How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Louisiana?

This article aims to provide clarity by breaking down the typical expenses involved in funerals in Louisiana. It covers charges from funeral homes, disposition costs, and other additional expenses, offering a comprehensive overview to help individuals and families navigate these financial considerations.

Funeral Home Service Charges and Merchandise

Funeral homes provide services and merchandise that form the core of funeral expenses. The “basic services fee” is a non-declinable charge covering the funeral home’s professional services and overhead, including staff, arrangement conferences, coordinating with third parties, and preparing necessary forms. This fee typically includes facility maintenance, equipment, and liability insurance costs. In Louisiana, this basic service fee can range from approximately $550 to over $5,600, with an average around $2,282.

Preparation of the body involves services like embalming. While not legally required in all cases, it is often necessary for public viewing. The average cost for embalming in Louisiana is around $846. Other preparations, such as dressing and cosmetizing, might add an average of $260 to $295.

Using funeral home facilities for viewing, visitation, or ceremonies incurs charges. Viewing and visitation costs range from $95 to over $1,200, with some homes charging around $395 for up to four hours. A funeral or memorial ceremony held at the funeral home or another facility might cost around $285. Transportation services, including transfer of the deceased to the funeral home, range from $50 to $695, and hearse use may add to these costs.

Merchandise purchased from the funeral home contributes significantly to the total expense. Caskets are a substantial cost, ranging from $1,995 to $4,895 based on material and design. Other merchandise like prayer cards, memorial folders, or register books are available, with custom stationery packages ranging from $275 to $345.

Cemetery, Crematory, and Disposition Costs

Beyond funeral home services, costs are incurred for final disposition. For traditional burial, a grave plot costs from $1,095 to $2,500, depending on location. Many cemeteries require an outer burial container, such as a burial vault or grave liner, to prevent ground sinking. These containers range from $500 for basic concrete options to over $5,000 for reinforced or lined vaults.

Interment fees, or opening and closing costs, are charged by the cemetery for preparing and refilling the grave. These fees range from $895 to $1,100 for traditional burials. Perpetual care fees, typically a percentage of the plot cost, ensure long-term cemetery maintenance. These fees can be around $100 to $250 per space.

Cremation offers an alternative to burial. The cremation fee, often from a crematory, is a primary component. Direct cremation, which typically involves no viewing or formal service, is the most economical option, ranging from $1,200 to $2,700 in Louisiana, with an average around $2,312. A full-service cremation, which includes a memorial service and body viewing, has a higher median cost, averaging around $6,280 nationally and $6,378 in Louisiana.

After cremation, remains are typically placed in an urn, costing $85 to $695 for various styles and materials. For those wishing for a permanent resting place, options include placement in a columbarium niche, which can start from $1,990, or ground burial for cremated remains, starting around $1,070. Scattering services, while often less expensive, may involve fees if conducted by a professional service or within a designated scattering garden.

Additional Expenses and Louisiana Considerations

Beyond funeral home and disposition charges, several ancillary expenses contribute to the overall cost. Death certificates are necessary for administrative tasks. In Louisiana, a certified copy costs $9.00, with additional copies often priced at $7.00 each. Some local parish offices may charge $26.00 per copy for deaths after July 9, 2012.

Obituaries, which announce the death and funeral arrangements, can incur costs when published in local newspapers, varying based on length and publication. Fees for clergy or celebrants who conduct the funeral service are also common. Floral arrangements, whether for the service or the family, typically range from $50 to $80 for simple bouquets, while larger tributes like wreaths or casket sprays can cost $100 to $300 or more.

Receptions or gatherings held after the service, including catering and venue rental, represent another variable expense. The cost of a headstone or grave marker, if chosen for a burial, is a separate and significant expense, with prices fluctuating based on material, size, and inscription. Other minor but common expenses might include musicians, pallbearers, or memorial keepsakes.

In Louisiana, certain considerations impact funeral arrangements. State law requires that a licensed funeral director oversee the final disposition of a body. A burial transit permit is required before a body can be interred, cremated, or removed from the state. While Louisiana has no state laws restricting where ashes can be kept or scattered, it is advisable to check with local city or county offices for any specific ordinances.