Page 45 - 2024-04 WMVFH Resource Guide

How Can I Best Shop And Compare A casket made of solid mahogany Will The Funeral Home Help
Funeral Service Providers? would be more costly to manufacture With Social Security And
than one of soft pine wood. A casket Veterans Death Benefits?
The best method to shop and com- with crepe interior materials would
pare different funeral service provid- be priced less than an interior of vel- Quality service firms will not only as-
ers is to go out and visit the different vet because of the cost of the mate- sist with securing these death bene-
providers in your area. Getting a feel rial. It depends upon what materials fits, they will most likely complete all
for the funeral home and the differ- the casket shell is made of, the inte- the paperwork for you.
ent services that they provide will rior materials and any other features
help you determine where you are included in that particular model. What Are Burial Vaults
most comfortable. To a much lesser And Grave Liners?
degree, you can also gain some expe-
rience from randomly contacting var- These are the outside containers into
ious firms by telephone. Talking with Visit Different which the casket is placed. Burial
friends who have used the services of Providers To Discover vaults are made of a variety or com-
a funeral home or your personal expe- bination of materials including con-
rience from attending funeral services Where You Feel crete, stainless steel, galvanized steel,
of friends or relatives at a variety of Most Comfortable. copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass. A
funeral homes are excellent methods grave liner is a lightweight version of
of comparison. You can call one of the a vault which simply keeps the grave
national funeral trade associations or surface from sinking in.
state associations, which have stan- Why Would I Need To
dards of ethics, to see whether your Purchase Certified Copies Must I Purchase A Burial Vault?
local funeral homes are members. Of A Death Certificate?
In most areas of the country, state and
Why Are Some Casket Prices Certified copies are used as proof of local law does not require that you buy
More Than Others? death for the transfer of stocks and a container to surround the casket in
bonds, banking transactions and life the grave. However, many cemeteries
It depends upon the materials with insurance. Your funeral provider can require that you have such a container
which the casket is made. Obviously, help you determine how many you so that the ground will not sink. Either
a casket made of bronze would be may need to settle an estate and also a grave liner or a burial vault will satis-
priced higher than one made of steel. secure them for you. fy those requirements.

45