For most funeral professionals, the FTC Funeral Rule calls to mind one thing: the General Price List sitting in the arrangement room. It's been part of daily practice for decades, making it easy to assume there's nothing new to know.

This year is a good time to look again, not because the Rule itself has changed, but because the Federal Trade Commission has been more active regarding it, and one proposed change has been under review long enough that firms should understand where it stands.

Here's a clear look at what's settled, what's still pending, and a quick funeral home compliance self-check worth running this quarter.

What the FTC Funeral Rule Requires Today

The core of the FTC Funeral Rule remains exactly what it's been since it took effect: funeral providers must give consumers a General Price List when they ask about arrangements, in person, to keep. Anyone who inquires about caskets or outer burial containers is entitled to a price list for those specific items before being shown any of them. Families have the right to choose only the goods and services they want, and a firm may not charge a fee for handling a casket or urn a family bought elsewhere. If a firm offers cremation, it has to make an alternative container available. And any time state or local law requires purchasing a specific item, that requirement must be disclosed on the price list, along with a reference to the applicable law, not merely stated as a firm policy.

None of that is new for 2026. For the full breakdown of what belongs on each required price list, the FTC's own Complying with the Funeral Rule guide is the most reliable source to check your own materials against. If your General Price List, casket price list, and outer burial container price list are current and your team already knows to hand them over on request, the foundation is where it needs to be.

What's Still Under Review: Online Price Disclosure

The one real proposed change worth tracking is the FTC's proposal to require online price disclosure — essentially, whether funeral homes with a website would need to provide a way for visitors to get price information electronically, similar to how a phone caller can ask for prices today. That review opened with a public notice back in 2022, and it has moved slowly since. As of now, it has not been finalized into an enforceable requirement. Firms don't need to do anything differently on this front yet.

That said, it's worth watching, and there's a good argument for getting ahead of it regardless of when or whether it becomes mandatory. Families increasingly expect to find at least a starting sense of pricing before they ever pick up the phone or walk in. Firms that post general pricing information now tend to have better-prepared, less anxious first conversations — which is a business advantage in its own right, independent of what the FTC eventually decides. 

Why Funeral Rule Compliance Matters More Than Ever

The FTC has also been more visible in its enforcement lately. In early 2024, the agency ran an undercover phone sweep to test whether funeral homes would accurately answer basic pricing questions over the phone, and it sent warning letters to several firms that didn't. Details on that sweep and the agency's broader enforcement activity are posted on the FTC's Funeral Rule topic page. That's a good reminder that compliance isn't just about the binder on the shelf; it's about how the person answering your phones handles a stranger's first, often anxious, question about cost.

Separately, in early 2026, the FTC opened a routine public comment period to renew its own authority to collect Funeral Rule compliance information; a paperwork extension, not a change to the Rule itself. It's not something that requires action by your firm, but it's another sign that oversight here isn't going away.

A Simple Funeral Rule Compliance Self-Check

A few things worth confirming this quarter, regardless of anything pending at the federal level:

• Your General Price List, casket price list, and outer burial container price list are current, itemized, and easy to hand over the moment someone asks.
  
  
• Anyone on staff who answers the phone can accurately quote at least general pricing information without hesitation or deflection.
  
  
• Any required purchases tied to state or local law are disclosed with the specific statute referenced, not just described as “our policy.”
  
  
• Your website doesn't imply pricing information is available when it isn't, or vice versa.

None of this requires new systems or a big project. It's the kind of review that takes an afternoon and closes the gap between what your firm already does well and what a phone sweep or a family's first impression might actually catch.

Staying current here isn't about treating every family like an audit. It's about the same thing the Rule was built around in the first place: making sure families get clear, honest information at a time when they have very little bandwidth to go looking for it themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About the FTC Funeral Rule

What is the FTC Funeral Rule?

The FTC Funeral Rule is a federal regulation enforced by the Federal Trade Commission that requires funeral providers to give consumers itemized price information, including a General Price List, casket price list, and outer burial container price list, before discussing arrangements or showing goods, so families can make informed decisions.

Does the FTC Funeral Rule require funeral homes to post prices online?

Not yet. The FTC has been reviewing a proposed amendment that would require online price disclosure since 2022, but as of 2026 it has not been finalized into an enforceable requirement.

What happens if a funeral home violates the Funeral Rule?

The FTC investigates complaints and periodically runs compliance checks, including undercover phone sweeps. Firms found out of compliance have received warning letters, and continued or serious violations can lead to further enforcement action.

Note: This overview reflects the Funeral Rule's status as of August 2026 and is provided as general information, not legal advice. Firms should confirm current requirements against the FTC's own compliance guidance or with their legal counsel before making changes to pricing or disclosure practices.