Under state and federal law, you have rights as a consumer of funeral goods and services. When a death occurs, most consumers will make arrangements with a funeral home for these goods and services.
Funeral home is the generally accepted term for a business that is licensed by the state to
transport and care for a dead human body, and prepare it for burial or cremation
provide cremation services
offer venues for events such as a visitation or other funeral service
oversee and conduct such events
sell products such as caskets, urns, and burial vaults
Your rights as a consumer of funeral goods and services Funeral homes are regulated under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule. The Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to make available to consumers an itemized list of each service or product they offer, along with prices. This is called the General Price List (GPL). The GPL must also include a number of disclosures designed to protect consumers from making unnecessary purchases.
At the state level, the Minnesota Department of Health Mortuary Science Section is responsible for the “licensing and regulation of funeral establishments, crematories, alkaline hydrolysis, morticians, interns and funeral directors…[and] regulates and enforces Minnesota Statute 149A; Funeral Industry Law.
Your right to appoint someone to carry out after-death arrangements You have the right under Minnesota law to name the person who will carry out your plans and wishes for after death arrangements. If you have not names someone specifically, Minnesota law determines who can make decisions about your death arrangements.
Your right to a family-directed home funeral Your family and/or friends (or the person you appoint to carry out after-death arrangements for you) has the right to conduct a home funeral with your unembalmed body present for up to four days, including public visitation (viewing of the body), viewing of the body by minors, and options to transport your body.
The state Mortuary Science Section has produced a Consumer Information Manual called Choices, which addresses common questions about “what you must do, choices you must make, and legal requirements you must meet when a death occurs.”
Your right to file a complaint with regulatory agencies
You have the right to file a complaint if in your dealings with a funeral home, crematory, or cemetery, you believe you’ve received inadequate, poor or shoddy service or merchandise, have been treated unfairly, or have experienced real or perceived discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, economic status, or your religious beliefs or spiritual practice.