According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral (viewing and burial) in the U.S. in 2014 was $7,181 (not including vault burial). The median cost of a U.S. funeral with cremation was slightly cheaper at $6,078 in 2014. Paying funeral costs is difficult enough without doing so after the tragic wrongful death of a loved one.
To help alleviate the financial and emotional burden on survivors, Ohio statutes state that family members can recover reasonable funeral expenses in a wrongful death claim.
There are many costs associated with an average funeral, including but not limited to:
- Basic services fee
- Preparing the body for burial or cremation
- Casket or urn
- Burial plot, vault, or columbarium/mausoleum space
- Tombstone
- Rental of funeral home for viewing
- Printed materials
- Flowers
- Reception venue and refreshments
- Vehicle rental for funeral procession
- Seeking Funeral Expenses in a Wrongful Death Claim
We all want to go above and beyond when saying goodbye to our loved ones, but remember that if you go above the median cost for a funeral stated above, you may not be able to recover those costs in your wrongful death claim. For example, if you pay for half of your family to fly in for the funeral, it is not likely that the defendant will agree to cover that.
To recover reasonable funeral expenses, make sure to keep track of all your records and get help from a lawyer. Your lawyer can analyze your records and help you calculate a “reasonable” amount to request in your wrongful death claim.
About the Author: Frank Piscitelli
As a first-generation Italian in the United States, Frank is no stranger to tough times. His father’s family moved to Cleveland from Italy on May 22, 1958, with a few articles of clothing, some personal items and very little money. His family shared a home with three other related families but happily worked long hours doing jobs that involved physical labor, just to put food on the table. There was the promise of hope and opportunity, which was missing before his family moved here.
