How to Choose a Funeral Home in New Hampshire (2026): GPL Price List, Licensing, Questions & Red Flags

The moment you realize you need to choose a funeral home often arrives with very little emotional bandwidth. In New Hampshire, as in most places, families are asked to make decisions quickly—sometimes within hours—while also trying to understand what just happened. The goal of this guide is not to turn you into an expert. It is to help you feel steady enough to ask the right questions, spot avoidable problems, and choose a provider that treats your family with clarity and respect.

In 2026, one reason price comparisons feel more urgent is that more families are choosing cremation, including simpler options like direct cremation. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025 and is expected to keep rising, while reported median costs also differ meaningfully between burial and cremation scenarios. The Cremation Association of North America reports a 2024 U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% and projects continued growth. These trends matter because they shape what funeral homes offer, how packages are marketed, and how easily costs can become confusing if you do not insist on itemized pricing.

Before you call: a quick checklist that makes everything easier

If you do only one thing before you start dialing numbers, take five minutes to align your family on the basics. This prevents “scope creep,” where a conversation drifts into expensive add-ons before anyone is ready to decide.

• Your budget range and what “too much” would mean for your household.
• Your service style: private goodbye, memorial later, traditional service, or something in between.
• Cremation vs. burial (and whether you want viewing, visitation, or no public events).
• Your timing needs: immediate arrangements vs. a plan that allows travel.
• Who has legal authority to make arrangements in New Hampshire (more on this below).

In New Hampshire, “authority” is not just a family conversation—it is a legal concept. State law explains that custody and control can belong to a person designated in writing, or otherwise to next of kin in a specific priority order. See RSA 290:17 and the definitions and next-of-kin order in RSA 290:16. Knowing who can sign forms helps you avoid delays, family conflict, and last-minute pressure.

Pricing in plain English: what you should ask for upfront

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by a quote that looks like a spreadsheet written in a foreign language, you are not alone. The most important reset is this: you do not need a “good package.” You need the funeral home price list New Hampshire families are entitled to see—so you can compare options without guessing.

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must provide a written General Price List (GPL) when you visit and begin discussing goods, services, or prices. The FTC also explains that you have the right to buy only what you want, receive a written itemized statement before you pay, and get price information by phone if you ask. In other words, FTC Funeral Rule New Hampshire calls are not about “being difficult.” They are about using your consumer rights in a stressful moment.

When a funeral home says, “We can go over everything when you come in,” it is reasonable to reply, gently: “We are comparing providers. Could you share pricing information now, and when we arrive we’ll ask for the GPL and an itemized estimate?” The Funeral Rule does not cap prices, but it does require transparency. If you want a companion read that breaks this down step-by-step, Funeral.com’s guide Understanding Funeral Home Price Lists walks you through how families can read the documents without getting lost, and Funeral Home Price Lists Explained shows how to compare two providers in an apples-to-apples way.

Here is what to request, clearly and early:

• The general price list (GPL) New Hampshire families receive when discussing arrangements in person (bring it home; it is yours to keep).
• A written, itemized estimate (sometimes called a statement of goods and services selected) before you pay, as described by the FTC.
• If burial is involved, any list for caskets and outer burial containers (the FTC explains you have the right to see written price lists before seeing the products).
• If cremation is involved, ask what is included in “direct cremation” versus a more full-service plan, and whether alternative containers are available (the FTC notes no state or local law requires a casket for cremation).

How to compare quotes apples-to-apples

Families often think two quotes are describing the same thing, but the line items tell a different story. One provider may quote a “package” that quietly includes facilities and staffing, while another itemizes everything. The only reliable method is to compare the building blocks.

Line item	What to look for	Why it matters
Basic services fee	Confirm what it covers (planning, paperwork, overhead) and whether it is non-declinable.	This fee appears in most arrangements and can vary significantly between providers.
Transfer into care	Ask about after-hours surcharges, mileage, and where the person is taken.	Transfers can add unexpected cost if you are calling at night or from a distance.
Shelter/care of the body	Confirm daily fees, refrigeration, and how long is included.	Delays for travel or scheduling can add up quickly.
Facilities and staff for viewing/visitation	Ask for the hourly rate, minimum hours, and staffing included.	This is a common place where “packages” can obscure true costs.
Embalming	Ask when it is truly necessary versus optional, and what alternatives exist.	The FTC explains routine embalming is not required by law in most situations, and refrigeration is often an acceptable alternative.
Cremation fees	Confirm whether the crematory fee is included, and who performs the cremation.	Third-party crematory charges and “cremation container” fees can create surprises.
Casket/urn/alternative container	Ask whether you can supply your own without fees.	The FTC states a funeral provider cannot refuse a casket or urn you bought elsewhere or charge a handling fee for it.
Cash-advance items	Request a list of third-party charges (death certificates, permits, clergy, cemetery fees, obituaries).	Cash advances are real costs, but they can make quotes look artificially low until the end.

If you are comparing cremation options, it also helps to keep the language straight. “Direct cremation” generally means cremation shortly after death without a public viewing or formal service at the funeral home. Funeral.com’s guide Direct Cremation: What It Is, Who It’s For, and How It Works explains what is typically included and what is usually separate.

New Hampshire licensing, reputation, and who regulates what

Most families start with reviews—and reviews do matter—but licensing and regulatory structure matter more when something goes wrong. In New Hampshire, a key legal concept is “custody and control,” which governs who can make decisions and sign authorizations. If there is disagreement among relatives at the same priority level, state law explains how decisions are made and how custody and control can pass to the next person in line. See RSA 290:17 and the next-of-kin order in RSA 290:16.

Professional discipline and complaint procedures for funeral directors and embalmers are handled through the state’s funeral service regulatory framework. New Hampshire’s administrative rules explain that complaints alleging licensee misconduct must be submitted in writing and filed with the board’s office in Concord; see N.H. Admin. Code § Frl 206.02. State law also authorizes the board to investigate misconduct and describes how investigations and complaints are handled; see RSA 325:33.

If what you are dealing with looks like deceptive business practices—especially unexplained fees, misleading advertising, or refusal to honor written terms—consumer protection may also be relevant. New Hampshire provides an online complaint portal for the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau through the state’s online forms system: NH Online Forms System (Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau). You can also report suspected fraud to the FTC here: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

One more New Hampshire-specific point that can affect timelines: state law provides that when a body is to be cremated, at least 48 hours shall elapse before cremation can take place, and additional documentation from the medical examiner is involved. See RSA 5-C:68. This is not meant to alarm you; it is meant to help you understand why a reputable provider may explain a waiting period and paperwork steps before scheduling a cremation.

Questions to ask a New Hampshire funeral home

Families often worry that asking too many questions will make them seem distrustful. In practice, a good funeral home welcomes questions because clarity prevents conflict later. If you are searching “how to choose a funeral home New Hampshire” or “funeral home questions to ask New Hampshire,” you can use this list as a script.

• Can you provide your General Price List (GPL) and a written, itemized estimate for the options we are considering?
• What is your basic services fee, and what exactly does it include?
• How much is transfer into care, and are there after-hours or mileage surcharges?
• What are your refrigeration/sheltering fees, and how many days are included before daily charges begin?
• If we do direct cremation, what is included in your quoted total, and what is itemized separately?
• Who performs the cremation—on site or at a third-party crematory—and what is your identification and chain-of-custody process?
• How do you handle authorizations, permits, and death certificates, and what do you charge versus what is a third-party fee?
• If we want a viewing or visitation, what are the facility and staff charges, and what are the minimum hours?
• Is embalming required for what we are planning, or is refrigeration acceptable? If you believe embalming is required, what law or policy requires it?
• Can we bring our own casket or urn? (The FTC says a provider cannot refuse a casket or urn bought elsewhere or charge a handling fee.)
• Do you offer packages as well as itemized options, and can we see the itemized equivalent of any package quote?
• What is your deposit policy, your cancellation policy, and what would cause the total to increase after we sign?

If you anticipate choosing cremation and you want to understand how an urn fits into your plan—especially if you are trying to avoid pressure to buy an urn on the spot—you can browse Funeral.com’s collections before you ever step into a showroom. Many families find it calming to make these choices at home: cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces. If pet loss is part of your family’s story, you may also want to see pet urns for ashes, pet figurine cremation urns, and pet keepsake cremation urns.

Common red flags to watch for

Families searching for “funeral home red flags New Hampshire” are usually not trying to be cynical. They are trying to avoid regret. Red flags are less about one rude moment and more about patterns of vagueness, pressure, or refusal to put things in writing.

• Refusal to provide a GPL or insistence that you must come in and “talk first” before seeing prices.
• Vague totals without itemization, especially when you ask to compare funeral home prices New Hampshire providers.
• Claims that embalming, a casket for cremation, or a specific product is “required,” without explaining the legal or practical reason (the FTC explains you must receive an explanation of any legal requirement that requires a purchase).
• Pressure tactics that treat grief as a sales opportunity: “This is what most families do” without discussing alternatives.
• Unexplained “handling” or “acceptance” fees for outside caskets or urns (the FTC says they cannot charge a fee to handle a casket or urn you bought elsewhere).
• Unclear answers about identification and chain-of-custody steps for cremation, or reluctance to explain who performs the cremation.
• Cash-advance items presented as “estimates” that later balloon without explanation.

Embalming, refrigeration, and what is actually required in New Hampshire

This is one of the most emotionally charged cost categories, because it can feel like you are deciding “how much care” someone deserves. In reality, it is a practical question: what is needed for the plan you want, within the time you have?

The FTC states that no state law requires routine embalming for every death, and that some states require embalming or refrigeration only if burial or cremation does not occur within a certain time. In New Hampshire, state law provides that if final disposition has not occurred within 48 hours after the funeral home obtains actual physical custody of the body, the body must be embalmed or maintained under 40°F (or otherwise handled as described in the statute). See RSA 325:40-b. In plain language, refrigeration is often a lawful, respectful alternative when the plan does not require embalming, and it is reasonable to ask what the funeral home recommends for your specific timeline and whether that recommendation is optional or required.

What to do next: a calm, practical path forward

Once you have the documents in hand, the decision often becomes clearer than you expect. Families tend to do best when they narrow to a short list and compare the same scenario at each provider, with the same assumptions.

• Get 2–3 written quotes for the same plan (for example: direct cremation with the same level of transport, or burial with the same visitation hours).
• Request a written, itemized statement of what you selected before you pay, consistent with the FTC Funeral Rule.
• Confirm the final scope in writing: what is included, what is optional, and what could cause the total to increase.

If cost is the main stress point, you may also find it helpful to read Funeral.com’s practical guide how much does cremation cost, which explains common fee patterns and budgeting strategies in everyday language.

FAQs for New Hampshire families