Usually, funeral homes do not go out of business because there are always opportunities for them to conduct funerals for bereaved families.
The frequency at which they get clients might not be much, but, certainly, people in the community will always need their services.
As expected, there are always exceptions to the norm hence in some rare cases, a funeral home can go out of business. There are several reasons why a funeral home can go out of business, and one of the major reasons is poor business management.
So, if you own a funeral home business that is about to go out of business, and you are wondering what you should do, and what will happen, then you may want to continue reading this article. In this article, we will look at what happens when a funeral home goes out of business.
What Happens When a Funeral Home Goes Out of Business?
-
Communication with Families
When a funeral home suddenly goes out of business, the first thing that is expected of the management of the funeral home is to communicate with the families that will be affected by the decision. By law in the United States, a funeral home is required to inform the families affected by their closure.
The funeral home is expected to provide details about what steps will be taken to fulfill existing contracts or arrangements they have with clients who have pre-booked their services.
-
Transfer of Remains
If at the time a funeral home is about to go out of business, they still have the remains of some of their clients, then they are required to make provision for transfer of the remains.
In some cases, another funeral home may take over the operations of the funeral home, and the arrangements on the ground might be transferred to a new funeral home that is taking over.
If this is the case, then the affected families will be given the option to either agree to transfer the remains of their loved ones to another funeral home of their choice or to continue with the new funeral home that is taking over the failed business.
-
Refunds and Financial Issues
Families who have prepaid for funeral services may face challenges in getting refunds if this is not properly handled. The funeral home may have set aside funds in a trust or purchased insurance policies to cover such situations.
However, the availability of funds depends on the financial practices of the specific funeral home. Should the funeral home fail to meet its obligation in this regard, the assets of the funeral home may be confiscated.
-
Government Oversight
In the United States, and of course in most countries, funeral homes are subject to regulations and oversight by local authorities.
So, when a funeral home goes out of business, there may be regulatory processes in place to ensure the proper handling of remaining arrangements and funds. The government will always carry out its oversight function to make sure nobody is shortchanged.
-
Legal Action
If the funeral home closes without fulfilling its contractual obligations, affected families may have legal recourse. They might pursue legal action to recover funds or seek compensation for any damages incurred due to the funeral home’s closure.
Note that staying informed and documenting any communication with the funeral home can be very important if legal action becomes necessary.
-
Public Announcements
When a funeral home goes out of business, it is expected that they inform the general public that they are no longer in business. This is necessary because the closure of a funeral home is typically a matter of public record.
In some jurisdictions, government agencies or regulatory bodies may issue public announcements to inform the community about the situation and provide guidance for affected individuals on how they will go about reclaiming their monies if they have prepaid for funeral services.
-
Options for Families
Lastly, another thing that will happen when a funeral home goes out of business is that the affected families may be given the option to transfer their arrangements to another funeral home of their choice.
In some cases, funeral homes usually work with third-party service providers. If the original funeral home had made arrangements with a third-party provider for certain services, those arrangements might still be honored by the third party.
But over and above, families need to communicate with the relevant authorities, such as local funeral regulatory bodies or consumer protection agencies, to understand their rights and options in such situations.