A family may take care of all aspects of Control of Disposition of Decedent’s Remains Costs disposition from to interment, The following persons, in the order listed, have Funeral establishments are required to give inurnment, entombment or transporting the right to control disposition and are liable for consumers current retail price information over out of state without the assistance of a the reasonable cost of interment: the telephone or at the establishment upon 1. the person designated by the decedent; request. /establishment. 2. the decedent ’s surviving spouse;

FACTS 3. any one of the decedent ’s surviving adult Before discussing funeral arrangements, funeral Individuals and establishments must be children; establishments must give consumers a General licensed by the TFSC in order to provide 4. either one of the decedent’s surviving Price List (GPL) to keep. This list itemizes the ABOUT funeral services and goods for parents; costs of funeral services and merchandise for compensation. 5. any one of the decedent’s surviving adult sale. If not included on the GPL, the funeral home siblings; must also provide a Casket Price List, an Outer Licensing Information Available 6. any adult person in the next degree of Container Price List, and an Urn Price List. The TFSC licenses and regulates funeral homes, kinship in the order named by law to inherit funeral directors, embalmers, and crematories. the estate of the decedent. The GPL must specify at least the charges for the

following items, if available for purchase through A person can verify an individual and/or If the person with the right to control the the establishment: establishment is licensed in the state of by disposition fails to make final arrangements • Forwarding or receiving remains to or from following the “License Search and Verification” within six days after receiving notice of the death the funeral establishment link on the TFSC website. or within 10 days after the date of death, • Direct whichever is earliest, the person is presumed to • Immediate Burial What to Do When a Death Occurs be unable/unwilling to control disposition and • / Other Preparation of the Body 1. A , Justice of the Peace, or attending the person’s right to control disposition is • Use of Funeral Establishment and Staff for physician must make a determination of terminated and passed to the next person on the , funeral ceremony, memorial death above priority list. service and/or graveside service 2. Locate decedent’s letter of direction, prepaid • Use of hearse and/or limousine funeral contract, insurance policy and/or Any dispute about disposition must be resolved • Caskets and/or outer enclosures if not Consumer Brochure will by a court of competent jurisdiction. provided on a separate list 3. A Report of Death and a are • Filing a claim seeking life insurance Updated 2019 legally required upon death Death Certificates proceeds By law, a report of death must be made within 24 • Other itemized services provided by the Available Methods of Disposition hours of death and a death certificate must be funeral establishment/staff Texas Funeral Service Commission Human remains can be buried, entombed, or filed with the state within 10 days of death. 333 Guadalupe, Suite 2-110 cremated. Price Lists also must include: Information Needed for Death Certificate Austin, Texas, 78701 • Name, address and phone number of the Texas law requires all bodies held for over 24 • Full Name (Maid