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

When someone dies, most families in North Dakota don’t begin by “shopping.” They begin by trying to breathe, trying to call the right people, and trying to make decisions while sleep-deprived and emotionally raw. And because North Dakota is both close-knit and spread out, a lot of families are doing this while coordinating long drives, winter weather, and relatives flying in from out of state. The goal of this guide is simple: help you choose a funeral home with clear eyes, protect your budget, and avoid preventable stress in 2026.

One reason this matters right now is that more families are choosing cremation, which has changed what funeral homes offer and how pricing shows up. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025 and is projected to rise substantially over the coming decades. The Cremation Association of North America similarly reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected. In practical terms, that means more people are comparing direct cremation quotes, asking detailed questions about identification and chain of custody, and deciding what happens after cremation: keeping ashes at home, a scattering, a water burial, or creating keepsakes for multiple households.

Before you call: five decisions that make the next calls easier

You do not need to have everything figured out. But if you can answer a few questions before you contact funeral homes, you’ll get clearer quotes and feel more in control.

• Your budget range and your “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves.”
• The general direction: burial, cremation, or “we’re not sure yet.”
• Whether you want services (viewing, visitation, ceremony) or something simpler like direct cremation.
• Timing realities (weather, travel, cultural or faith traditions, and when family can gather).
• Who has the authority to make arrangements (the person the funeral home will need to sign authorizations).

That last point is the one that surprises families. Funeral homes are not trying to be difficult when they ask who is authorized; they are trying to make sure the person directing disposition has the right to do so. If your family situation is complicated, you can still move forward, but you may want to ask the funeral home what documentation they need and what happens if relatives disagree.

How pricing works in 2026: the GPL, itemized estimates, and “apples-to-apples” comparisons

If you remember one acronym from this article, make it this: General Price List (GPL). Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, a funeral home must give you a written GPL that you can keep when you inquire in person about funeral goods, services, or prices. The FTC explains the rule and consumer rights clearly on its consumer guidance page, including the right to buy only the items you want and to receive a written, itemized statement of what you selected before you pay.

Even before you visit, you can start gathering information. The FTC notes that funeral directors must provide price information over the phone if you ask, and you do not have to provide personal details first. That alone can reduce pressure, because it lets you compare options while you’re still thinking clearly. See the FTC’s explanation of phone price disclosures at The FTC Funeral Rule.

When families feel blindsided by cost, it’s often because they received a single package number without understanding what was included, what was optional, and what was a third-party pass-through. The FTC’s Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist is worth reading because it explains how common line items work and what you can ask to see in writing. It’s not “being difficult” to request clarity; it’s the normal, prudent thing to do.

What to ask for upfront (and what it should include)

When you speak with a funeral home in North Dakota, ask for three things, in this order: the GPL, a written itemized estimate for the specific plan you’re considering, and the written statement of goods and services selected once you decide. The FTC’s “Complying with the Funeral Rule” resource emphasizes that the GPL is the core disclosure document and explains when it must be offered and what disclosures it must contain, including items like the basic services fee and other required disclosures. See Complying with the Funeral Rule.

Then, as you compare quotes, focus on the line items that commonly vary the most. A compact way to compare “apples to apples” is to line up these categories across providers:

• Basic services fee and any required overhead charges.
• Transfer of remains (including after-hours or mileage policies).
• Care and sheltering (refrigeration versus embalming) and any daily charges.
• Facilities and staff time for visitation or services (if you want them).
• Cremation fees (and whether the crematory is in-house or subcontracted).
• Merchandise choices: casket or alternative container, urn, printed materials.
• Cash-advance items (third-party charges paid on your behalf, like certified death certificates or cemetery fees).

That last category, cash-advance items, is where “surprise fees” often hide. If the funeral home is paying a third party on your behalf, ask which items are estimated and which are exact, and ask what happens if those costs change. If someone can’t explain a line item in plain language, treat that as a signal to slow down.

North Dakota licensing and reputation: what to verify and how

In North Dakota, the state entity responsible for licensing funeral practitioners, funeral establishments, and crematoriums is the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. The board also hears complaints against practitioners and establishments, which matters because it gives you a formal channel if something feels unethical or unsafe. The board’s website explains its role and how it oversees licensure. See Funeral Board, North Dakota.

Families often assume there is an easy online “license lookup” for every profession. For funeral service in North Dakota, a practical approach is to verify in three layers: confirm licensing is current, confirm there’s a clear complaint pathway, and confirm the provider can describe its process without dodging details.

Look for visible licensing and don’t be afraid to ask

North Dakota law requires funeral establishments to be licensed, and it also requires that the funeral establishment license be conspicuously displayed at the funeral establishment. That requirement is spelled out in North Dakota Century Code provisions for funeral establishments. See the North Dakota Legislature’s published chapter text for funeral service practitioners, including the “display of license” requirement, at North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-10 (PDF).

In plain terms: if you visit a funeral home, you should be able to see the establishment license displayed. You can also ask who the supervising licensed funeral practitioner is for that location. Good providers won’t treat that question as suspicious; they’ll treat it as responsible.

Know where complaints go in North Dakota

If something goes wrong, you want a clear place to go besides online reviews. The North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service explains that complaints against a funeral practitioner or funeral establishment must be in writing and directed to the board, and that the board will review the matter to determine whether code or rules were violated. See the board’s instructions at Complaints (Funeral Board, North Dakota). Even if you never need that pathway, knowing it exists can make you feel less cornered in a stressful moment.

Ask about subcontractors, especially for cremation

If you are choosing cremation urns and planning for cremation, you’re also choosing a chain of custody process. Some funeral homes operate their own crematory; many use a third-party crematory. Either can be appropriate, but you deserve clarity on who performs each step. Ask where the cremation happens, whether the crematory is licensed, and how identification is tracked from transfer through return of the cremated remains.

This is also the moment to ask about required paperwork. In North Dakota, disposition and transport are tied to permits and vital records processes. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services provides information on vital records at Vital Records, and the state’s disposition transit permit form (used as authority for burial, transportation, cremation, or other disposition) is published as SFN 58645. See North Dakota Disposition Transit Permit (SFN 58645). A competent funeral home should be able to describe what they handle for you, what needs your signature, and what timelines to expect.

The questions that protect you: what to ask a funeral home in North Dakota

Families often hesitate to ask detailed questions because it feels confrontational. It doesn’t have to be. You can frame this as “We’re trying to make sure we understand everything before we commit.” The best funeral homes will welcome that approach because it reduces misunderstandings later.

• Can you provide your General Price List (GPL) and an itemized estimate for the exact plan we’re discussing?
• What is included in your basic services fee, and which charges are non-declinable?
• If we choose direct cremation, what does your direct cremation package include, and what is itemized separately?
• Who will perform the cremation, and where will it take place (in-house or at a third-party crematory)?
• What are your identification and chain-of-custody steps from transfer through return of the cremated remains?
• How do you handle refrigeration, and under what circumstances would embalming be recommended rather than optional?
• If we want a viewing or visitation, what are the facility and staff charges by day and time?
• What are your policies on mileage, after-hours transfers, and weather-related delays?
• Which items in this estimate are cash advances (third-party charges), and are they exact or estimated?
• How many certified death certificates do families typically order here, and what is the cost per copy?
• What deposit is required, what is your cancellation policy, and when is final payment due?
• Can you confirm, in writing, the total out-the-door price and what could cause that total to change?

As you ask these questions, notice not just the answers but the tone. A clear, steady explanation is often a stronger trust signal than any marketing language.

Red flags to take seriously (even if you like the staff)

Good people can work in poorly run systems. When you’re choosing a provider, look for structural red flags that tend to correlate with billing disputes or regrets later.

• Refusal to provide the GPL or attempts to delay it until “later.”
• Vague pricing that never becomes a written, itemized estimate.
• Pressure to buy a package when you are asking for itemized options.
• Claims that embalming is “required” without explaining the actual reason and alternatives.
• Unexplained fees that cannot be tied to a service you requested or a third-party charge.
• Statements that a casket is required for direct cremation (the FTC notes this is not required by state or local law for direct cremations, and providers must disclose alternative container options). See FTC Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist.
• Unclear answers about where cremation occurs and how identification is tracked.

If you encounter more than one of these, it’s usually worth getting at least one additional quote, even if the first funeral home is close to home or has been in the community for decades.

Direct cremation vs. full service: what the difference really means

Many North Dakota families are trying to decide between direct cremation and a more traditional service with cremation. The difference isn’t about love or respect; it’s about the structure of time and staffing.

Direct cremation typically means the funeral home handles transfer into care, required authorizations and permits, the cremation itself, and the return of the cremated remains, without a formal viewing or ceremony. A full-service funeral with cremation adds facility time, staff time, preparation decisions, and often coordination with clergy or a venue. If you want a memorial service later, you can often do that separately, which is why asking for itemized pricing matters so much.

For budgeting context, the National Funeral Directors Association reports national median costs (for 2023) of $6,280 for a funeral with cremation (including viewing and service) and $8,300 for a comparable funeral with burial. Those are national medians, not North Dakota-specific guarantees, but they can help you recognize when a quote is far outside typical expectations and merits a careful line-by-line review.

You can usually bring your own casket or urn, and you can plan the memorial pieces separately

One of the most practical ways to control cost is to separate the service provider from the merchandise decisions. The FTC explains that you have the right to buy separate goods and services and that funeral homes must accept caskets purchased elsewhere and cannot charge a fee for using them. See the FTC’s Funeral Costs and Pricing Checklist.

The same planning mindset can apply to urns and keepsakes. If your family is choosing cremation urns for ashes, you may want to take a breath before you decide, because the “right” choice depends on your plan: one household or several, permanent placement or travel, burial, scattering, or a combination.

If you want a broad view of styles and materials, you can browse cremation urns for ashes. If your plan involves sharing ashes across siblings or keeping a smaller amount close, small cremation urns and keepsake urns are often the most emotionally practical choices because they reduce conflict over “where the ashes live.”

For pet loss, families often want something that feels like the companion they miss. If you’re looking for pet urns for ashes, you can start with pet cremation urns, and if you want a sculptural memorial, pet figurine cremation urns can be a meaningful fit. If multiple households want a portion, pet keepsake cremation urns are designed for exactly that scenario.

And if someone in the family wants something wearable rather than something that sits on a shelf, cremation jewelry can be a gentle compromise. Cremation jewelry includes a range of styles, and many families start specifically with cremation necklaces because they’re discreet and familiar to wear.

What to do next: a simple, protective plan

Once you’ve narrowed your options, the goal is not to keep searching forever. The goal is to make one well-supported decision and reduce the risk of cost surprises.

• Get 2–3 quotes using the same plan (for example, direct cremation plus a set number of death certificates), and compare line by line.
• Request a written, itemized statement and ask the funeral home to confirm what can change the total (cash advances, mileage, timing).
• Confirm the services and timeline in writing, including where cremation occurs and how identification is tracked.

If you’re still feeling unsure, it can help to read one clear guide about urn selection and one guide about what happens after cremation, simply so you don’t feel rushed into decisions. Funeral.com’s Journal includes a detailed guide on how to choose a cremation urn, guidance on keeping ashes at home, an overview of cremation jewelry 101, and resources on water burial and what to do with ashes. If cost is the biggest stress point, how much does cremation cost is a practical starting point for understanding what is typically included versus optional.

FAQs about choosing a funeral home in North Dakota