Spartanburg Price Survey, 2023
We are pleased to give you our comparative survey of funeral home prices in Spartanburg
County, which we last surveyed in 2017.
Our first step was to identify the funeral homes currently doing business. We did that through
Internet searches. Back when telephone companies were still producing Yellow Page directories,
it was rather easy to tell which funeral homes were active. Now, it is not as clear. Defunct
businesses can “live” online for quite some time. In this case, we found that one of the funeral
homes on our list was out of business, and another had changed its name. We finally identified
17 operating throughout the county.
The next step was to collect General Price Lists (GPLs) from the funeral homes. The Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give a copy of their GPL to
anyone who comes to their business in person and asks for one. We enlisted the aid of a
volunteer who lives in Spartanburg County, and she visited, or attempted to visit, the listed
establishments. She gathered GPLs from 14 of them. Two homes were closed at the time of her
visit, so she was not able to collect their documents. Instead, one of our board members
telephoned those two and obtained their prices, although we were not able to evaluate their
GPLs. One funeral home of the 17 considered the convenience of its customers reason enough
to post its GPL on its website.
Every funeral home is allowed to set a fee for “basic services,” which covers overhead expenses,
administrative and equipment costs. This is the only fee that you, the consumer, cannot decline
to pay. Charges for basic services ranged from a low of $1,500 to a high of $3,995 for a
difference of $2,495. The average among the 17 was $2,421. This price is usually the first one
quoted on a General Price List (GPL) and can serve as a rough indicator of how expensive a
funeral home is going to be.
Not all General Price Lists are created equal. They follow no standard format, and some are
easier to read and understand than others. The group from Spartanburg was no exception. For
example, J.M. Dunbar fits all their information on one two-sided sheet with a single fold, while
J.F. Floyd offers an 8-page booklet. The worst GPL in the group was that of J.W. Woodward. The
document is supposed to state a range of prices for both caskets and vaults. Woodward’s did
neither. There was no casket price list attached but there was a list for vaults. Furthermore,
Woodward did not state a price for immediate burial. Instead, it listed something called a
“carnation package,” said to be “economy.” The price for direct cremation said nothing about an
alternative container, and there were several options available bundling additional services with
the cremation. Both the burial and cremation options were presented as “packages.” This
approach is problematic, according to the FTC, because consumers are supposed to be able to
pick and choose particular services without being compelled to purchase items they may not
want.
The national Funeral Consumers Alliance is urging the Federal Trade Commission to require all
funeral homes to present their prices in a standard format, so that consumers can more easily
compare them. However, the FTC has not yet acted on this proposal.
Another area of the GPL that can be misleading is the disclosure statement on embalming that
funeral homes are required by FTC rules to include. The FTC says that the statement should
begin by stating, “embalming is not required by law.” However, some funeral homes are still
stating that embalming is not required by law, “except in certain special cases,” language that
was formerly based on FTC guidance but no longer is. The Floyd, Stribling, and Woodward GPLs
all say that, which is not accurate. In South Carolina embalming is never required by law. It may
be required by the funeral home if the consumer chooses a funeral service with viewing of the
remains.
We found vague and confusing statements in several of the GPLs. Community Mortuary lists a
charge of $2,220 in bold face type for direct cremation, but just below that quote, it lists a price
of $1,895 for a direct cremation with an alternative container provided by the funeral home. No
explanation for the discrepancy was given. We quoted the lower price in the survey.
J. M. Dunbar lists confusing prices for cremation. In one place it says that a cremation with a
container provided by the purchaser is $1,685. The container provided by the funeral home is
priced at $95. But then, just below, under the heading “direct cremation,” Dunbar states a price
of $2,465, which includes local removal of the body, necessary documentation, and the
crematory charge. We infer that the lower price does not include the actual cremation, but this
is not stated. If that is the case, the GPL should say so clearly.
J. F. Floyd offers what it calls a “rental cremation casket.” At first glance, that sounds
ridiculous. How could one rent a casket that would then be burned in the crematory? What the
funeral home most likely meant is a casket that can be rented for a funeral service with the body
present prior to the cremation (which would then be done using an alternative container). The
funeral home should have called it simply a rental casket.
Leeside Funeral Home priced a direct cremation with the container provided by the funeral home
at $1,295 and one with the container provided by the purchaser at $1,595, a difference of
$300. This looks like the charging of a “handling fee” for a container purchased elsewhere,
which is a clear violation of the FTC’s Funeral Rule. More generously considered, it might be
simply a misprint. Elsewhere, the price range quoted for direct cremation is $1,095 to $1.295;
therefore, the actual price for cremation with the container supplied by the purchaser may be
$1,095, with the alternative container costing $200. But that is just a guess. The GPL quotes
no price for an alternative container, which it should do.
The Kings Family Funeral Home’s description of immediate burial was confusing. First of all,
they quoted a range of prices for immediate burial – from $1,400 to $9,900 with no clarifying
description. Evidently, there is a range of burial “packages” that include additional services and
merchandise. Then, they listed a cost of $1,675 that includes a “casket” provided by the funeral
home. Since the price is $275 more than the cost of an immediate burial with the casket
provided by the purchaser, it seems that the funeral home, for the $1,675, is using its
alternative container in place of a casket. If so, that fact should be stated. Elsewhere on the
GPL, Kings lists its bottom tier casket at $2,795, so it could not be part of a burial costing
$1,675.
Stribling quotes a charge of $2,800 for an immediate burial “on weekdays” but lists no price for
weekends. Does that mean burials do not take place on weekends? That is possible but not
explained. On the other hand, the funeral home says that direct cremations on weekends cost
$100 more than the weekday rate. Stribling’s charge for direct cremation includes a “memorial
service (with the body not present).” There is no indication of the price a customer would pay if
they do not want that service.
In perusing the GPLs, we found occasional oddities. For example, Community Mortuary lists a
specific charge of $35 for transferring cremated remains from one container to another. It also
charges $150 to allow up to 10 people a “fifteen-minute” viewing of unembalmed remains.
Like all our previous surveys, this one showed wide variations in prices for similar services.
Here are some examples:
Embalming – from a low of $665 to a high of $1,175 (difference of $510)
Immediate burial – from a low of $1,400 to a high of $5,215 (difference of $3,815)
Direct cremation – from a low of $1,225 to a high of $3,790 (difference of $2,565)
The prices quoted were current at the time we solicited the GPLs; however, all funeral homes
reserve the right to change prices at any time.
If you shop carefully and compare prices before a time of need, you can save a lot of money.
Since all members of our FCASC board live in the Columbia area, we could not have surveyed
Spartanburg County without the help of our volunteer, who prefers to remain anonymous. We
thank her for her generous service.
We also would like to recognize the staff of the Harris-Nadeau Mortuary in Chesnee. Unlike their
competitors, they posted their complete price list on their website. If only all funeral homes
would adopt this consumer-friendly practice. The National Funeral Consumers Alliance is
presently urging the FTC to revise the Funeral Rule to require funeral homes with websites to
post their GPLs online. We are optimistic that reform is coming, but no definitive ruling has
been issued to date. Meanwhile, thanks, Harris-Nadeau.
We are pleased to give you our comparative survey of funeral home prices in Spartanburg
County, which we last surveyed in 2017.
Our first step was to identify the funeral homes currently doing business. We did that through
Internet searches. Back when telephone companies were still producing Yellow Page directories,
it was rather easy to tell which funeral homes were active. Now, it is not as clear. Defunct
businesses can “live” online for quite some time. In this case, we found that one of the funeral
homes on our list was out of business, and another had changed its name. We finally identified
17 operating throughout the county.
The next step was to collect General Price Lists (GPLs) from the funeral homes. The Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give a copy of their GPL to
anyone who comes to their business in person and asks for one. We enlisted the aid of a
volunteer who lives in Spartanburg County, and she visited, or attempted to visit, the listed
establishments. She gathered GPLs from 14 of them. Two homes were closed at the time of her
visit, so she was not able to collect their documents. Instead, one of our board members
telephoned those two and obtained their prices, although we were not able to evaluate their
GPLs. One funeral home of the 17 considered the convenience of its customers reason enough
to post its GPL on its website.
Every funeral home is allowed to set a fee for “basic services,” which covers overhead expenses,
administrative and equipment costs. This is the only fee that you, the consumer, cannot decline
to pay. Charges for basic services ranged from a low of $1,500 to a high of $3,995 for a
difference of $2,495. The average among the 17 was $2,421. This price is usually the first one
quoted on a General Price List (GPL) and can serve as a rough indicator of how expensive a
funeral home is going to be.
Not all General Price Lists are created equal. They follow no standard format, and some are
easier to read and understand than others. The group from Spartanburg was no exception. For
example, J.M. Dunbar fits all their information on one two-sided sheet with a single fold, while
J.F. Floyd offers an 8-page booklet. The worst GPL in the group was that of J.W. Woodward. The
document is supposed to state a range of prices for both caskets and vaults. Woodward’s did
neither. There was no casket price list attached but there was a list for vaults. Furthermore,
Woodward did not state a price for immediate burial. Instead, it listed something called a
“carnation package,” said to be “economy.” The price for direct cremation said nothing about an
alternative container, and there were several options available bundling additional services with
the cremation. Both the burial and cremation options were presented as “packages.” This
approach is problematic, according to the FTC, because consumers are supposed to be able to
pick and choose particular services without being compelled to purchase items they may not
want.
The national Funeral Consumers Alliance is urging the Federal Trade Commission to require all
funeral homes to present their prices in a standard format, so that consumers can more easily
compare them. However, the FTC has not yet acted on this proposal.
Another area of the GPL that can be misleading is the disclosure statement on embalming that
funeral homes are required by FTC rules to include. The FTC says that the statement should
begin by stating, “embalming is not required by law.” However, some funeral homes are still
stating that embalming is not required by law, “except in certain special cases,” language that
was formerly based on FTC guidance but no longer is. The Floyd, Stribling, and Woodward GPLs
all say that, which is not accurate. In South Carolina embalming is never required by law. It may
be required by the funeral home if the consumer chooses a funeral service with viewing of the
remains.
We found vague and confusing statements in several of the GPLs. Community Mortuary lists a
charge of $2,220 in bold face type for direct cremation, but just below that quote, it lists a price
of $1,895 for a direct cremation with an alternative container provided by the funeral home. No
explanation for the discrepancy was given. We quoted the lower price in the survey.
J. M. Dunbar lists confusing prices for cremation. In one place it says that a cremation with a
container provided by the purchaser is $1,685. The container provided by the funeral home is
priced at $95. But then, just below, under the heading “direct cremation,” Dunbar states a price
of $2,465, which includes local removal of the body, necessary documentation, and the
crematory charge. We infer that the lower price does not include the actual cremation, but this
is not stated. If that is the case, the GPL should say so clearly.
J. F. Floyd offers what it calls a “rental cremation casket.” At first glance, that sounds
ridiculous. How could one rent a casket that would then be burned in the crematory? What the
funeral home most likely meant is a casket that can be rented for a funeral service with the body
present prior to the cremation (which would then be done using an alternative container). The
funeral home should have called it simply a rental casket.
Leeside Funeral Home priced a direct cremation with the container provided by the funeral home
at $1,295 and one with the container provided by the purchaser at $1,595, a difference of
$300. This looks like the charging of a “handling fee” for a container purchased elsewhere,
which is a clear violation of the FTC’s Funeral Rule. More generously considered, it might be
simply a misprint. Elsewhere, the price range quoted for direct cremation is $1,095 to $1.295;
therefore, the actual price for cremation with the container supplied by the purchaser may be
$1,095, with the alternative container costing $200. But that is just a guess. The GPL quotes
no price for an alternative container, which it should do.
The Kings Family Funeral Home’s description of immediate burial was confusing. First of all,
they quoted a range of prices for immediate burial – from $1,400 to $9,900 with no clarifying
description. Evidently, there is a range of burial “packages” that include additional services and
merchandise. Then, they listed a cost of $1,675 that includes a “casket” provided by the funeral
home. Since the price is $275 more than the cost of an immediate burial with the casket
provided by the purchaser, it seems that the funeral home, for the $1,675, is using its
alternative container in place of a casket. If so, that fact should be stated. Elsewhere on the
GPL, Kings lists its bottom tier casket at $2,795, so it could not be part of a burial costing
$1,675.
Stribling quotes a charge of $2,800 for an immediate burial “on weekdays” but lists no price for
weekends. Does that mean burials do not take place on weekends? That is possible but not
explained. On the other hand, the funeral home says that direct cremations on weekends cost
$100 more than the weekday rate. Stribling’s charge for direct cremation includes a “memorial
service (with the body not present).” There is no indication of the price a customer would pay if
they do not want that service.
In perusing the GPLs, we found occasional oddities. For example, Community Mortuary lists a
specific charge of $35 for transferring cremated remains from one container to another. It also
charges $150 to allow up to 10 people a “fifteen-minute” viewing of unembalmed remains.
Like all our previous surveys, this one showed wide variations in prices for similar services.
Here are some examples:
Embalming – from a low of $665 to a high of $1,175 (difference of $510)
Immediate burial – from a low of $1,400 to a high of $5,215 (difference of $3,815)
Direct cremation – from a low of $1,225 to a high of $3,790 (difference of $2,565)
The prices quoted were current at the time we solicited the GPLs; however, all funeral homes
reserve the right to change prices at any time.
If you shop carefully and compare prices before a time of need, you can save a lot of money.
Since all members of our FCASC board live in the Columbia area, we could not have surveyed
Spartanburg County without the help of our volunteer, who prefers to remain anonymous. We
thank her for her generous service.
We also would like to recognize the staff of the Harris-Nadeau Mortuary in Chesnee. Unlike their
competitors, they posted their complete price list on their website. If only all funeral homes
would adopt this consumer-friendly practice. The National Funeral Consumers Alliance is
presently urging the FTC to revise the Funeral Rule to require funeral homes with websites to
post their GPLs online. We are optimistic that reform is coming, but no definitive ruling has
been issued to date. Meanwhile, thanks, Harris-Nadeau.
FCA/CFA Report Shows Most State Funeral Boards Provide Scant Assistance to Consumers
Our national organization, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, in conjunction with the Consumer
Federation of America, recently studied the websites of funeral regulatory boards in 49 states
and the District of Columbia to see if they contained information of value to consumers.
The study listed six criteria that would make a website user-friendly and helpful to a consumer
planning a funeral.
They were:
• An easy-to-locate, plainly identified link to consumer information on the home page
• A listing of basic consumer rights under the federal Funeral Rule
• A detailed explanation of a consumer’s rights when purchasing a pre-paid funeral
arrangements, especially relating to refunds and to reassignments of purchase contracts to
other funeral homes.
• Links to other sources telling consumers how to make better purchasing decisions when
buying funeral goods and services (e.g., the FTC’s booklet “Shopping for Funeral Services”)
• A link to instructions on how to file a complaint
• A way for consumers to see if a funeral home has been subject to disciplinary action by the
regulatory agency.
Researchers assigned grades of A through F to state funeral boards based on how well they met
those criteria.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, most states fell far short of meeting the criteria. Only
seven of the 50(14%) earned an A. Five states made B and five C. Over half the states (26, or
52%) rated no better than D, and seven received an F. Hawaii was not rated because it lacks a
state regulatory agency.
South Carolina was among the large group rated D.
The state bodies rated A were in Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and
Virginia.
The states rated F were Alaska, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Pennsylvania,
and Utah.
The study makes it evident that most state funeral boards are focused on licensing, regulating,
and, it must be said, protecting the industry and not helping consumers.
To read the report, click here
NEWS FROM FCA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
FEMA TO REIMBURSE FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR COVID DEATHS
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that it will begin
applications for reimbursement for funeral expenses of deaths due to Covid.
Here are some questions and answers. Please know that the details below are all the details we
have. To check for updates to the program, visit FEMA’s website at the address below.
https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
Q: Who will qualify to have their funeral costs reimbursed?
A: Only those families/persons who experienced a death that was caused by Covid. Covid must
be explicitly listed on the death certificate as the cause of death.
Q: Did the death from Covid have to occur within a certain time frame to qualify?
A: Yes. The death must have occurred after January 20, 2020. It appears this program will be
available for Covid deaths throughout 2021 and beyond.
From FEMA: "Passing of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 now makes it possible for
families and individuals who incur funeral expenses due to COVID-19 in 2021 and beyond the
ability to apply for Funeral Assistance. Since there is no way to predict how many COVID-related
deaths may occur between now and 2025, an exact funding cap has not been established."
Q: Will FEMA advance me money upfront to pay for a Covid death funeral?
A: No. Do not contract for a funeral that you cannot afford, assuming that you’ll get a grant to
pay that funeral in time. You will have to pay for the funeral yourself first, in any case.
Q: How much will FEMA reimburse?
A: Up to $9,000. But we are uncertain, as these reports contradict the language in the federal
legislation that authorized this money. That legislation gives a different amount. We have not
received an answer about this discrepancy.
NOTE!—FEMA will NOT reimburse funeral costs that you have already found money to pay for.
For example, if you had a life insurance policy that covered part or all of the cost, or if you did a
fundraiser to help pay for the funeral, you will not be reimbursed by FEMA for the money from
the insurance or the fundraiser.
Q: What agency should I call to start my application?
A: You must call FEMA’s dedicated line, 844-684-6333. There is no online application. You must
apply by phone.
Q: What should I do to prepare for filing my application?
A: We suggest you gather the following. This is advice based on our experience, but we do not
know for certain what documentation FEMA will require.
—A certified copy (not a photocopy, but an official document from the vital statistics office in
your state) of the death certificate. Remember that Covid must be explicitly listed as the cause
of death.
—A copy of the complete funeral contract, itemized bill, and documentation of any payment you
made on that bill. For example, canceled checks, credit card statements, etc.
—Documentation of any and all sources of money you received that helped you pay for some or
all of the funerals. This includes things like receipts showing your fundraising total, or copies of
any payments the deceased’s life insurance company made toward the funeral.
Check back here or with the national FCA website (funerals.org) for new details as they become
available.
NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS THAT MOST CONSUMERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE
FUNERAL RIGHTS
Only one-quarter of consumers surveyed (25%) know that funeral homes are required to provide
price quotes over the phone and an itemized price list at the funeral home. Only five percent of
consumers are aware that funeral homes are required to accept a casket provided by the
bereaved without charging a handling fee.
These are two findings of an online consumer knowledge survey of 2,009 representative
Americans commissioned by the National Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) and Consumer
Federation of America (CFA), on November 18-22, 2020.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina is a member of the Funeral Consumers
Alliance federation.
“It is understandable that consumers who rarely purchase funeral services do not know about
federal consumer protections,” said Overton G. Ganong, President of FCASC.
Free Pamphlet Provides Key Money-Saving Tips
To better inform consumers about their funeral rights, FCA and CFA are releasing a free
pamphlet titled, “Planning a Funeral: 5 Key Tips.” These tips include:
“Planning a funeral ahead of time can reduce costs by well over 50 percent and provide peace of
mind,” said Joshua Slocum, FCA national’s executive director.
The text of the Five Tips brochure is available on this website. Click on the "More" button above
and then click on 5 Tips. The brochure also can be found on the FCA website here.
Survey Findings Support Online Price Disclosure
The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering whether to revise its Funeral Rule. FCA
and CFA, among other groups, have argued that this revision should include requiring funeral
homes to post their price lists online.
“Online prices could be easily compared, obviating the need to visit a number of funeral homes
to collect price lists,” said FCA national’s Slocum. “One cannot expect a recently bereaved family
under pressure to make quick decisions to take the time and effort to visit several funeral
homes,” he added.
The value of easier access to funeral home price lists was suggested by the FCA/CFA survey
finding that only 17 percent of the 2,009 respondents correctly thought that direct cremation of
the body is usually available for less than $1,200. Fifteen percent thought the low price was
usually above $2,400, and 38 percent said they did not know.
“Online price lists would dramatically increase a consumer’s ability to cut funeral costs,” said
CFA Senior Fellow Stephen Brobeck. “Online posting of an existing price list would cost funeral
homes a trivial amount,” he added.
Older Persons Are Least Informed About Funeral Rights
Only 15 percent of those 65 years and older know that funeral homes are required to provide
price quotes over the phone and a printed price list at the funeral home, and 60 percent said
they did not know the answer to this question. In contrast, nearly 30 percent of those aged 18-
54 knew the correct answer.
Moreover, 76% of older persons surveyed said they did not know whether funeral homes were
required to accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charge.
“We were surprised to learn that older persons are least aware of their funeral rights because
they are the age group most likely to confront funeral-related decisions,” said FCA’s Slocum.
price quotes over the phone and an itemized price list at the funeral home. Only five percent of
consumers are aware that funeral homes are required to accept a casket provided by the
bereaved without charging a handling fee.
These are two findings of an online consumer knowledge survey of 2,009 representative
Americans commissioned by the National Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) and Consumer
Federation of America (CFA), on November 18-22, 2020.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina is a member of the Funeral Consumers
Alliance federation.
“It is understandable that consumers who rarely purchase funeral services do not know about
federal consumer protections,” said Overton G. Ganong, President of FCASC.
Free Pamphlet Provides Key Money-Saving Tips
To better inform consumers about their funeral rights, FCA and CFA are releasing a free
pamphlet titled, “Planning a Funeral: 5 Key Tips.” These tips include:
- Talk it out ahead of time: Tough decisions about cremation or burial, venue of memorial services, and related issues can be resolved without the pressures of immediate disposition of the body.
- Know your rights: The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule provides specific rights including an itemized price list, a written price estimate, and acceptance of your casket without a handling fee.
- Shop around: Comparing prices at area funeral homes can lower costs by as much as 50 percent.
- Keep it simple: The typical cost of a full funeral is $7,360, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, yet in most areas a cremation without extras can cost only $800-$1,200.
- Avoid expensive extras: Most funeral homes offer dozens of service options, including sealed caskets that may not provide you with value.
“Planning a funeral ahead of time can reduce costs by well over 50 percent and provide peace of
mind,” said Joshua Slocum, FCA national’s executive director.
The text of the Five Tips brochure is available on this website. Click on the "More" button above
and then click on 5 Tips. The brochure also can be found on the FCA website here.
Survey Findings Support Online Price Disclosure
The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering whether to revise its Funeral Rule. FCA
and CFA, among other groups, have argued that this revision should include requiring funeral
homes to post their price lists online.
“Online prices could be easily compared, obviating the need to visit a number of funeral homes
to collect price lists,” said FCA national’s Slocum. “One cannot expect a recently bereaved family
under pressure to make quick decisions to take the time and effort to visit several funeral
homes,” he added.
The value of easier access to funeral home price lists was suggested by the FCA/CFA survey
finding that only 17 percent of the 2,009 respondents correctly thought that direct cremation of
the body is usually available for less than $1,200. Fifteen percent thought the low price was
usually above $2,400, and 38 percent said they did not know.
“Online price lists would dramatically increase a consumer’s ability to cut funeral costs,” said
CFA Senior Fellow Stephen Brobeck. “Online posting of an existing price list would cost funeral
homes a trivial amount,” he added.
Older Persons Are Least Informed About Funeral Rights
Only 15 percent of those 65 years and older know that funeral homes are required to provide
price quotes over the phone and a printed price list at the funeral home, and 60 percent said
they did not know the answer to this question. In contrast, nearly 30 percent of those aged 18-
54 knew the correct answer.
Moreover, 76% of older persons surveyed said they did not know whether funeral homes were
required to accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charge.
“We were surprised to learn that older persons are least aware of their funeral rights because
they are the age group most likely to confront funeral-related decisions,” said FCA’s Slocum.
Home Funeral Documents from DHEC
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has posted some helpful documents on
their website. If you are considering caring for a loved one as they are dying or want to act as
your own funeral director, you will want to look at the following:
1. Instructions for Filing a Death Record without a Licensed Funeral Director
This document will give you information about transporting a deceased individual to final
disposition, in other words, how to obtain a BRT (Burial-Removal-Transit) permit. This is the
form needed in order to move the deceased from the place of death to the place of final
disposition, be that a cemetery or a crematory.
2. Filing of Death Record
This instruction on the DHEC website includes a link to a South Carolina Certificate of Death
Non-funeral Home Worksheet (DHEC-670D)
3. Obtaining a Certified Copy of a Death Record
The website has a link to obtain an application.
Go to www.dhec.sc.gov/VitalRecords/Forms.
You may also want to consider our pamphlet on "Caring for Your Own Dead in South Carolina," a
copy of which is available here.
Recommended sources of further information:
Caring for Your Own Dead in South Carolina, a pamphlet available from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina, www.scfunerals.org.
Complying With the Funeral Rule, Federal Trade Commission, April (2015).
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-funeral-rule
FTC Facts for Consumers, Paying Final Respects: Your Rights When Buying Funeral Goods & Services, Federal Trade Commission, May (2007).
Funerals: A Consumer Guide, Federal Trade Commission (undated).
All of the above may be obtained from the FTC website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/shop/funeral.shtm
The Funeral Director’s Guide to Consumer-Friendly General Price Lists, (2007). Available free at: http://www.funerals.org/affiliateresources/cat_view/48-affiliate-resources-/70-funeral-price-survey-instructions-and-help
Green Burial: Environmentally Friendly Burial, a pamphlet available from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina, www.scfunerals.org.
Harris, Mark, Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, New York: Scribner (2007)
Slocum, Josh and Lisa Carlson, Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death, Hinesburg, VT: Upper Access, Inc. (2011). Available at www.funerals.org
September 2016
FCASC changes course on membership.
At its meeting on April 18, 2011, the FCASC Board voted to drop the membership fee that used to confer lifetime membership for a single payment of $35 for an individual and $50 for a couple.
Instead, we will add to our mailing list, as a Friend, anyone who desires to receive educational information on funeral matters. Rather than collect membership fees for operating income, the FCASC will rely on donations from those who wish to help support our work.
Be a Friend of the FCASC. You can join the mailing list simply by sending your name, mailing address, and email address to:
Mailing List
Funeral Consumers Alliance of SC
2701 Heyward St.
Columbia, SC 29205
A form for joining the mailing list can be found here.
By becoming a Friend, you will receive a newsletter twice a year, an invitation to our annual meeting, notices of educational workshops, and periodic surveys of funeral home prices in South Carolina. Since we will be relying on donations, you also will receive occasional requests for financial contributions. We thank you in advance for your support.
4/25/2011
For contact information, click here.
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