For many families, cost is the most stressful part of arranging a funeral, and often the part they understand the least. The truth is that you have far more rights, and far more control, than you may realize. This guide explains where the money actually goes, what the law guarantees you, and the questions worth asking any funeral home, so that you can make clear decisions without pressure.

Your rights around funeral pricing

Funeral pricing in the United States is governed by a federal law called the FTC Funeral Rule, and it exists to protect you. Under that rule, any funeral home must give you an itemized General Price List that is yours to keep, and it must share prices with you over the phone if you ask. You have the right to buy only the goods and services you want, rather than being required to accept a package. Before you are shown caskets, you are entitled to see a written price list, and before you pay, you are entitled to a written, itemized statement of everything you have selected. Embalming is not required by law in most situations, and no funeral home may embalm for a fee without your permission; however, funeral home policies may require embalming for public viewings or public health reasons.

Where the money actually goes

When you look at an itemized price list, the costs generally fall into a handful of categories, and understanding them makes the whole thing far less mysterious.

Basic services fee. This is the one charge added to nearly every arrangement. It covers the professional services of the funeral director and staff, such as planning, coordination, obtaining permits and certificates, and the overhead of being available to you at any hour. It is non-declinable, which means it applies whether you choose burial, cremation, or something simple. Operating a funeral home involves significant overhead, and this fee helps offset those expenses.

Care and transfer of your loved one. This covers bringing your loved one into the funeral home’s care, along with the basic sheltering and handling that follow. Some ask why this fee is higher than they expected. When a funeral home is called to bring someone into their care, it is not as simple as driving to the location of the death and driving back to the funeral home. The expenses the funeral home incurs for this one service alone are quite high, even if the “trip” is “just down the road.” 

In New York State, a licensed and registered funeral director or registered resident funeral director must be the one to conduct this service. The amount of education and training involved to obtain licensure is quite significant, which adds to the increased cost. Additionally, the required vehicle (which is often modified for this service) and insurance are additional expenses, and if a funeral assistant is needed, that adds to it as well. One quick note on the funeral assistant: if a funeral home is charging you for a second person to assist with the removal and transportation of your loved one, that is not legal in NYS. The “transportation from place of death” charge includes all staff, regardless of whether it is one funeral director or ten. 

Preparation. Embalming falls under this category, and in most cases it is optional rather than required by law. Refrigeration is a common, less costly alternative when there is a short delay. We are proud to be one of only a couple of funeral homes in the area that have invested in refrigeration to ensure your loved one's dignity is held to the highest standards. Dressing, casketing, and cosmetology may also appear here if you choose a viewing.

Facilities and staff for services. If you hold a viewing, funeral, or memorial gathering at the funeral home, the use of the space and staff time are charged here.

Vehicles. A hearse, a service vehicle, or a lead car for a procession appears as a separate item and is used only if you need it.

Merchandise. Caskets, urns, and outer burial containers or vaults make up this category, and the range is wide.

Cash advances. Some charges are paid by the funeral home to outside parties on your behalf, such as the crematory fee, cemetery charges, clergy honoraria, death certificates, obituary notices, and flowers. In New York, a funeral home is not allowed to profit from these items, so what you pay is what the third party charges.

What a funeral or cremation typically costs

The median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial in the North Country is $12,000, and the median cost of a funeral with a viewing and cremation is about $7,000. Both of those figures generally exclude cemetery costs such as a plot, a vault, and a marker, which are charged separately.

Simpler choices cost considerably less; a direct cremation without a formal viewing or ceremony can come in well below those medians. In the North Country, costs vary widely. Some funeral homes charge a direct cremation fee plus vehicles and mileage; others charge only the direct cremation fee, without transportation costs.

Questions to ask when checking pricing for direct cremations

If you are calling multiple funeral homes, it is very important to ask the following questions regarding direct cremation pricing:

1.    What is your direct cremation price?

2.    What does that price include?

3.    Do you charge transportation such as a vehicle and mileage to the crematory?

4.    What is the cost of the crematory you use as a cash advance?

5.    Are there any other charges I need to be aware of, such as ferry fees?

6.    What is the total amount that will be due for a direct cremation, including all cash advances which are typically charged (crematory fee, death certificates, ferry charge, etc.). 

Some funeral homes will only provide their direct cremation price when asked, and will not provide what the total cost will be including cash advances, which leaves families in an uncomfortable position when it comes time to make arrangements, as they were told one charge and not all of the additional cash advance and transportation expenses.

Help that may be available

A few forms of help exist, depending on your situation. Social Security pays a one-time death benefit of $255 to an eligible surviving spouse or dependent child. Veterans and their families may qualify for burial and memorial benefits, as detailed in our veterans guide. For families facing real financial hardship, New York offers limited burial assistance through county social services.

We routinely work with the Clinton County and Essex County Departments of Social Services to seek financial assistance if your loved one qualifies; if they don’t, we work to find a solution.

Whatever your circumstances, we will work with you honestly to find an option that fits your budget.

Questions worth asking any funeral home

Whether you are speaking with us or comparing several funeral homes, these questions will tell you most of what you need to know.

•               May I have a copy of your General Price List to keep?

•               What exactly is included in your basic services fee?

•               Is embalming required for the arrangements I am considering, or is it optional?

•               Which of these charges are cash advance costs paid to outside parties?

•               Can you give me the full, itemized cost in writing before I decide anything?

A funeral home that welcomes those questions is one you can trust. We welcome them.

Where to go from here

These guides walk through the related decisions in plain language.

•               What to Do When Someone Dies: the first steps in the hours after a death.

•               How Cremation Works in New York: the process, honestly explained.

•               Veterans: burial benefits and military honors available to North Country families.

We are here whenever you are ready



You are always welcome to ask us for our full, itemized price list, by phone at (518) 561-5111 or in person, whichever is easier for you. We will give it to you plainly, answer any cost question you have, and never push you toward anything you do not want.

This guide was written by Jerod Heidrick, a New York State licensed funeral director and co-owner of Heidrick Funeral Home in Plattsburgh and Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home in Au Sable Forks. It reflects the FTC Funeral Rule, New York State law, and National Funeral Directors Association price data current as of August 2026. Prices, laws, and benefit amounts can change, so when in doubt, call us and we will help you find the right answer.