Frequently Asked Questions

Who can make funeral arrangements?
It's very important for family members to agree about the type of services
and merchandise to be purchased. Ideally, the family should designate 2-3
people to make the arrangements and convey the family decisions to the
funeral director.

Does the state of Kansas require the use of a vault or outer container for
burial?
No, but several cemeteries require the use of a "outer container." Even
though Kansas law does not require burial vaults or grave liners, most
cemeteries require them to prevent collapsing or sinking of the grave. Ask
about certain cemetery requirements.

Does State law require embalming?
No. In fact, a funeral director must obtain specific permission to embalm
from the customer. A funeral home may require embalming if certain
services, such as a viewing an open casket, are chosen. Embalming fees
must be clearly stated on the firm's General Price List, Itemized
Statement of Services and Merchandise Provided.

Can the funeral director refuse to allow me to view the body when
visitation has been selected?
No. While the funeral director may advise against a viewing due to the
cause of death or condition of the body, the final decision is left to the
family. However in cases where embalming has not been preformed, viewing
may not be possible at all.

Can I see the body for the purposes of identification?
Yes. No matter what funeral arrangements have been made, the Next of Kin
or Durable Power Of Attorney  has the right to see the body briefly. If
this process is prolonged, the funeral director may consider it a viewing
or visitation and a fee will be required.

What will the funeral arrangements cost?
The cost of funeral arrangements varies greatly, depending on the funeral
home and type of service and merchandise selected. For example, if the
service you select involves viewing the remains, the funeral home may
require embalming and preparation of the body, add to the overall cost.
There is also a price range in the type of caskets, depending on style,
type of wood, lining, etc.

Are there other actions that are illegal for funeral homes in Kansas?
Yes, some of these include...

   * Pressuring the customer to select certain services or merchandise;
   * Charging an additional fee for filing or medically certifying the
death certificate;
   * Charging a "handling fee" for paying third parties on your behalf;
   * Charging a fee for handling a casket provided by the customer;
   * Charging for any service or merchandise not selected by the customer;
   * Charging interest on an outstanding balance unless this charge is
disclosed at the time the funeral arrangements were initially made and
is stated in the Itemized Statement;

Remember:
- You do not have to accept services or merchandise you don't want.
- You must be informed of all charges in advance, or at the time of need
- Always get a receipt

Do I need more than one copy of the death certificate?
In most situations you will require more than one. You will need to give
certified copies to insurance companies, banks, for car titles in just
that persons name, and cellular phone contracts in just that persons name,
etc. The funeral home should obtain these for you.. They cannot charge you
more than the actual fee, which is $13 for the first copy and $8 for every
copy thereafter (PER ORDER)  in the state of Kansas. Death certificates
are filed by the funeral director, after being signed by the proper
medical professional,  with the registrar of Vital Records in the state
where the death occurred.

What if the deceased wanted to donate organs?
It is important to honor the wishes of people who want to donate all or
part of their bodies upon death. Those who want to be donors should carry
organ donor cards, sign the donor space on the back of their licenses,
include their wishes in their wills, and inform family members. For more
information on organ donation, call 1-800-24-DONOR (1-800-243-6667).

What if I decide to change funeral homes?
You have the right to change funeral homes at any time. You will need to
pay for any services that have already been done (for which you had given
prior approval). The funeral home must allow the transfer of the body to
another funeral home, even if you haven't paid yet. They may not hold the
body in exchange for payment.

What is the purpose of a funeral?
A funeral is a tribute to a life that has been lived. The funeral is part
of the grieving process for the survivors, as it helps them cope with
their stages of grief.

Is embalming necessary?
Kansas law does not require embalming for all types of services. Embalming
may be required by the funeral home if you select certain funeral
arrangements, such as a service with open casket viewing.

I would like to have a traditional funeral, but with cremation as a means
of disposition?
Many people assume if they select cremation, the only form of
memorialization is a memorial service. This is not true. You may have an
open casket visitation, a funeral service in a church or other location,
while still using cremation as a form of disposition. The State of Kansas
views the act of cremation as final disposition.


I hear that more and more people are pre-planning their own funerals, is that true?
Yes. Over the past ten years pre-arrangement has been increasing steadily.
One of the major reasons is to relieve the burden of decision making for
their survivors. Deciding the type of funeral, place of funeral, etc makes
it easy for those that want the services to be special. Another reason is
price. Some funeral homes will guarantee their charges (this means the
charges that the funeral home has complete control of) if you pre-pay the
funeral at that time, you will not be charged an increase in funeral home
related charges at the time of death. There are basically three types of
pre-arranged funerals:
- The funeral is completely arranged and paid in advance;
   *Kansas Funeral Trust Law states that the funeral home must place the
money into an account        and can only accept payment when services
are complete.
- The funeral is completely arranged and partly pre-paid.
   * Partial prepayment however, DOES NOT guarantee the price to be the
same at the time of         death.
- The funeral is arranged, but will be paid for at the time of death
* these arrangements are “informational only” to gather the required
information and  help with answering any questions the consumer might have