Frequently Asked Questions

Click one of the FAQ categories below to view articles. Many of the topics are available in an attractive pamphlet format, suitable for sharing with family and friends. Where available, the article will have a link to the pdf version, suitable for printing in tri-fold format on 8 1/2" by 11" paper. To order preprinted copies by mail, please send a donation to cover postage and copying costs to the address on our main page. You can also check with a funeral consumers alliance near you — you may receive them as a benefit of membership.

And don't forget to check our Bookstore for additional information—including our latest end-of-life planning kit, "Before I Go, You Should Know," with illustrations by Edward Gorey.

Body and Organ Donation
Information regarding the final gift of life through organ, body, tissue, and eye donation.
Burial, Cemeteries, and Related Matters
Burial, cemeteries, grave liners, vaults, and monuments.
Cremation
Death and the Environment
How do our burial practices affect the environment? How can we care for our dead in a more environmentally friendly (and cheaper) way?
Funeral Arrangements
Resources for planning funeral arrangements, including preparation, disposition, and costs.
General
General questions about the funeral process.

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Before I Go, You Should Know - Funeral Planning Kit

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Dangers of Prepaying

"Preneed" is a term coined by the funeral industry to describe the arrangement and payment of a funeral prior to death. Obviously, if you are to have any say in it, you must plan in advance of your death. "Prearrangement" is also used interchangeably with "preneed".

The marketing of preneed plans for funeral services and merchandise is increasingly prevalent. Various companies, including insurance companies, "for-profit cremation societies," and "preneed associations" flood the mail with advertising which touts the benefits of their preneed plans. There are a number of pitfalls, as well as options, about which consumers should be well-informed.

Click here for the full article.

Click here for a pdf.

Latest News

Newsflash

Welcome to our new website. We've overhauled it to make it easier for you to find the practical information you need to make informed funeral choices and get answers to the most common questions about funeral choices and costs. If you don't find what you need, use our search box in the upper right corner. You can also enlarge the text to make it easier to read.

About FCA

The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) is a Federation of Nonprofit Consumer Information Societies protecting a consumer's right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral since 1963.

Funeral Consumers Alliance