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

If you are searching how to choose a funeral home in Pennsylvania, you are probably not doing it under calm conditions. Sometimes the need arrives suddenly, in the hours after a death. Sometimes it comes during a long illness, when your family is trying to plan ahead and reduce stress later. Either way, the experience can feel the same: you are expected to make expensive, unfamiliar decisions quickly, and you are trying to protect both your loved one’s dignity and your household’s finances at the same time.

This guide is written to help Pennsylvania families feel steadier in 2026. It will walk you through how pricing works, how to get the documents you are legally entitled to, how to verify licensing and look for complaints or disciplinary action, and how to spot the red flags that often show up when grief meets pressure. Along the way, you will also see how practical choices like direct cremation, cremation urns for ashes, and memorial options such as cremation jewelry can fit into a plan that is respectful without being financially overwhelming.

One important context point: cremation is now the most common disposition in the United States. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025, and the same page reports national median costs for funeral services. The Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024. What this means for your family is simple: more providers offer more “packages” than ever, and the only reliable way to compare is to request the right paperwork and ask the right questions.

Before you call: the five-minute checklist that prevents the most expensive mistakes

You do not need to have every decision made before you contact a funeral home. But you will save money and reduce pressure if you can name a few basics first, even loosely. Think of this as a quick “hold the line” plan you can keep beside you while you make calls.

• Your budget range and what you want it to include (for example, disposition only versus disposition plus a service).
• The service type you are considering (no service, graveside service, memorial later, or a traditional viewing and funeral).
• Cremation versus burial, or whether you need information on both.
• Your timing constraints (for example, travel, religious timelines, or family availability).
• Who has legal authority to make arrangements and sign documents.

That last point matters in Pennsylvania. State law addresses the “right to dispose of a decedent’s remains,” and it can affect who can authorize cremation, sign the contract, and make final decisions if family members disagree. Pennsylvania’s statute is found at 20 Pa.C.S. § 305. If you anticipate conflict, or if you are planning ahead, it can be worth asking an attorney about documentation that clarifies authority. In the immediate moment, your goal is more practical: make sure the funeral home is clear about who will sign and what proof they need.

How funeral home pricing works and what you should request up front

Funeral pricing can feel confusing because it is not one price, it is a set of prices that can be combined in different ways. The most reliable consumer protection in this space is the FTC Funeral Rule, which requires funeral homes to provide itemized price information and prohibits certain deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission explains consumer rights in plain language, including your right to receive a General Price List (GPL) in person when you ask about prices.

In practice, here is what you should request when you contact a funeral home in Pennsylvania, whether you are calling Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, Scranton, or searching funeral home near me Pennsylvania at 2 a.m.

First, ask for the General Price List (GPL) and for an itemized estimate that matches your plan. The GPL lists the funeral home’s goods and services and the price of each. It is the starting point for any real comparison. Second, ask whether there are additional price lists that apply to your situation. The FTC also addresses required price lists in its “price list essentials” materials, including the GPL and other lists used for caskets and outer burial containers: Funeral Rule Price List Essentials.

Third, ask what the funeral home must disclose under the Funeral Rule. A good funeral director will not be offended by this question. In fact, a transparent provider will often welcome it because it keeps everyone on the same page. For a deeper compliance explanation (and for some of the common “workarounds” the FTC warns about), the FTC’s business guidance on Complying with the Funeral Rule is the most direct source.

How to compare quotes apples-to-apples in Pennsylvania

A surprising number of families believe they are comparing the same thing because they ask for “cremation pricing” or “a simple burial.” But funeral homes may interpret that phrase differently, bundling different services. The best way to prevent a mismatch is to ask for an “out-the-door total” with the same line items included across providers.

If you are comparing direct cremation, say so explicitly. Direct cremation funeral home Pennsylvania pricing typically means the funeral home brings your loved one into care, completes paperwork, performs the cremation (often through a crematory they own or subcontract), and returns the cremated remains. It typically does not include embalming, formal viewing, or a staffed ceremony at the funeral home. That difference alone is why direct cremation is often the least expensive professional option.

Once you have a quote in front of you, scan for these categories and make sure you are comparing the same categories across funeral homes:

• Basic services fee (sometimes called professional services fee or the non-declinable fee).
• Transfer/care (removal from place of death, sheltering/refrigeration, and care of remains).
• Facilities and staff for viewing, visitation, ceremony, or memorial (only if you want these).
• Embalming (often optional; confirm whether it is included or presented as “required”).
• Cremation fee and any separate crematory charges.
• Casket/urn costs or alternative container charges (and whether the quote assumes you are purchasing merchandise from them).
• Cash-advance items (third-party charges the funeral home may pay on your behalf).

Cash-advance items are where “surprise fees” often hide in plain sight. These can include certified death certificates, cemetery charges, clergy honoraria, obituary placement, and permits. The point is not that these costs are illegitimate; it is that they may not be controlled by the funeral home, and they can vary widely. When a funeral home gives you an estimate, ask which items are cash-advance, whether the funeral home adds any administrative fee to them, and whether you can pay certain third parties directly if you prefer.

If you want a calm walkthrough of what line items usually mean in a cremation quote, Funeral.com’s guide Itemized Cremation Costs Explained can help you translate the language before you sign anything. And if the big question in your home is how much does cremation cost, Funeral.com’s overview How Much Does Cremation Cost? is designed specifically for apples-to-apples comparison thinking.

Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule: the protections families miss most often

Most families do not walk into a funeral home wanting conflict. They want guidance. The problem is that grief can make it difficult to recognize when guidance has turned into pressure. The FTC Funeral Rule is not there to make funeral service adversarial; it is there to keep your choices real.

One example that comes up frequently is merchandise pressure. The Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to accept third-party caskets without charging a “handling fee” simply because you did not buy the casket from them. The FTC’s guidance calls out these “casket handling” fees as improper: Complying with the Funeral Rule. In Pennsylvania, that means if you choose to buy a casket online, you can ask the funeral home to confirm in writing that there will be no added surcharge for receiving it.

Families also get pressured around embalming. The FTC’s consumer guidance explains that embalming is not required by law in most situations, and that funeral homes must not misrepresent legal requirements. It also explains options like using an alternative container for cremation rather than a casket: The FTC Funeral Rule. Your practical takeaway is this: if someone says “you have to,” ask, “Is that a legal requirement, a policy requirement, or a requirement for the type of service we are choosing?” Then ask them to show you where it appears on the GPL and on the estimate.

Licensing and reputation checks in Pennsylvania: what to verify and where to look

Price matters, but so does trust. Pennsylvania regulates funeral directors through the State Board of Funeral Directors. The Commonwealth’s overview is here: State Board of Funeral Directors. If you are doing funeral home licensing Pennsylvania checks, you can verify professional licenses through the Commonwealth’s licensing portal and also look for disciplinary history.

The simplest approach is to use the Commonwealth’s “verify a professional license” instructions and then search in the Pennsylvania Licensing System. The Commonwealth explains the process here: Verify a Professional or Occupational License. The license database itself is the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).

When you search, verify the funeral director’s license status and also look for whether the business is properly approved as a funeral establishment. Pennsylvania regulations address the approval of funeral establishments (and related requirements) under the State Board’s regulations, for example: 49 Pa. Code § 13.91. This matters because the “funeral home” you interact with is both people and a regulated facility.

If you are concerned about complaints or disciplinary issues, Pennsylvania provides multiple pathways. The Commonwealth’s complaint instructions are here: File a Complaint Against a PA-Licensed Professional. Pennsylvania also publishes a monthly listing of disciplinary actions across boards and commissions: Professional Licensing Disciplinary Actions. In addition, the Commonwealth notes that PALS can show whether a licensee has faced discipline, which is one reason it is worth searching there even if a funeral home has excellent online reviews.

Finally, ask directly about subcontractors. If a funeral home uses a third-party crematory, ask for the name and location of the crematory and what identification steps they use. A conscientious provider will be able to explain chain-of-custody practices in plain language and will not act as if the question is strange.

The questions to ask a Pennsylvania funeral home before you sign

Families often hesitate to ask detailed questions because they do not want to appear suspicious. The reality is that clear questions protect everyone, including the funeral home. Think of these as funeral home questions to ask Pennsylvania families commonly use to avoid confusion later.

• Can you provide the General Price List (GPL) and a written, itemized estimate for the plan we described?
• Is your quote itemized or a package? If it is a package, can we remove items we do not want and see the new total?
• What is included in your basic services fee, and what is not included?
• What are the timelines: transfer into care, permits, cremation scheduling, and return of remains?
• If cremation is involved, who performs it and where? What identification steps are used from intake to return?
• Which charges are cash-advance items, and do you add any administrative fee to them?
• What deposit is required, what is your cancellation policy, and what happens if our plan changes after we sign?
• How will you help with death certificates and permits, and how many certified copies do families typically order?
• If we buy a casket or urn elsewhere, what should we know about timing, delivery, and any policies that affect the schedule?

If you are building a cremation-centered plan, it can also help to think ahead about what happens after the cremation. Some families want a single full-size urn at home. Others prefer keepsake urns so adult children can each have a small portion. Some choose small cremation urns for a compact memorial space. And many people consider cremation necklaces or other cremation jewelry as a private, wearable remembrance.

Funeral.com has collections that can help you explore those options without pressure, including cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation necklaces, and cremation jewelry. If your loss includes a beloved animal companion, you may also want to look at pet urns for ashes, pet figurine cremation urns, and pet keepsake cremation urns. These choices are not “extras” for many families; they are the part that turns a transaction into a tribute.

If you are thinking about keeping ashes at home, Funeral.com’s practical guide Keeping Cremation Ashes at Home can help you plan storage and reduce anxiety about what is “allowed.” If your family is considering water burial or burial at sea, the article Water Burial and Burial at Sea explains what key terms mean and how families plan the moment with care. And if you are weighing whether memorial jewelry fits your life, Cremation Jewelry 101 offers a grounded overview of what it is and how it is typically used.

Red flags to take seriously, even if the funeral home seems kind

Many families only recognize a problem after money has changed hands and the contract is signed. The clearest funeral home red flags Pennsylvania families report tend to show up early, in the way information is shared.

• Refusal to provide the GPL or reluctance to give you a written itemized estimate.
• Vague pricing such as “it depends” without any range, line items, or written summary.
• Pressure tactics that frame immediate signature as the only way to “move forward.”
• Statements that something is “required” without clarifying whether it is legally required or only required for a specific service choice.
• Unexplained fees or unclear language around cash-advance items.
• Upselling embalming or expensive merchandise in a way that dismisses your plan.
• Unclear cremation identification steps or reluctance to explain chain of custody and timing.

It is possible for a funeral home to be compassionate and still operate with pricing practices that create confusion. Your goal is not to catch someone in wrongdoing. Your goal is to protect your family from preventable regret. In almost every case, a good provider will respond to clarity with more clarity.

What to do next: a simple process that protects your budget and your peace

When families feel overwhelmed, they often default to the first funeral home they contact, especially if the person on the phone is kind. Kindness matters, but you can keep kindness and still do a careful comparison. If you can, get two to three quotes. Request a written, itemized statement that matches the same plan at each provider. Then confirm services in writing before you sign or pay deposits, especially around timing, refund policies, and what the quoted total does and does not include.

If you are trying to keep costs manageable, consider separating disposition from memorial. Many families choose direct cremation now and hold a memorial later, in a place that feels like the person rather than a place that feels like a sales floor. If you want a gentle, budget-centered overview of how that works, Funeral.com’s article What Is the Cheapest Way to Plan a Funeral? explains the tradeoffs in plain language.