When meeting with a funeral home to plan services, families are presented with a funeral contract. For many people, this can feel overwhelming. It’s not something most of us look at often, and the terminology can feel unfamiliar. One of the most helpful things you can do is to educate yourself and understand how a funeral contract is structured before you ever need it.

At its core, a funeral contract is typically made up of three sections: Services, Merchandise, and Cash Advance Items. Each section represents a different type of cost, and understanding what falls into each category can help families feel more confident as they make decisions.

Funeral Homes and Cemeteries Are Separate

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that the funeral home and the cemetery are the same thing. In most cases, they are actually two separate businesses and departments. At Baue Funeral Homes, we do have a cemetery located on the grounds of our Baue Cave Springs location, which can sometimes add to the confusion. While Baue does own St. Charles Memorial Gardens, the funeral home and the cemetery still operate as two separate entities. This means that staff from each department work together to assist families, whether that involves purchasing cemetery property or finalizing the scheduling of a burial at the cemetery.

A funeral home handles the arrangements for the service itself. This includes planning the visitation, funeral ceremony, memorial service, or cremation arrangements. The cemetery handles burial spaces, opening and closing of graves, and other burial-related requirements.

Because they are separate, cemetery charges are not typically included on a funeral home’s contract unless the funeral home is paying those fees on your behalf as a cash advance item. This distinction is important because families sometimes assume everything will appear on one invoice, when in reality, there may be multiple providers involved.

The General Price List

Funeral homes are required by federal law to provide something called a General Price List, often referred to as a GPL. This requirement comes from the Funeral Rule, which is regulated and monitored to ensure funeral homes follow it every time.

Anyone who asks for pricing in person must be provided with a General Price List. If you call a funeral home and ask about pricing while speaking with a funeral director, they must also provide that information over the phone. Funeral homes are not required to mail a copy of their General Price List, although many will if requested. At Baue Funeral Homes, we are happy to send a copy if you do not have access to our website. Not all funeral homes list their pricing online, but we believe transparency is important. That’s why we provide our pricing directly on our website on our pricing page at Baue.com, allowing families to review their options at their own pace.

The general price list outlines the services offered by the funeral home and the cost associated with those services.

The General Price List is designed to give families a clear, itemized overview of what services are available and what they cost.

Section One: Services

The services portion of the funeral contract is typically the largest part of the overall cost.

Services include anything the funeral home is doing for the family. This can include:

• Professional services of the funeral director and staff
• Use of facilities and staff for visitation, viewing or gathering
• Facilities and staff for funeral ceremony or memorial service
• Transportation of the deceased
• Arrangement conference including filing of required documents, permits and authorizations.
• Coordinating with clergy, cemetery, crematory, and other providers
• Care and Preparation of the deceased
• Vehicles necessary for services
• Graveside services

The General Price List outlines these service charges in detail. Sometimes these services may be grouped together into packages for simplicity, but they still originate from the individual line items listed on the general price list under Professional Services.

An important thing to know is that prices listed on the General Price List are set prices. Funeral homes cannot offer discounts on those published service charges. Because these prices are regulated and presented publicly, they must remain consistent. This helps ensure fairness and transparency for every family served.

Section Two: Merchandise

The merchandise portion of a funeral contract includes items that families may choose to purchase.

Merchandise is generally anything that is ordered as part of the service. Examples include:

• Casket
• Urn
• Memorial stationery such as prayer cards, guest books, and folders
• Outer burial containers or vaults (if required by the cemetery)
• Flowers

Unlike services, merchandise often provides families with more flexibility in determining the overall cost. For example, caskets and urns come in many styles, materials, and price ranges. Families can choose options that best reflect their wishes and their budget.

This is often where families feel they have the most control over the final cost of the funeral contract.

Section Three: Cash Advance Items

The third section of a funeral contract is called cash advance items.

Cash advance items are charges the funeral home pays on the family’s behalf. Instead of the family having to contact multiple providers and make separate payments, the funeral home coordinates those details and includes the costs on the funeral contract.

Think of this as the funeral home essentially writing checks for other services on your behalf for convenience.

Common examples of cash advance items include:

• Church or clergy honorariums
• Cemetery opening and closing fees
• Death certificates
• Newspaper obituary charges
• Musicians or singers

Including these charges in the contract allows families to focus on honoring their loved one instead of coordinating multiple payments and logistics during an already difficult time.

Why Understanding the Contract Matters

When families understand how a funeral contract is structured, the process becomes much less intimidating. Instead of looking at one total, you can see exactly where each charge comes from and what it represents.

Remember these three key sections:

• Services: What the funeral home is doing for you
• Merchandise: Items you choose to purchase such as a casket or urn
• Cash Advance Items: Costs the funeral home pays on your behalf

Each section plays a role in the overall arrangement process and total of your funeral contract.

Planning Ahead Helps

For many families, reviewing pricing ahead of time can bring peace of mind. It allows you to become familiar with terminology and understand the options available before you ever need them.

Baue Funeral Homes is always available to answer questions, explain pricing, and guide families through the process. Asking questions and learning about these details in advance can make a difficult time feel a little more manageable.

Understanding a funeral contract doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right information, families can make decisions confidently and focus on what matters most, honoring the life of someone they love.