Funeral Sticker Shock: How Georgia Families Get Fleeced in Their Darkest Hour

When grief clouds judgment, some funeral homes see dollar signs. Funeral homes are hitting Georgia families with emotional upsells, vague contracts, and overpriced packages they never wanted—all while navigating the loss of a loved one.

💰 Why It Matters: The average funeral now costs between $8,300 and $9,995 for burial and $6,280 for cremation—before any “extras” that funeral homes sell as “essentials” when you are too devastated to argue.

🚩 The Warning Signs: Anthony Martin, founder of Choice Mutual, says predatory funeral homes deploy several tactics:

• Bundling unnecessary services into seemingly “convenient” packages
• Using guilt-laden phrases like “Wouldn’t your loved one want the best?”
• Implying certain expenses (like embalming or fancy caskets) are legally required when they’re not
• They may refuse to provide clear, itemized pricing until you’ve already invested emotionally.

📋 Know Your Rights: The FTC’s “Funeral Rule” guarantees you can:

• Demand an itemized price list before discussing arrangements
• Refuse package deals with unwanted services
• Buy caskets or urns from third parties without penalty
• Receive written cost breakdowns before payment

Yet a 2022 study found only 18% of funeral homes post full prices online—making comparison shopping nearly impossible when you’re grieving.

🛡️ Protecting Your Wallet: Martin recommends:

• Shop around and demand prices upfront (they must provide them)
• Never reveal your maximum budget
• Skip embalming unless absolutely necessary (it’s rarely required by law)
• Buy caskets elsewhere—funeral homes can’t charge extra for using them
• Get everything in writing before paying a cent
• Take your time—you usually have at least two days to make decisions

Sources: National Funeral Directors Association, Funeral Consumers Alliance, Consumer Federation of America, Choice Mutual, Federal Trade Commission.