Practical tips

Choosing the right mortuary company

When you lose a loved one, you certainly do not want to deal with the bureaucratic issues that need to be accomplished. This is why choosing the right funeral home to rely on is fundamental.

At times, there are people with no scruples and dignity who will try to take advantage of moments of pain and discomfort of those families in mourning and to cope with these outrageous situations, that border into profiteering, the FINIOF (National Association of Mortuary Companies), has asked its members to subscribe to a Code of Conduct. Adherence to this Code of Conduct means that each mortuary company that subscribes will always act and operate in a manner of maximum respect towards its clients.

It is noteworthy to underline that family members have total freedom in choosing their mortuary company but we feel compelled to provide some advice and guidance to all of those families that must choose a mortuary company:

• beware of mortuary companies recommended by strangers and avoid those companies that show up on your doorstep or place where the death occurred without being called upon;
• turn to the mortuary company you trust and once you have articulated your necessities and requests, have them provide you with an estimate. Those that work honestly will make transparency their strong point;
• the person you speak to will be your first sign of the professionalism and seriousness of the company;
• remember that your invoice is in part deductible, so be sure your invoice is for the total cost and not just the deductible amount;
• it is also good to know that funeral expenses are tax free.