How to Plan a Funeral in West Virginia: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families

The First 24 Hours

When someone you love passes away, the first day can feel paralyzing. Here's exactly what needs to happen — and what can wait.

What to do immediately

What can wait

Don't feel pressured to make every decision on day one. These things can wait a few days:

• Writing the obituary
• Choosing flowers and music
• Selecting clothing for the deceased
• Notifying employers, banks, and government agencies
• Planning the reception

The funeral home will guide you through most of these decisions at your arrangement conference, which usually happens 1 to 3 days after the death.

Choosing a Funeral Home

This is the single biggest decision in the planning process — and it will have the largest impact on your total cost.

How to choose

Get at least 3 price quotes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must give you an itemized General Price List (GPL). They must also provide prices over the phone — you don't need to visit in person. Prices for the same services can vary by $2,000 or more between funeral homes in the same city.

Ask families in your community. Personal recommendations carry weight. Ask which funeral homes treated families with care and were transparent about costs.

Check licensing. Verify that the funeral home and its director are licensed by the WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners. You can check the official roster or call the Board at (304) 558-0302.

Visit if possible. The facility should be clean, well-maintained, and welcoming. Trust your instincts — if something feels off, choose a different provider.

Ask about payment options. Not all funeral homes offer payment plans. Ask upfront about accepted payment methods and whether financing is available.

What to watch for

A few red flags to keep in mind:

• A funeral home that won't give you prices over the phone (this violates federal law)
• Pressure to buy expensive upgrades or packages you didn't ask for
• Refusal to accept a casket you purchased elsewhere (illegal under the FTC Funeral Rule)
• Claiming that embalming is legally required (it's not in WV)
• Quoting a single "package price" instead of itemized costs

Key Decisions You'll Need to Make

The funeral director will walk you through these decisions at the arrangement conference. Knowing them in advance helps you make thoughtful choices instead of pressured ones.

Burial or cremation?

This is the biggest cost decision. Traditional burial in WV averages $8,074 for the funeral home services alone (plus $3,000–$5,000 for the cemetery, vault, and headstone). Direct cremation costs $1,500 to $2,500. A cremation with a memorial service runs $3,500 to $5,500.

There's no right or wrong answer — it depends on your family's wishes, traditions, and budget.

Compare burial vs. cremation costs in detail →

Embalming — yes or no?

Embalming costs $500 to $800 in WV. It's not legally required by West Virginia law. Funeral homes may require it for open-casket viewings, but if you're choosing a closed-casket service or cremation, you can decline and save $500+.

Type of service

Your main options:

• Traditional funeral — visitation/viewing followed by a ceremony with the body present, then burial or cremation. The most comprehensive — and most expensive — option.
• Memorial service — a ceremony without the body present. Often held after cremation. More flexible scheduling.
• Graveside service — the ceremony takes place at the cemetery. Simpler and often less expensive.
• Celebration of life — less formal, focused on remembering the person's life. Can be held anywhere — a home, park, restaurant, or community center.
• Direct burial or direct cremation — no service at all. The most affordable option.

Open or closed casket?

An open casket requires embalming and body preparation ($1,100+ combined). A closed casket does not require embalming, which reduces costs. Consider the wishes of the deceased and what will bring the most comfort to family members.

Casket selection

The casket is typically the most expensive single item, averaging $2,500 but ranging from $1,000 to $10,000+. Remember: you are legally allowed to purchase a casket from any source. Online retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Titan Casket sell caskets at 50 to 75% less than funeral home prices, and the funeral home must accept them without a handling fee.

Planning the Service

Once the major decisions are made, the funeral director will help you plan the details:

Managing the Costs

Funeral costs in West Virginia average $8,074 for a burial (before cemetery, headstone, and flowers) and $1,500 to $2,500 for a direct cremation. The total real cost of a burial with all extras is closer to $12,000 to $14,000.

6 ways to reduce costs without cutting corners

1. Compare prices from at least 3 funeral homes — this alone can save $2,000+
2. Buy the casket online — save $1,000 to $3,000 vs. funeral home prices
3. Decline services you don't need — embalming, premium flower packages, and deluxe printed materials are common upsells
4. Consider cremation — saves $6,000+ compared to traditional burial
5. Hold the reception at home or a church — funeral home reception rooms add $500+
6. Ask about veterans benefits — if the deceased was a veteran, the VA may cover part of the costs

How to pay

• Life insurance or final expense insurance — payouts are typically issued within 24 to 48 hours
• Savings — the most common method
• Family contributions — it's okay to ask family members to share the cost
• Funeral home payment plan — some WV funeral homes offer financing
• Social Security death benefit — $255, one-time payment to surviving spouse
• WV DHHR burial assistance — up to $1,000 for eligible families
• Crowdfunding — GoFundMe funeral campaigns are among the most funded categories

Learn more about final expense insurance →

Paperwork and Legal Requirements in WV

There's more paperwork involved than most people expect. Here's what you'll need:

Death certificate — The funeral director files this with the WV Vital Registration Office. You'll need multiple certified copies. In WV, death certificates cost $12 each. Order at least 5 to 10 copies — you'll need them for insurance claims, bank accounts, property transfers, and government agencies.

Burial or cremation permit — The funeral home obtains this. Required before disposition of the body can take place.

Cremation authorization — If choosing cremation, the legal next of kin must sign a cremation authorization form. The funeral home provides this.

Social Security notification — The funeral home typically notifies Social Security on your behalf. The surviving spouse may be eligible for a one-time $255 death benefit.

VA notification — If the deceased was a veteran, contact the VA (1-800-827-1000) to report the death and inquire about burial benefits.

Employer notification — Notify the deceased's employer to address final paychecks, benefits, retirement accounts, and life insurance.

Insurance claims — Contact all life insurance and final expense insurance providers with a certified death certificate to initiate claims.

After the Funeral

The days and weeks after the funeral bring their own set of tasks. Take them one at a time:

Don't try to handle everything at once. Most of these tasks can be spread out over weeks or months. Give yourself grace during this time.

Pre-Planning — If You're Planning Ahead

If you're reading this because you want to plan your own funeral in advance — rather than planning for someone who just passed — this section is for you.

Pre-planning is one of the most practical, generous things you can do for your family. It removes the burden of decision-making from them during an incredibly difficult time, and it can save them thousands of dollars by locking in today's prices.

Steps to pre-plan

1. Decide on burial vs. cremation and the type of service you want
2. Choose a funeral home and sit down with a funeral director to outline your wishes
3. Put your wishes in writing — don't rely on verbal instructions alone
4. Consider pre-paying — some funeral homes offer pre-need plans that lock in current prices
5. Get final expense insurance — if you don't want to pre-pay with a funeral home, a final expense policy ($30+/month) ensures the money is there when needed
6. Tell your family — make sure your spouse, children, or executor knows where to find your plan, your insurance documents, and your wishes

Why it matters

Funeral costs have been rising 4 to 5 percent per year. A funeral that costs $8,000 today could cost $12,000 or more in 10 years. Pre-planning — whether through a pre-paid plan or final expense insurance — protects your family from that inflation.

Frequently Asked Questions