When you are arranging cremation, you do not need a long script. You need a few questions to ask a funeral home about cremation that quickly reveal pricing transparency, custody practices, and what is actually included—so you can make decisions with less stress.
Cremation is also simply more common now, which means more families are navigating these choices for the first time. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025 (with burial projected at 31.6%). The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) reports the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8% in 2024 and projects continued growth in the years ahead. Those trend lines help explain why there are more options than ever—direct cremation, cremation with services, different containers, and many ways to memorialize afterward. Good funeral planning is simply making those choices with clear information, not doing everything perfectly.
Begin with your rights: the GPL and the itemized statement
Start by asking for the documents that make comparison possible. The FTC’s consumer guide to the FTC Funeral Rule explains that when you visit a funeral home you must be given a General Price List (often called a cremation general price list GPL) that is yours to keep. That same FTC guidance also explains you have the right to receive a written, itemized statement showing what you selected, the price of each item, and the total cost before you pay. In other words, an itemized cremation quote is not “nice to have”—it is central to your ability to compare providers.
If you are also trying to get oriented on how much does cremation cost, Funeral.com’s guide to how much cremation costs walks through the fees families most often see and why totals vary by market and by service level.
The short, high-value question list
Use the questions below as “signal questions.” Clear, written answers usually indicate a provider who is organized and transparent. Vague answers usually indicate you should keep calling. You can ask these on the phone, but whenever possible, request the answers in writing so you can review them when you are less tired.
Pricing transparency and what is included
- Can you provide your GPL and an itemized quote for direct cremation? This is your fastest route to an itemized cremation quote you can compare across providers.
- When you say “direct cremation,” what is included in direct cremation—and what is not? Ask them to name what is included (transfer, sheltering/refrigeration, authorizations, crematory fee, and the basic services fee) and what triggers extra charges.
- Which charges are third-party “cash advances,” and are those amounts estimates or fixed? This is where permits and death certificates often appear; ask whether the funeral home adds a service fee to cremation fees cash advances.
- Are there common add-on fees families don’t realize they are opting into? Ask about after-hours transfers, mileage, expedited timelines, or identification viewings.
These questions are not about being suspicious. They are about preventing an avoidable stressor: learning after the fact that your “all-in” quote did not include something that was essential to the plan.
Care, custody, and identification
- How are remains identified and tracked from transfer through the crematory and back to the family? This is the clearest way to ask “How are remains identified at crematory?” You want a step-by-step chain-of-custody explanation in plain language.
- Do you operate your own crematory, or do you use a third-party crematory? If it is third-party, ask which crematory is used and how transportation and documentation are handled.
- What options exist if our family wants an identification viewing or to witness the cremation? Not every family wants this; asking clarifies availability, cost, and scheduling.
Families often assume that “tracking” is a technical detail. In reality, it is emotional reassurance. A funeral home that can explain custody clearly—and does not treat your question as inconvenient—usually earns trust for good reason.
Timeline, containers, and receiving the ashes
- What is your typical timeline from authorization to return of the ashes, and what causes delays? These cremation timeline questions matter if travel or services depend on timing.
- Do you use an alternative container for cremation, and what are the options? The FTC Funeral Rule explains that no state or local law requires a casket for cremation and that providers offering cremation must disclose that alternative containers are available and must make them available.
- Can I bring my own urn, and what do you need from me to make sure it works? The FTC explains a provider cannot refuse to handle an urn you bought elsewhere or charge a fee to do it. Ask about required capacity, closure type, and whether they will transfer the remains into it for you. This is the practical core of “can I bring my own urn?”
- How will the ashes be returned (temporary container, urn, pickup, or shipping), and what is your policy if we cannot pick them up right away? This often reveals how organized the provider is about aftercare logistics.
These questions help you avoid two common pain points: unexpected delays when your family is trying to plan travel, and unclear handoff processes that create frustration at a moment when patience is already thin.
Comparing quotes: make it “apples to apples”
Most confusion comes from comparing different plans under the same label. “Cremation” can mean a private direct cremation, or cremation paired with viewing and staff time. To compare cremation quotes fairly, name your plan clearly and ask each provider to quote that same plan in writing.
When the documentation arrives, check whether third-party charges are clearly separated from the funeral home’s charges and whether the written statement matches what you were told. This step sounds small, but it is where clarity lives: if you have a GPL and an itemized statement, you can compare providers without guessing and without relying on memory from a hard phone call.
After cremation: the urn and keepsake choices that match your plan
Once cremation is complete, the practical question becomes what to do with ashes. Some families want a home memorial, some plan to scatter later, and others prefer cemetery placement. The NFDA statistics page reports that among people who would prefer cremation, 37.1% would prefer their cremated remains kept in an urn at home, 37.8% would prefer burial or interment in a cemetery, and 33.5% would prefer scattering in a sentimental place. That range is a reminder that “cremation” is not the end of the plan; it is the beginning of the memorial choices.
If your plan includes a home memorial, explore cremation urns for ashes and other cremation urns designed for full capacity and long-term display. If you are sharing, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can help families create multiple meaningful memorial points—one “home base” urn, plus smaller keepsakes for siblings or children who want to hold a portion close.
For wearable keepsakes, cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces hold a small amount of ashes as a personal memorial. If you are considering that option, Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry 101 guide is a helpful overview of capacity, sealing, and practical handling.
If you are deciding about keeping ashes at home, Funeral.com’s guide to keeping cremation ashes at home covers common legal and practical questions. And if you want a wider set of possibilities before you choose a direction, the Funeral.com article on what to do with cremation ashes is designed to help families slow down and choose a plan that fits real life.
When you are ready for the “urn decision” specifically, Funeral.com’s step-by-step guide on how to choose a cremation urn walks through capacity, materials, placement, and cost considerations in plain language.
If water burial is part of your plan, confirm the rules early
If your plan includes water burial in the ocean, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that cremated remains may be buried at sea provided the burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land. Funeral.com’s guide to water burial and burial at sea clarifies how families use the term and how planning changes depending on whether you are scattering or using a biodegradable urn. If you are leaning toward a biodegradable urn specifically, Funeral.com’s overview of biodegradable water urns for ashes explains float-then-sink versus sink-fast styles and what that means in the moment.
Pet cremation: the same questions, with the same need for clarity
If you are also planning for a companion animal, the same custody and pricing questions apply. Families choosing pet urns often want the same reassurance: clear identification practices, a predictable return timeline, and an understandable plan for memorialization. When you are ready to choose a memorial, Funeral.com offers pet urns for ashes and other pet cremation urns, including pet figurine cremation urns and pet keepsake cremation urns for sharing. If you want a calm sizing and style walkthrough, the Funeral.com guide on choosing the right urn for pet ashes is a practical starting point.
The goal is calm confidence, not a perfect call
These are not “gotcha” questions. They are a steady framework for comparing providers, protecting your budget, and feeling confident about care. When a funeral home provides the GPL, answers clearly, and puts details in writing, you are getting what you need to choose well. That is what good questions to ask about cremation are for: fewer surprises, clearer comparisons, and a plan your family can live with.
