We've compiled the most useful resources for West Virginia families dealing with a loss or planning ahead. All links open in a new tab and go directly to the official source.

Official West Virginia Resources

WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners

Official licensing, complaints, and regulatory information for WV funeral professionals.

wvfuneralboard.wv.gov

WV Department of Veterans Assistance

State veteran burial benefits, Jack Bennett Fund, and WV state veterans cemetery.

veterans.wv.gov

WV Vital Registration Office

Death certificates, birth certificates, and vital records for West Virginia.

dhhr.wv.gov/vitalreg

WV Department of Health & Human Resources (DHHR)

Burial assistance program (up to $1,000 for eligible families) and social services.

dhhr.wv.gov

WV Attorney General — Consumer Protection

File complaints about funeral home practices, pricing disputes, or consumer fraud.

ago.wv.gov

WV Cemetery & Funeral Association

State association for funeral professionals — events, education, and industry resources.

wvcfa.org

Federal Government Resources

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Burial Benefits

VA burial allowances, national cemetery burial, headstones, and military honors.

va.gov/burials-memorials

Social Security Administration

Report a death, survivor benefits, and the one-time $255 death benefit.

ssa.gov

FTC Funeral Rule

Your rights as a funeral consumer — itemized pricing, casket purchases, and embalming rules.

consumer.ftc.gov/articles/funeral-rule

Medicare.gov

Information about what Medicare does and does not cover (Medicare does not cover funeral costs).

medicare.gov

National Personnel Records Center

Request military records (DD-214) for veteran burial benefit eligibility.

archives.gov/veterans

Grief Support & Counseling

GriefShare

Find a local grief support group in West Virginia. Faith-based program with groups meeting in churches and community centers across the state.

griefshare.org

National Alliance for Grieving Children

Resources for children and teens coping with the death of a family member.

childrengrieve.org

AARP Grief & Loss Resources

Articles, support groups, and practical guidance for older adults dealing with loss.

aarp.org/caregiving/grief

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support. Available 24/7.

988lifeline.org

Psychology Today — Find a Therapist

Search for grief counselors and therapists in West Virginia by location and specialty.

psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/grief/west-virginia

Financial & Legal Resources

Legal Aid of West Virginia

Free legal assistance for low-income WV residents — including probate, estate planning, and consumer protection.

legalaidwv.org

WV State Bar Lawyer Referral Service

Find an estate planning attorney in West Virginia.

wvbar.org

Benefits.gov

Check eligibility for federal assistance programs including burial assistance and survivor benefits.

benefits.gov

IRS — Estate and Gift Taxes

Information on federal estate tax thresholds and filing requirements (WV has no state estate tax).

irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-tax

Funeral Planning Tools on This Site

These are our own guides — we've built them to help WV families with every aspect of funeral planning:

National Funeral Industry Organizations

National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)

Industry statistics, consumer resources, and funeral planning guides.

nfda.org

Cremation Association of North America (CANA)

Information about cremation options, providers, and trends.

cremationassociation.org

International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB)

National Board Exam (NBE) information for funeral professionals.

theconferenceonline.org

Funeral Consumers Alliance

Nonprofit consumer advocacy organization promoting affordable, meaningful funeral options.

funerals.org
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