Best Cremation and Funeral Services
Funerals are never easy, but professional staff can help you feel more comfortable. Read our guide to learn about and choose the best cremation or funeral services available. We provide information to help you understand partnered homes, crematoriums, online directories and funeral solutions providers.
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Compare Reviews for Top Cremation and Funeral Services | ||||||
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The National Cremation Society has been helping individuals and families plan funerals since 1973. Though National Cremation Society specializes in cremation, it also offers burial services. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
With three offices in Virginia, this cremation services company serves most of the state. They have options for preplanning and immediate need cremation services. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
For four decades, Trident Society has been a top choice for cremation and afterlife care for over 100,000 families annually. Trident is known for both its affordability and ease as well as its round-the-clock customer support. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
With locations across California, this cremation service company provides peace and comfort whether you are preplanning for yourself or handling the recent death of a loved one. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Large provider of affordable cremation services. Offers cremation services in 45 locations across the country. Services include veteran cremation, online cremation planning, and planning services. | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||||
Read Author Review | Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services provides an alternative to expensive funeral homes. Advantage’s low-cost funeral and cremation services are available at 21 locations around the United States. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | Batesville Services was founded in Batesville, Indiana in 1884. It has helped funeral professionals, families and friends honor the deceased. Batesville offers business solutions and a variety of burial and cremation products. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | Carriage Services offers a range of administrative services to funeral homes. Carriage handles busywork like accounting and IT support. This helps you stay focused on helping families and running your funeral home. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | Cremation.org is an online resource that helps people find cremation services for their loved ones, including pets. The website’s resources include a directory of cremation services. It also hosts information about cremation. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | The Funerarias Del Angel network of funeral providers caters to Hispanic people and families. It is part of the Dignity Memorial group and specializes in the Hispanic community’s traditions and customs. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent |
What to consider when looking for a funeral home or cremation service
Are you comfortable with the service you receive?
Your comfort should take first priority when preparing for a funeral. If you’re not comfortable with the funeral home or the people helping you, look elsewhere.
- Personal service: Funeral preparations can be personal, delicate processes. Work with someone who listens to your concerns and gives you proper direction. You should never feel pressured into making arrangements that you don’t want to make.
- Cultural observations: Make sure your funeral home will help you with any cultural arrangements you need. Many provide services in multiple languages.
Does the home offer pre-planning service?
Pre-planning your or someone else’s funeral can help you budget for funeral costs. It also helps your friends and family who have to oversee final preparations.
- Online planning: Some companies allow you to start the pre-planning process online. They usually have free online pre-planning resources available.
- Personal advisor: Take the time to meet with a personal advisor. They will make sure you know the service options they offer.
- Payment plans: The most common reason for pre-planning your funeral is to save money. You can set up a plan to prepay for your or your loved one’s funeral. This way, if you have life insurance, that money can go directly to your beneficiaries instead of paying funeral costs.
What type of products do I need to buy for a funeral?
When you start planning a funeral, you will need to buy either a casket for burial or an urn for cremation.
- Casket and urn selection: Your options for choosing a casket or urn will vary among funeral services. Funeral homes that do not carry the casket or urn that you want may be able to order it for you.
- Other remembrance products: Funeral homes offer other remembrance products. These include specialty picture frames, medallion cases and more. Ask the funeral director about these products.
What should you consider when choosing a location?
Choosing where to have the memorial service is a personal as well as practical decision.
- Transfer of service: Some preplanned funeral services are transferable in case you move somewhere else. If you move often or think you may move, make sure your funeral plan can move with you.
- Travel reimbursement: Some funeral services can reimburse friends and family who must travel to attend the funeral. This is especially useful if you plan for a funeral in a remote location.
What other considerations are there?
Some funeral homes offer additional services, like writing obituaries or scattering ashes. Talk with your funeral home director to see if you need any of these.
- Obituary service: Some funeral and cremation services include written obituaries. You give the funeral director or staff the information to include, and they write the obituary or hire a third-party writer.
- Ash scattering: Your or a loved one’s last wishes may include scattering cremains. Some services specialize in scattering ashes in specific locations.
What are the different types of cremation and funeral services?
Independent funeral homes
Independent funeral homes are locally-owned and operated. These funeral homes handle all customer-facing and administration tasks. Independent local homes often know their communities well. They tend to keep a good rapport with local florists and churches.
Partnered homes
Some funeral homes partner with larger companies that handle the administrative work for them. These homes will likely have a larger selection of products and services than independent funeral homes.
Crematoriums
Crematoriums specialize in cremation only. They can generally offer pre-planning or immediate memorial services.
Online directories
Online directories can help you find nearby funeral homes or cremation services. They host guides for planning funerals and general information about funeral services.
Funeral solutions providers
Funeral homes can partner with funeral solutions providers. These providers offer various services such as accounting, product management and tech support. This helps funeral home staff focus on caring for clients.
Who needs cremation services and funeral homes?
People planning ahead for their own funerals
You can preplan your funeral to save either time or money for your family members and loved ones.
People needing immediate service
Funeral homes and cremation services can accommodate immediate services.
Veterans and their families
Veterans are often eligible for discounts and special privileges when planning a funeral. Make sure your funeral director or cremation service works with the VA. Ask them about complimentary headstones, reimbursement or other military services.
Funeral home directors
Funeral home directors can partner with funeral solutions providers. This can take care of services like accounting, tech support and product delivery.
Cremation and Funeral Services FAQ
What is the cheapest way to be cremated?
- New York: $550
- Texas: $700 - $850
- Illinois: $900
- Tennessee: $1,300
- Rhode Island: $1,400
Can you prepay for a cremation?
What is the difference between cremation and direct cremation?
How do you plan a funeral service?
- Choose between burial or cremation.
- Decide if you want a traditional funeral or a more intimate family memorial.
- Find a venue. If you want a viewing, you need to work with a church, funeral home or cemetery.
- Consider which events you’d like to take place, if you want to serve food and if you’d like to accept flowers or donations.
If you’re unsure how to proceed, hiring funeral professionals helps alleviate the burden of planning a service.
How much does cremation cost?
- For direct cremation with no memorial services or burial, expect to pay between $500 and $3,000.
- For standard cremation with services at a funeral home, expect to pay from $2,000 to $4,000.
- For a cremation with an extensive memorial service and luxury interment, expect to pay up to $10,000.
What does direct cremation include?
- You never need to buy a casket for a direct cremation.
- Direct cremation doesn’t come with space for burial or interment.
- Funeral services or viewings are not included, but many families choose to have their own memorial services at a later date.
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Compare Reviews for Top Cremation and Funeral Services | ||||||
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Read Author Review | Dignity Memorial provides funeral, burial and cremation services to over 300,000 families each year. Their services, available at over 2,000 providers, are comprehensive and personalized to suit your needs. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | FuneralHomes.com is an online directory of funeral homes and services in the United States and Canada. It uses your location to direct you to nearby funeral homes. The website also hosts educational resources about funerals. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | |||
Read Author Review | Matthews Memorialization’s history stretches back to 1850. It is an international provider of funeral home and crematory solutions. Matthews offers a variety of caskets, urns, gravestones and other memorial products. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent |
Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.
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