How to get funeral price information in Franklin County: your rights

GUIDE · REVIEWED AUG 5, 2026 · SOURCES BELOW

Arranging a funeral usually means making significant financial decisions quickly, while grieving. Federal and Ohio law give you specific rights that make it easier to understand costs before you commit. Knowing them can help you plan calmly, at your own pace.

Your rights under the federal Funeral Rule

An itemized price list, yours to keep. When you ask about arrangements in person, a funeral provider must give you a General Price List you can take with you.
Prices by phone. If you call and ask, the provider must give you price information over the phone.
Choose only what you want. You have the right to select goods and services individually — bundled packages can’t be forced on you, and this right must be stated on the price list itself.
An itemized statement before you pay, listing each item you selected and its price.
Your own casket or urn. You may provide one from elsewhere, and the funeral home may not charge a handling fee for it.
These rights also apply to pre-need (advance) arrangements.

Ohio’s protections when you plan ahead

If you prepay for a funeral through a trust-funded pre-need contract in Ohio, 100% of your payments must be held in trust for your benefit, and you may cancel within seven days of signing for a full refund. Contracts must disclose who holds the trust and whether prices are guaranteed.

Verify a provider’s license

Ohio licenses funeral homes, funeral directors, and embalmers through the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. You can check any license free at Ohio’s official lookup: elicense.ohio.gov.

Questions worth asking any provider

May I have your General Price List?
Is this a package price or itemized — and what does the basic services fee include?
For pre-need: are prices guaranteed, and who holds the funds in trust?

Providers aren’t generally required by federal law to publish complete price lists online — your strongest rights apply when you ask in person or by phone.

Sources
Federal Trade Commission — “Complying with the Funeral Rule” and “The FTC Funeral Rule” (consumer.ftc.gov) · Ohio Revised Code §4717.32 and §4717.36 (codes.ohio.gov) · Ohio eLicense (elicense.ohio.gov). Reviewed August 5, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.