Historically, funeral homes have been the sole source of funeral merchandise. They set the costs. However, in 1994, the Federal Trade Commission issued a ruling that prohibits funeral homes from resisting in any way a family's desire to purchase caskets and other products from alternative suppliers.

Charging "casket handling fees" or in any manner discouraging a customer from purchasing products elsewhere is illegal. Funeral homes can no longer require the purchase of merchandise from them as a requisite for providing death care services of a licensed funeral establishment. Today, families have an easy, less expensive alternative when considering funeral arrangements.

For more information on this rule, visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.ftc.gov