What Funeral Homes Must Disclose in Ontario
Ontario regulations protect consumers by requiring funeral homes to disclose specific information. Know your rights to make informed decisions.
Required Disclosures Under Ontario Law
General Price List (GPL)
Funeral homes must provide an itemized list of all services and merchandise prices. This includes:
- • Professional service fees (basic services fee)
- • Preparation and embalming fees
- • Facility usage charges
- • Transportation costs
- • Casket and urn prices
- • Third-party disbursements
Contract Before Services
Before providing any services, funeral homes must provide a written contract detailing all selected services, merchandise, and prices. You have 30 days to cancel a pre-need contract.
Licensing Information
Funeral homes must display their BAO license and provide their license number upon request. Different license types (FE1, FE2, TS1, TS2) authorize different services.
Embalming Disclosure
Funeral homes must disclose that embalming is NOT required by law. They cannot require embalming unless the family has selected services that necessitate it.
Your Consumer Rights
You Have the Right To:
- ✓ Receive a GPL before making any decisions
- ✓ Purchase individual services without packages
- ✓ Use a casket or urn from another source
- ✓ Decline embalming in most circumstances
- ✓ Cancel a pre-need contract within 30 days
Funeral Homes Cannot:
- ✗ Refuse to provide a price list
- ✗ Require in-person visits for pricing
- ✗ Force package purchases
- ✗ Charge for services not authorized
- ✗ Claim embalming is legally required
Frequently Asked Questions
Are funeral homes required to show prices upfront?
Yes. Ontario funeral homes must provide a General Price List (GPL) upon request, either in person, by mail, or electronically. They cannot require you to visit in person to get pricing.
Can a funeral home require package purchases?
No. The Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act prohibits requiring package purchases. You have the right to purchase individual services and merchandise separately.
What if a funeral home refuses to provide pricing?
Report them to the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). Failure to provide required disclosures is a violation of provincial regulations and can result in penalties.