When Will You Need to Pay for a Funeral?

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Chris Messina

A funeral is a professional service that is supported with specialized products. It is paid for much like other professional services. Just like at the doctor’s office, you will need to make arrangements for payment before the service is provided. It only takes a little thought to understand why payment before service is the norm for funeral service.

 

If the deceased has not provided for funeral cost the family will be responsible. Since it may take months for an estate to settle those funds may not be available until long after payment for the funeral is required. This can create a burden for family members who will need to cover that cost from their personal funds while they wait for the estate to reimburse them.

 

This is something every adult should consider. “Death is often unexpected, and the family is unprepared” is an often-repeated cliché. But it is true. It is also preventable.  Every adult, and especially those who do not share access to adequate bank accounts with a responsible family member, should take action.

 

First, call the funeral home of your choice and make an appointment with their advance planning specialist. Take the hour or two you will need to put together a funeral plan and get an accurate funeral cost estimate for the funeral you would prefer at today’s cost.  This will give you a base from which to work.

 

Second, ask the specialist to explain any programs the funeral home may have in place that will help you assure funds are available to cover the cost should the unexpected happen to you. Ask about inflation protection. Ask about payment options. Ask the specialist to explain how their program compares with other solutions available outside the funeral home. These include POD accounts and final expense insurance products.

 

Finally, decide what is the best solution for you and your family, keeping in mind someone will likely need to pay for your funeral service before that service can take place.

 

Your pre-planning can be a lifesaver for family and friends.

 

Why Do Funeral & Cremation Costs Vary in Marietta, Georgia?

By West Cobb Admin • March 6, 2026
Families in Marietta often wonder why funeral and cremation costs differ between funeral homes. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), pricing variations are common nationwide and typically reflect regional operating expenses, staffing requirements, and the types of services selected.

How Much Does Cremation Cost in Marietta, GA?

By West Cobb Admin • February 6, 2026
Families in Marietta, Georgia, often ask how much cremation costs and what affects the total price. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2024 General Price List Study, the national median cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,280 as of 2025.

How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Marietta, Georgia?

By West Cobb Admin • January 9, 2026
Families in Marietta, Georgia, often wonder what influences the cost of a funeral and how to plan in a way that feels both meaningful and manageable. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is around $8,300

Elements of a Great Obituary

By West Cobb Admin • February 11, 2025
Some obituaries are simply informative. They let the neighborhood know when someone in their community has passed, inform them about when and where the funeral will be held, and detail the decedent’s family who will be grieving their loved one. These are the most basic versions of an obituary. And while there’s nothing wrong with writing one that’s on the plainer side, there’s a reason why these aren’t the obituaries that go viral.

Organ Donation: What is the Process?

By West Cobb Admin • February 6, 2025
We know that organ donation has the power to give new life to people in need, but just how does it work? The process starts when you sign up, but the actual donation portion happens after you die — and it has to happen fast. So, what does organ donation look like?

Why Do People Have a Viewing or Open Casket?

By West Cobb Admin • November 22, 2024
An honest question. The idea of seeing a loved one’s body put on display for all to see might be different to some, but a major comfort to others as they say goodbye and begin to let go. An open casket does help mourners accept the reality that their loved one has moved on and will help them to do so as well.

Honoring Military Heroes on Veterans Day

By West Cobb Admin • November 22, 2024
When we celebrate Veterans Day, we’re saying thank you to those who stood as our protectors. So, be sure to thank a veteran on Veterans Day, and thank those who sacrificed alongside them, like their families. The smallest actions, such as spending time sitting down with a veteran in a nursing home, can mean the most to these heroes.

Organ Donation: Who Can Donate?

By West Cobb Admin • November 22, 2024
When you opt to become an organ donor, you may save a life. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, over 106,000 people are currently awaiting donations. But far more people are awaiting transplants than there are donors. Every nine minutes, another person is added to that waiting list.

What is a Desairologist?

By West Cobb Admin • November 22, 2024
A funeral should always be about the loved one who has passed. It’s a time for celebrating their life and giving their friends and family a chance to say goodbye and grieve together. That’s why professionals in the funeral space, like funeral directors or advanced planning specialists, work in the background, making sure that the focus is away from them and instead on the decedent.

Mother’s Day

By West Cobb Admin • November 22, 2024
Mother’s Day is celebrated in 40 countries around the world. But, getting it started was not a slam dunk. Having a day just for moms was the brainchild of one Anna Jarvis, an American peace activist. When Anna’s mother died in 1905, she began lobbying the United States Congress to designate a single day as Mother’s Day. Although she was never successful with Congress, by 1911 all the states in the United States had embraced the concept of Mother’s Day. Finally, in 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making the second Sunday in May officially Mother’s Day.