupricesforthosecontainers,eitheraspartoftheGPLoronaseparatepricelist.(For more information, see Price List Requirements, page 17.)

Whenyoucontractforserviceswithafuneralestablishment,thelawrequiresittogiveyouanitemizedstatementofyourchoices,includingestimatesofanycoststhatareunknownatthetime.Thestatementmustalsoincludechargesforoutsidevendorservicesarrangedbythefuneralestablishmentsuchasflowers,clergyhonoraria,newspapernotices,music,etc.Makesurethestatementincludesonlythoseitemsyouhaveselected.Ifyouhavechosenafuneralpackage,makesurethestatementdescribesallgoodsandservicesthatareincluded.Getatotaldollaramountinwritingbeforeyousignthecontract.

Thelawallowsafuneralestablishmenttosetafeeforprofessionalservices,suchasthefuneraldirector’stimespent:

i Helpingyouplanthefuneral;

i Makingarrangementswithacemeteryorcrematory(orotherfuneralestablishmentifthebodywillbeshippedoutofthearea);

i Obtainingthedeathcertificateandotherrequiredpermits;

i Submittingtheobituary,and“unallocatedoverhead,”whichincludestaxes,insurance,advertising,andotherbusinessexpenses.

Thefuneralestablishmentmayrequireyoutopaythisfee,aswellasthecostofthespecificfuneralgoodsandservicesyouselect.

(NOTE: It is illegal for a funeral establishment to charge a handling fee if you wish to use a family-built casket or purchase one elsewhere. However, the casket must meet the cemetery or crematory’s standards and must take into consideration the size of the body. It is also illegal for the funeral establishment to make false claims about the preservative qualities of a casket or to charge contagious disease fees or fees for protective clothing for staff.)


EmbalmingThelawdoesnotrequireembalming.However,afuneralestablishmentmustrefrigerateanunembalmedbodyinitspossessionifburialorcremationdoesnottakeplacewithin24hours.(See exception under Home Death Care, below.)Asapracticalmatter,however,youmaywishtoauthorizeembalmingiftherewillbeadelaybeforeapublicviewing.Keepinmindthatembalmingdoesnotpreventdecompositionofabody.

(NOTE: A coroner may require embalming in certain circumstances.)

CremationThelawdoesnotrequirethepurchaseofacasketbeforecremation.(A combustible cremation container is required. See Cremation section, page 14)

BurialVaultsorgravelinersarenotrequiredbylaw,butbecausetheykeepthegroundfromsettlingafterburial,cemeteriesmayhavetheirownpoliciesrequiringthem.Typically,vaultscompletelysurroundthecasketinconcreteorothermaterial.Gravelinerscoveronlythetopandsides.Neitherisdesignedtopreventtheeventualdecompositionofhumanremains.

Home Death CareThelawdoesnotprohibitconsumersfrompreparingabodyfordispositionthemselves.Ifyouchoosetodothis,youmust:

i FileaproperlycompletedCertificateofDeath,signedbytheattendingphysicianorcoroner,withthelocalregistrarofbirthsanddeaths.

i ObtainaPermitforDispositionfromthelocalregistrarofbirthsanddeaths.

i Provideacasketorsuitablecontainer.

i Makearrangementsdirectlywiththecemeteryorcrematory.

(NOTE: Human remains may be kept at home until disposition without embalming or refrigeration. Generally, decomposition will proceed more rapidly without refrigeration or embalming.)


Coroner FeesCalifornialawpermitscoronerstochargeforcertainservices.Feesvarybycounty.

Retail Casket SellersCalifornialawrequiresretailcasketsellers,uponbeginninganydiscussionofprices,togivecustomersawrittenpricelistofallcaskets,alternativecontainers,andouterburialcontainersnormallyofferedforsale.Inaddition,ifcustomersaskforitinpersonorbytelephone,theretailcasketsellermustgivethemawrittenstatementidentifyingcasketsorcontainersbyprice,thicknessofmetal,typeofwoodorotherconstruction,andbyinteriorandcolor.Price,thickness,construction,andcolorinformationmustalsobeincludedonatagconspicuouslyattachedtoeachcasket.Priortoasale,thesellermustprovidethebuyeranitemizedstatementofallcostsinvolved.

Bylaw,retailcasketsellersmaynotarrangefuneralsorcremationsorperformanyotherfunctionsrequiringalicenseasafuneralestablishment.Beforedoingbusinesswithanyretailcasketseller,funeralestablishment,crematoryorcemetery,youmaywishto checkthecompany’sbusinesspracticeswithyourlocalBetter BusinessBureau.

(NOTE: Retail casket sellers are not bound by the State laws or regulations that govern funeral establishments, crematories, and cemeteries, nor are they licensed or regulated by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau or by the Federal government. State and local business laws and city and county business licensing regulations govern them.)

Deciding in AdvanceFor a loved one . . .

Whilemakingsuchdecisionsisdifficultatanytime,planninginadvanceforthedeathofalovedonecanrelieveyouofthatresponsibilityatthetimeofdeath,whenyoumaybeemotionallyvulnerable.Taketimenowtodiscussthesemattersandfindoutwhatyourlovedoneswant.


For yourself . . .Planninginadvanceforyourowndispositionafterdeathcanspareyourlovedonestheanguishofmakingdifficultdecisionswhileinastateofgrief.Shoppingaheadoftime,gettingcorrectinformation,andplanninginadvanceallowsyoutomakeinformeddecisionsbeforeyoupurchase,andmaysaveyoumoney.Besuretodiscussyourwisheswithyourfamily.Youmayalsowishtotalktoanattorneyaboutthebestwaytoensurethatyourwishesarefollowed.Youcanmakearrangementsdirectlywithafuneralestablishmentorthroughamemorialsociety.Memorialsocietiesarenonprofitorganizationsthatprovideinformationaboutpreplanningfuneralsanddisposition.TheydonotofferfuneralservicesthemselvesandarenotregulatedbytheCemeteryandFuneralBureau,butareregulatedunderFederalandStatenonprofitlaws.Tolocateafuneralestablishmentormemorialsociety,askfriendsandrelativesforreferrals,orcheckthetelephonebookyellowpages.

(NOTE: Many funeral entities that include the word “society” in their names are for-profit businesses. If a society’s nonprofit status is important to you, you should confirm it prior to making arrangements.)

Check License StatusTobesurethatthefuneraldirector,funeralestablishment,crematory,andprivatecemeteryarelicensedbytheStateandingoodstanding,call(800)952-5210,TDD(800)326-2297,ortheCemeteryandFuneralBureauofficeat(916)574-7870.Youcanalsocheckthelicense status online at www.cfb.ca.gov.

(NOTE: The State licenses and regulates fraternal and private cemeteries, not those operated by religious organizations; cities, counties, or cemetery districts; the military; Native American tribal organizations; or other groups. If you don’t know who regulates the cemetery, ask the cemetery manager.)

Compare Prices and ServicesFirst,visitandinspectseveralfuneralestablishmentsandcompareservices,restrictions,rules,andprices.Then,decidehowmuchyouwanttospend.Ifyoubuyacasketfromaretailcasketseller,be


suretoaskifthesellerwilldeliveritorifyoumustpickitup.Alsocomparepricesatseveralcemeteriesandaskabouttheirendowmentcarefunds.(See Glossary of Terms, page 20.)Ifafuneralestablishmentorcemeteryisnotbeingmaintainedtoyoursatisfaction,takeyourbusinesselsewhere.

PrearrangementYoumaywanttomakeyourarrangementsinadvancebutnotprepayforthem.Keepinmindthatovertimepricesmaygoupandbusinessesmaycloseorchangeownership.Youmayalsomovetoanotherplaceordecideyouwanttochangeyourarrangements.It’sagoodideatoreviewandreviseyourdecisionseveryfewyears,andyoushouldmakesureyourfamilyisawareofyourwishes.Puttheminwriting,givecopiestofamilymembersandyourattorney,andkeepacopyinahandyplace.(Don’tkeepyouronlycopyinasafe-depositbox.Yourfamilymayhavetomakearrangementsbeforetheboxcanbeopened—forexample,onaweekendorwhenthebankisclosed.)

Prepayment OptionsIfyoudodecidetoprepayforfuneraland/orcemeteryservices,youhaveseveraloptions.

(NOTE: These are options, not recommendations. Be sure to carefully compare the advantages and disadvantages of each—and consider consulting an attorney—before making any decisions.)

PreneedTrustContracts—Decideonthefuneralandcemeteryservicesyouwant,signcontractsthatfullydescribethoseservices,andpayasetamountintoatrustadministeredbythefuneralestablishmentorcemetery.Therewillusuallybesomecoststhatcannotbeprepaid.Servicessuchasopeningandclosingthegrave arenotusuallypartofthepreneedcontractandmustbepaidat time of need.

(NOTE: Be sure that your contract includes a cancellation clause in case you change your mind later. Keep in mind that if you cancel a funeral preneed trust, under the law, all of the money you paid in must be refunded to you. Most cancellation clauses require a revocation fee, limited by law to no more than 10 percent of the total amount that you


have paid in. This revocation fee can only be taken from trust fund earnings.)

Beforeyouchooseapreneedtrustcontract,considerthefollowing:

i Askforaguaranteedpriceplan.Thisprotectsyouandyourfamilyfromfuturepriceincreases.(Withoutit,yoursurvivorsmayhavetomakeupthedifferenceincost.)However,evenwithaguaranteedpriceplan,someitemsorserviceswillprobablyhavetobepaidatthetimeofneed.Obtainawrittenestimateoftheseadditional“at-need”chargessoyouandyourfamilywillknowwhattoexpectatthetimeofneed.

i Makesurethefundsinyourpreneedtrustincreaseinvalue,andfindoutwherethemoneyisbeinginvestedandwhothetrusteesare.Youmayreceiveanannualstatementofearnings,whichmayberequiredtobereportedasinterestincomeontaxforms.Also,besurethattheplanincludesawrittenprovisionthatstateswhatwillhappenwithanyremainingtrustfundearnings.

i Findoutifyouhavetopaytheentireamountintothetrustupfront,orifyoucanpayovertime.

i Askifthereisapenaltyforlatepayments.Askifyourfuneralarrangementscanbetransferredtoanotherfuneralestablishment,orifthecemeterywillbuythepropertybackifyoumoveoutoftheareaorchangeyourmind.

i Toguaranteepricesofcemeterygoods,suchasavaultoramarker,buythemandhavethecemeterystorethemuntiltheyareneeded.Thisiscalled“constructivedelivery.”Thelawprohibitstheconstructivedeliveryoffuneralgoods.Makesurethepurchasecontractspecifiesthemanufacturerandmodeloftheitemsyoupurchase,aswellasanyinscriptionsanddescriptionsofthematerialsused.Obtaintheaddressinwritingofwherethegoodsarestored.

Savings—Earmarkaportionofyoursavingsforyourfuneralexpenses,andensurethatyourfamilymembersandattorneyareinformedandthatprovisionsaremadeforyoursurvivorstowithdrawthefundsatyourdeath.Youcanchangeyourmindatanytime.


PODAccount—EstablishaPayOnDeath(POD),Accountwithyourbank,designatingthefuneralestablishmentasthebeneficiaryoffundsuponyourdeath.Besuretoinformfamilymembers,thefuneralestablishment,yourchosenexecutorandyourattorneyoftheprovisionsoftheaccount.PODaccountsmayinvolveservicefees,andinterestearnedistaxable.Theymaybecanceledwithoutpenalty.(NOTE: The funeral establishment is not required to pay any excess funds to your survivors.)

LifeInsurance—Buylifeinsuranceequaltothevalueofthefuneralandarrangeforyourbeneficiary(afamilymemberorfriend)tohandlethearrangementsinaccordancewithyourstatedwishes.

(NOTE: If the costs of the funeral arrangements exceed the amount of your policy, your survivors will have to make up the difference.)

FuneralInsurance—Buyfuneralinsurancethroughthefuneralestablishment,whichbecomesyourbeneficiary.Youpreselectthecasket,plot,etc.,andthepricemaybeguaranteed.Ifthepriceisguaranteed,thefuneralestablishmentcannotchargeyourrelativesmorethanthecontractstates,evenifpricesrise.However,itcankeepanyfundsremainingafterthearrangementshavebeencarriedout.

(NOTE: You should get in writing how much the policy will be worth in one year, two years, five years, and 10 years. Find out if you will pay more on the policy over time than the policy will pay out upon your death. Find out what happens if you cancel the policy.)

Funeralestablishmentsandlicensedcemeteriesmustpresenttothepersonmakingfuneralarrangementsforadeceasedpersonacopyofanypreneedagreementintheirpossessionthatissignedandpaidforinfullorinpart.

BurialIfyouchoosetraditionalburialofthebodyorcrematedremains,youwillneedtopurchaseaplot(unlessyouareeligibleforburialatnocostinanationalcemetery).Pricesmayvarywidelybetweencemeteriesandbetweendifferentlocationsinthesamecemetery.Thereisalsoafeeforopeningandclosingthegrave,andyouwill


probablyberequiredtobuyanouterburialcontainersuchasagravelinerorvaulttohelpprotectandstabilizethecasket.Inaddition,thereisusuallyaseparateendowmentcarefeeformaintenanceandgroundskeeping.

Burialinamausoleum(entombment)involvespurchaseofacrypt,openingandclosingfees,andchargesforendowmentcareand otherservices.

Purchasing Items ElsewhereIfyoupurchaseacasketoralternativecontainerfromasourceotherthanthefuneralestablishment,thelawprohibitsthefuneralestablishmentfromcharginga“caskethandling”fee.However,yourpurchasemustmeetthestandardssetbythecemeteryandmusttakeintoconsiderationthesizeofthebody.Remembertoshopwisely,sinceretailcasketsellersarenotboundbythesamelawsorregulationsthatgovernfuneralestablishments,crematories,andcemeteries.Ifpurchasingitemsinadvance,insistthatanymoneyyoupaybeplacedinatrust,andbesuretogetacopyofthetrustagreement.

Ifthecemeteryrequiresouterburialcontainerstominimizegroundsettling,youmayhavetobuyagravelinerorvault.Youdonothavetobuytheoutercontainerfromthecemetery;however,alinerorvaultpurchasedelsewheremustmeetthesize,shape,andmaterialstandardssetbythecemetery.

Youmaypurchaseamarkerormonumentfromanothersource, butitalsomustmeetcemeterystandards,andthecemeterymay notchargeasettingfeeifthemonumentcompanysetsitforyou.Chargesbythecemeteryforfoundations,settingorpermittingthesettingofgravemarkersormonuments,mustbethesamewhetherthemarkerormonumentwassoldbythecemeteryorbysomeoneelse.Besuretoreviewtherulesandpoliciesofthecemeterybeforeyoupurchase.Thiscanhelpavoidmisunderstandingsandcanassistyouinmakingdecisions.

Multiple-Depth GravesYoumayarrangetobeburiedinthesamegraveasyourspouseorotherfamilymember.Personswhoarenotrelatedmayalsobeburied


inamultiple-depthgraveifallpartiesauthorizeitinadvance.Burialinamultiple-depthgravemaylimitdisintermentrights.Theremaybespecialfeesforopeningandclosingamultiple-depthgrave.

CremationCalifornialawrequireswrittenacknowledgmentofthefollowingdisclosurewhencremationistotakeplace:

“ The human body burns with the casket, container, or other material in the cremation chamber. Some bone fragments are not combustible at the incineration temperature and, as a result, remain in the cremation chamber. During the cremation, the contents of the chamber may be moved to facilitate incineration. The chamber is composed of ceramic or other material which disintegrates slightly during each cremation, and the product of that disintegration is co-mingled with the cremated remains. Nearly all of the contents of the cremation chamber, consisting of the cremated remains, disintegrated chamber material, and small amounts of residue from previous cremations, are removed together and crushed, pulverized, or ground to facilitate inurnment or scattering. Some residue remains in the cracks and uneven places of the chamber. Periodically, the accumulation of this residue is removed and interred in a dedicated cemetery property, or scattered at sea.”

Ifcremationischosen,awrittenauthorizationmustbesignedbeforecremationcanproceed.Thismustbedonebytheperson(s)whohastherighttocontrolthedispositionofthebody.Thisauthorization,oraseparatecontract,indicatesthelocation,manner,andtimeofdispositionoftheremainsandincludesanagreementtopayforthecremation,fordispositionofthecrematedremains,andforanyotherservicesdesired.(Ifyouwishtoarrangeforyourowncremation,youcanlegallysigntheDeclarationforDispositionofCrematedRemainsformyourself.)

Inaddition,aburial/cremationpermit(ApplicationandPermitforDispositionofHumanRemains,VS9)mustbeissuedbythecounty


healthdepartment.Thefuneralestablishmentusuallyarrangestoobtainthispermitaspartofitsservices.

Californialawdoesnotprohibitthepersonauthorizingthecremationfromviewingthecremationprocess,andsomefacilitiesmaybeabletoaccommodatemorethanonefamilymember.Crematoriesthatdonotallowviewingthecremationprocessmustdisclosethatfactinwritingpriortosigninganycontract.Theremaybeachargeforattendingthecremation.Checkwiththecrematoryforitspolicies.

AcasketisnotrequiredforcremationbyCalifornialaw,butacombustiblecremationcontaineris.Thecontainermustbeonethatcanbeclosedandisleak-resistant.Acardboardboxconstructedforthispurposeisacceptable.Youdonothavetobuythecontainerfromthefuneralestablishmentorcrematory,butitdoeshavetomeetthestandardssetbythecrematory.

Youshouldmakeadecisionaboutremovingallpersonalpossessionsofvalue,suchasjewelryormementos,beforethebodyistakentothecrematory.Pacemakers,mostprostheses,andmechanicalorradioactivedevicesorimplantsmustberemovedbyfuneralestablishmentorcrematorystaffpriortocremation.

Bylaw,allcremationsmustbeperformedindividually,unlessamultiplecremationisauthorizedinwritingandthecremationchamberiscapableofmultiplecremations.Onlyafewcrematorieshavethiscapability.

Afterthecremationhasbeencompletedandthecremationchamberhascooled,theremainsaresweptfromthechamber,processedtoauniformsize,andplacedinasturdyplasticbagsealedwithanidentificationdisk,tab,orlabel.Thebagisthenplacedinadurablecrematedremainscontainer.

Disposition of Cremated RemainsInCalifornia,youmaychooseanyofthefollowingmethodsofdispositionofcrematedremains:

i Placementinacolumbariumormausoleum—Theremaybeadditionalchargesforendowmentcare,openingorclosing,recording,flowervase,andnameplate.


i Burialinaplotinacemetery—Theremaybeadditionalchargesforendowmentcare,openingorclosing,recording,outerburialcontainer,flowervase,andmarker.

i Retentionataresidence—ThefuneralestablishmentorcrematorywillhaveyousignaPermitforDispositionshowingthattheremainswerereleasedtoyouandwillfileitwiththelocalregistrarofbirthsanddeaths.Youmaynotremovethecrematedremainsfromthecontainerandyoumustarrangefortheirdispositionuponyourdeath.

i Storinginahouseofworshiporreligiousshrineiflocalzoninglawsallow.

i ScatteringinareasoftheStatewherenolocalprohibitionexistsandwithwrittenpermissionofthepropertyownerorgoverningagency.Thecrematedremainsmustberemovedfromthecontainerandscatteredinamannersotheyarenotdistinguishabletothepublic.

i Scatteringinacemeteryscatteringgarden.

i Scatteringatsea,atleast500yardsfromshore.(Thisalsoincludesinlandnavigablewaters,exceptforlakesandstreams.)

Crematedremainsmaynotbetransportedwithoutapermitfromthecountyhealthdepartmentandtheymaynotbedisposedofinrefuse.

ScatteringCrematedremainsmaybescatteredasdescribedabovebyalicensedcemetery,cemeterybroker,crematory,registeredcrematedremainsdisposer,funeralestablishmentstaffmember,orthedecedent’sfamily.Allcrematedremainsmustberemovedfromthecontainerforscattering.Avoidinhalationofthedustfromthecrematedremains,sincetheremaybehealthrisks.ThecountyhealthdepartmentmustissueaPermitforDisposition,andboat/aircraftoperatorsmustnotifytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyafterscattering.

Statelawrequirescrematedremainsdisposerswhoscatterbyairorboattopostcopiesoftheircurrentpilotorboatinglicensesandtheaddressesoftheircrematedremainsstorageareasattheirplaceof


business.Thelawalsorequiresdisposerstoconductscatteringswithin60daysofreceiptoftheremains,unlessthepersonwiththerighttocontroldispositionisnotifiedinwritingofthereasonforthedelay.

Special CircumstancesDeath Out of StateBurial—Ifdeathshouldoccurawayfromthecitywhereburialistotakeplace,youwillneedtohavethebodytransportedusingthecoordinatedservicesofafuneralestablishmentineachcity.Ifthebodyistransportedbyshippingonacommoncarrier,thebodymustbeembalmedpriortoshipping.Ifitcannotbeembalmed,thebodymustbeshippedinanairtightcasketortransportationcontainer.

Cremation—Youcanarrangeforcremationtotakeplaceinthedistantcityandforshipmentofthecrematedremainstoyou.

Death Out of the CountryIfdeathshouldoccurinanothercountry,theU.S.Consulateinthatcountrycanassistinmakingarrangementsforthereturnofthebodyorforitslocaldisposition.YouwillusuallybeabletoobtainEnglishtranslationsofthedeathcertificateandotherdocumentsthroughthenearestU.S.EmbassyorConsulate.

Donation for Medical PurposesIfyouwishtodonateyourbodytoamedicalschoolforeducationalorresearchpurposes,youwillneedtomakearrangementswiththeschoolwellinadvance.Itisagoodideatocheckwiththeschooleveryfewyears,sinceproceduresandneedsmaychange.Bylaw,theschoolisresponsibleforcostsoffinaldisposition.

General Price List RequirementsAsampleGeneralPriceList(GPL)isincludedinthebookletComplyingwiththeFuneralRule,whichisavailablefromtheFederalTradeCommission.Inaddition,youmaywishtocompareGPLsfromseveralfuneralestablishmentsinyourarea.Althoughadditionalservicesmaybeincluded,ataminimum,theGPLmustincludethepriceofeachofthefollowingbasicservicesprovidedbythefuneral


establishment,alongwiththedatethepricesareeffectiveandadescriptionoftheservices:

i Forwardingremainstoanotherfuneralestablishment—Mayincludeembalming,removalofremains,minimumserviceofstaff,necessaryauthorizations,andlocaltransportation.

i Receivingremainsfromanotherfuneralestablishment—Mayincludeminimumserviceofstaffandtransportationofremainstofuneralestablishment.

i Directcremation—Mayincludebasicservicesoffuneraldirectorandstaff,aproportionateshareofoverheadcosts,removalofremains,necessaryauthorizations,andcremation. (NOTE: Be sure to ask if the price for direct cremation includes the cost of the cremation itself and the cost of storing the body.)

i Immediateburial—Mayincludebasicservicesoffuneraldirectorandstaff,aproportionateshareofoverheadcosts,removalofremains,andlocaltransportationtocemetery.

i Basicservicesoffuneraldirectorandstaff, includingoverhead.

i Transferofremainstofuneralestablishment—Aflatfeemayapplyweekdays,nights,weekends,andholidayswithinaspecificarea,withmileagechargesfortransportationoutsidethearea.

i Embalming—Mustincludethefollowingstatement: “Exceptincertainspecialcases,embalmingisnotrequiredbylaw.Embalmingmaybenecessary,however,ifyouselectcertainfuneralarrangements,suchasafuneralwithviewing.Ifyoudonotwantembalming,youusuallyhavetherighttochooseanarrangementthatdoesnotrequireyoutopayforit,suchasdirectcremationorimmediateburial.”

i Otherpreparationofthebody—Servicesmaybepricedindividuallyandmayincludedressing,make-up,casketing,haircare,post-autopsycare,refrigeration,andreconstruction/restorativearts.


-Useoffacilitiesandstaffforviewing.

-Useoffacilitiesandstaffforfuneralceremony.

-Useoffacilitiesandstaffformemorialservice.

-Useofequipmentandstaffforgravesideservice.

-Hearse.

-Limousine.

-TherangeofcasketpricesthatappearontheCasketPriceList,includingthepricerangeforadultcaskets,infant/childcaskets,rentalcaskets,andforalternativecontainers.

-Eitherindividualouterburialcontainerpricesortherange ofouterburialcontainerpricesifthefuneralestablishmentsellsthem.

i Preneedagreements—Astatementthatapersonmakingfuneralarrangementsforadeceasedpersonmayreceive,priortothedraftingofanycontract,acopyofanysignedpreneedagreementpaidforinfullorinpart,thatthefuneralestablishmenthasinitspossession.

ComplaintsIfyouhaveacomplaintaboutafuneralestablishment,crematory, orState-regulatedcemetery,trytosettleitwithmanagementfirst. Ifyoucan’tresolvetheissue,calltheDepartmentofConsumerAffairs’CemeteryandFuneralBureauat(800)952-5210orTDD(800)326-2297,or(916)574-7870,andrequestacomplaintform.Youcanalsodownloadacomplaintformonlineatwww.cfb.ca.gov.Manycomplaintsarequicklyresolvedbetweentheconsumerandthelicensee.Moreseriouscomplaintsrequireathoroughinvestigation,andtheBureauwilltakeactionagainstthelicensee,ifwarranted.Forcomplaintsyouareunabletoresolvewithcemeteriesthatarenotunderstatejurisdiction,contactanofficialofthemanagingorganization.Unresolvedcomplaintsaboutretailcasketsellersshouldbedirectedtoyourlocaldistrictattorney.


Glossary of TermsCasket/Coffin—Aboxorchestforburyinghumanremains.

CemeteryProperty—Agrave,crypt,orniche.

CemeteryServices—Openingandclosinggraves,crypts,orniches;settinggravelinersandvaults;settingmarkers;andlong-termmaintenanceofcemeterygroundsandfacilities.

Columbarium—Astructurewithniches(smallspaces)forplacementofcrematedremainsinurnsorotherapprovedcontainers.Itmaybeoutdoorsorpartofamausoleum.

Cremation—Exposinghumanremainsandthecontainerholdingthemtoextremeheatandflameandprocessingtheresultingbonefragmentstoauniformsizeandconsistency.

Crypt—Aspaceinamausoleumorotherbuildingtoholdcrematedorwholehumanremains.

Disposition—Theplacementofcrematedorwholehumanremainsintheirfinalrestingplace.APermitforDispositionmustbefiledwiththelocalregistrarbeforedispositioncantakeplace.

EndowmentCareFund—Moneycollectedfromcemeterypropertypurchasersandplacedintrustforthemaintenanceandupkeepofthecemetery.TheStatemonitorsthefundandestablishestheminimumamountthatmustbecollected.However,thecemeteryispermittedtocollectmorethantheminimumtobuildthefund.Onlytheinterestearnedbysuchfundsmaybeusedforthecare,maintenance,andembellishmentofthecemetery.

Entombment—Burialinamausoleum.

FuneralCeremony—Aservicecommemoratingthedeceasedwiththebodypresent.

FuneralServices—Servicesprovidedbyafuneraldirectorandstaff,whichmayincludeconsultingwiththefamilyonfuneral


planning;transportation,shelter,refrigeration,andembalmingofremains;preparingandfilingnotices;obtainingauthorizationsandpermits;andcoordinatingwiththecemetery,crematory,orotherthirdparties.

FuneralSociety—SeeMemorialSociety.

Grave—Aspaceinthegroundinacemeteryfortheburialof humanremains.

GraveLinerorOuterContainer—Aconcretecoverthatfitsoveracasketinagrave.Somelinerscovertopsandsidesofthecasket.Otherliners(vaults)completelyenclosethecasket.Gravelinersminimizegroundsettlingonthecemeterygrounds.

GravesideService—Aservicetocommemoratethedeceasedheldatthecemeterypriortoburial.

Internment—Burialintheground,inurnment,orentombment.

Inurnment—Theplacingofcrematedremainsinanurn.

Mausoleum—Abuildinginwhichhumanremainsare buried(entombed).

MemorialService—Aceremonycommemoratingthedeceasedwithoutthebodypresent.

MemorialSociety—AnorganizationthatprovidesinformationaboutfuneralsanddispositionbutisnotpartoftheState-regulatedfuneralindustry.Mayalsobecalledafuneral consumeralliance.

Niche—Aspaceinacolumbarium,mausoleum,ornichewalltoholdanurn.

Urn—Acontainertoholdcrematedhumanremains.Itcanbeplacedinacolumbariumormausoleum,oritcanbeburiedintheground.

Vault—Agravelinerthatcompletelyenclosesacasket.


Colleges of Mortuary Science

For More Information

CypressCollegeMortuaryScienceDepartment

9200ValleyViewStreet Cypress,CA90630-5897 (714)484-7278

AmericanRiverCollegeFuneralServiceEducationProgram

4700CollegeOakDrive Sacramento,CA95841 (916)484-8432

Consumer Advocacy Groups

FuneralConsumersAllianceofCalifornia

P.O.Box161688 Sacramento,CA95816 (877)638-6372

FuneralConsumersAlliance

33PatchenRoad SouthBurlington,VT05403 (800)765-0107 www.funerals.org

FuneralServiceConsumerAssistanceProgram(FSCAP)

P.O.Box486 ElmGrove,WI 53122-0486 (800)662-7666

FederalTradeCommissionOfficeofConsumer&BusinessEducation

Washington,D.C.20580 (877)382-4357 www.ftc.gov

LocalDistrictAttorneyorConsumerAffairsOffice

(See Government section of your local phone book.)


AssociationofCaliforniaCremationists

P.O.Box896 LosAlamitos,CA90720 (562)596-0464(phone and fax) (877)936-7222

CaliforniaFuneralDirectorsAssociation

OneCapitolMall,Suite320 Sacramento,CA95814 (800)255-2332 www.cafda.org

CremationAssociationofNorthAmerica

401N.MichiganAvenue Suite2200 Chicago,IL60611 (312)245-1077 www.cremationassociation.org

CemeteryandMortuaryAssociationofCalifornia

925LStreet,Suite220 Sacramento,CA95814 (916)441-4533 www.CMACcalifornia.org

InternationalCemetery,CremationandFuneralAssociation

107CarpenterDr.Suite100 Sterling,VA20164 (800)645-7700 www.icfa.org

InternationalConferenceofFuneralServiceExaminingBoards

1885ShelbyLane Fayetteville,AR72704 (479)442-7076 www.cfseb.org

NationalFuneralDirectorsAssociation

13625Bishop’sDrive Brookfield,WI53005-6607 (800)228-6332 www.nfda.org

Industry/Trade Associations

CEM

ETERY

& FU

NER

AL B

UR

EAU

1625N.M

arketBlvd.,SuiteS-208Sacram

ento,CA95834

07-112 (02/08)

cemetery and funeral bureau - consumer guide to funeral and … · 2017. 10. 25. · cemetery &...

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