A comprehensive survey of funeral home prices in Washington state shows that a family can save thousands of dollars on cremation or burial by simply shopping around. In fact, prices may be as much as seven times more expensive at one funeral establishment than another.
In the summer of 2020, People’s Memorial Association (PMA) conducted its survey of funeral home pricing. With the coronavirus pandemic, the need to have cremation and burial pricing available to consumers online is increasingly apparent. Washington state funeral homes are leading the nation in this increasing transparency with 51 percent of funeral homes including at least partial pricing on their websites. This is up from 38 percent in 2018 and 27 percent in 2016.
The PMA staff and volunteers requested the General Price Lists of all the Washington state funeral homes that handled 25 or more cases in 2019. Due to the pandemic, they only collected the pricing via the funeral homes’ websites or if the funeral home sent their price list to People’s Memorial. This survey is based on those 200 funeral homes.
This 2020 survey discovered that:
- Cremation prices vary by more than 745 percent.
- Burial prices vary by over 400 percent.
- The average cost for direct cremation is $1,570 (with prices ranging from $495 to $4,165).
- The average price of immediate burial is $2,924 (with prices ranging from $1,045 to $5,290).
- A complete funeral service with embalming, viewing, and a funeral service averages $5,071 (ranging from $2,045 to $11,100). Basic casket costs were included in both burial options, but casket costs can range from less than $1,000 to over $25,000, depending on a family’s preference.
In 2020, only 12 funeral homes (compared to 31 in 2018) did not provide pricing (requiring a personal visit or didn’t respond to e-mails or phone calls).
PMA produces the biennial price survey to educate consumers about their options and the cost of different choices. Individuals wishing to have a copy of the price survey may view and/or download it from the People’s Memorial Association website or contact the office (info@peoplesmemorial.org or 206-325-0489) to request a print copy.
Free end-of-life planning classes
In addition to conducting price comparisons, People’s Memorial Association provides free classes on end-of-life planning. Since March 2020, they have seen a 280 percent increase in class attendance due to the ease of accessibility of virtual learning and the reminder of human mortality brought on by COVID-19. Class topics include estate planning, advance planning for healthcare, and green and conventional funeral options and their costs. Attendees receive supporting legal and planning documents to complete a comprehensive end-of-life plan.
The organization promotes that with a little bit of planning before death is imminent, unnecessary stress and thousands of dollars can be saved. For the virtual class schedule, visit www.peoplesmemorial.org/events.
Advocating for greater transparency
People’s Memorial Association, along with its national association, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, and the Consumer Federation of American have collaborated to lobby the Federal Trade Commission to update The Funeral Rule from 1984 to mandate that all funeral homes post General Price Lists on its website and will e-mail it when asked. PMA and its members recently testified in support of the passing of SB5001, legalizing natural organic reduction (human composting) and alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation) in Washington state.
People’s Memorial Association is a nonprofit funeral consumer organization with approximately 70,000 living members in Washington state. Members of People’s Memorial Association receive discounted prices on cremation and burial at more than 20 funeral establishments across the state. Dues are $50 for a lifetime membership. Members own The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial—a full-service mortuary that services King County. Visit www.peoplesmemorial.org and www.funerals.coop for more information.
Two testimonials from folks who recently used the services of The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial:
“I am impressed with the transparency in pricing, the assistance I received, and the quality of your staff. The lack of pressure to purchase a more expensive option was also notable. In an industry that is often rife with shady practices, your integrity makes your organization stand out as a shining star.”
“In this capitalistic world where important elements of a compassionate and enlightened society are often omitted, I was pleased to find no pressure or judgment from you. In your profession, in which grief may render a consumer vulnerable and confused, such pressure would be particularly egregious. Thank you for making this an easy step in my life’s adjustment.”
Contributor Nora Menkin is Executive Director of People’s Memorial Association.
The Co-Op Knows, That’s How It Goes
People’s Memorial Association members who participated in the 2015 Annual Meeting enjoyed this short music video—a fun reminder to say what we want on our final day!
Click on the image above to access the video.
Posted in End-of-Life Issues
FAQs
Otherwise, the estate remains liable (in most cases) until 24 months after date of death. This means that any heir or beneficiary who receives an estate asset remains liable for dilatory Creditor's Claims until the second anniversary of Decedent's death.
What debt is not forgiven after death? ›
Additional examples of unsecured debt include medical debt and most types of credit card debt. If you die with unsecured debt, repayment becomes the responsibility of your estate. Your legal estate refers to all the assets, property and money left behind by you or another deceased person when they die.
Do you inherit your parents' debt in Washington state? ›
In Washington, heirs are not responsible for the debts of their relatives.
How do you find out what debts a deceased person has? ›
The spouse or executor of the estate may request the deceased person's credit report by mailing a request to each of the credit reporting companies. Send a letter along with the following information about the deceased: Legal name. Social Security Number.
Do I have to pay my deceased mother's credit card debt? ›
If there's no money in their estate, the debts will usually go unpaid. For survivors of deceased loved ones, including spouses, you're not responsible for their debts unless you shared legal responsibility for repaying as a co-signer, a joint account holder, or if you fall within another exception.
Can creditors go after beneficiaries? ›
When a person dies, creditors can hold their estate and/or trust responsible for paying their outstanding debts. Similarly, creditors may be able to collect payment for the outstanding debts of beneficiaries from the distributions they receive from the trustee or executor/administrator.
What assets are protected from creditors after death? ›
Living trusts allow you to pass on property to your heirs and avoid probate. Assets held in a living trust are protected from creditors. Brokerage accounts, which are taxable investment accounts held with an investment firm or brokerage, can't be taken by creditors.
Do children inherit debt? ›
Statistically speaking, almost three out of four people are going to die with debt, which raises a very real concern for spouses and children of the deceased: Can you inherit their debt? Good news: In nearly all circ*mstances, you won't! The deceased's estate is responsible for settling most, if not all, debts.
Are family members responsible for deceased debt? ›
Generally, a dead person's estate is responsible for paying their debts by selling off estate assets. Once someone dies, they are a "decedent." The personal representative of the decedent's estate handles the estate administration according to the terms of a will.
Do I inherit my dead parents debt? ›
Most debt isn't inherited by someone else — instead, it passes to the estate. During probate, the executor of the estate typically pays off debts using the estate's assets first, and then they distribute leftover funds according to the deceased's will. However, some states may require that survivors be paid first.
Who pays debts out of the deceased person's assets? The executor — the person named in a will to carry out what it says after the person's death — is responsible for settling the deceased person's debts.
Can creditors take inheritance money? ›
A creditor can only get a limited part of the inheritance while it is in your trust. What is needed for your son's support is protected. Over and above that, creditors may be able to get up to 25% of any payment made to your son. The same holds true if you believe your son is in a marriage that could end in divorce.
Does Social Security notify credit bureaus of death? ›
However, once the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are notified someone has died, their credit reports are sealed and a death notice is placed on them. That notification can happen one of two ways — from the executor of the person's estate or from the Social Security Administration.
Can I ignore DCM services? ›
What Happens if I Ignore DCM Services? If you are related to the person who died but are not the spouse, personal representative of the estate, or joint account holder, you can safely ignore DCM Services. An even better solution would be to request in writing that they stop contacting you.
How long before a debt becomes uncollectible? ›
Can a 10 year old debt still be collected? ›
Can a Debt Collector Collect After 10 Years? In most cases, the statute of limitations for a debt will have passed after 10 years. This means a debt collector may still attempt to pursue it (and you technically do still owe it), but they can't typically take legal action against you.
Can debt collectors go after the family of deceased? ›
California law does allow creditors to pursue a decedent's potentially inheritable assets. In the event an estate does not possess or contain adequate assets to fulfill a valid creditor claim, creditors can look to assets in which heirs might possess interest, if: The assets are joint accounts.
Are you obligated to pay a deceased person's debt? ›
If the deceased was the primary borrower, the estate will be responsible for the debt. If the estate cannot pay it, though, the cosigner will be responsible. This is one of the reasons many financial planners advise clients to avoid cosigning financial documents.
The PMA staff and volunteers requested the General Price Lists of all the Washington state funeral homes that handled 25 or more cases in 2019. Due to the pandemic, they only collected the pricing via the funeral homes’ websites or if the funeral home sent their price list to People’s Memorial. This survey is based on those 200 funeral homes.
