New Jersey Funeral Costs: Prices, Laws and Your Rights

New Jersey funeral prices are not standardized: the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Princeton (FCAP) reports market prices for the same direct cremation ranging from $285 to $4,865, and crematory fees and other charges can be extra. Few homes post prices online, so you usually have to call. A state-issued death certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $2 for each extra copy ordered together.

How much does a funeral cost in New Jersey?

No state agency publishes an average New Jersey funeral price, and this guide does not quote a statewide figure it could not verify. What is clear is the spread. A direct cremation, which skips the viewing and service, usually costs far less than a funeral with a viewing, hearse and casket, and two homes a few miles apart can quote very different amounts for the same thing.

The FCAP says its price comparisons are there because so few homes publish prices. Its direct cremation package typically covers picking up the body, the disposition permit, arranging the cremation (generally within 24 to 48 hours), transportation, filing the death certificate and returning the ashes in a simple container. Crematory fees and urns can be extra, so ask what the quoted price includes.

For a line-by-line view of what each charge covers, see our guide to funeral home fees and the average funeral cost breakdown.

Why do you need a funeral director in New Jersey?

The Funeral Consumers Alliance lists New Jersey as one of nine states that require a licensed funeral director for certain tasks. FCAP describes three tasks that must go through a licensed director: filing the death certificate, obtaining the permits for transport, burial or cremation, and being present at the crematory or cemetery for final disposition. Families may still spend time with the person at home before then.

This does not mean you must buy a full package. You can choose a funeral home for these required tasks and decline extras such as embalming, a viewing or a casket purchased through the home.

What price protections apply in New Jersey?

The FTC Funeral Rule applies everywhere, including the right to get prices by phone. New Jersey's State Board of Mortuary Science adds its own rules in N.J.A.C. 13:36-9:

• Casket price list. They must give you a printed list, with retail prices and an effective date, before showing you any caskets. Handwritten notes are not allowed.
• General price list. It must be printed, dated and show the home's name, address and phone number. It must say: "You may choose only the items you desire." If the basic services fee cannot be declined, it must also say any arrangements you select will include a charge for the home's services.
• Embalming statement. The list must say that, except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law.
• No embalming without approval. A home generally cannot charge for embalming unless the law requires it in that case, you approved it beforehand, or it could not reach a family member after due diligence. Even then, it may not charge for embalming if you choose direct cremation or immediate burial.
• Your own casket. Under federal rules, a home cannot refuse a casket you bought elsewhere or add a fee for using it.

FCAP says families can keep the body at home for up to 48 hours to say goodbye. Ask the funeral home about timing and any refrigeration requirements for your situation.

How do you order a death certificate in New Jersey?

The state Office of Vital Statistics charges $25 for the initial search and one certified copy, and $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Orders placed through VitalChek carry a separate processing fee.

To order a certified copy you must be the parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse or civil union partner, or a child, grandchild or sibling of legal age. Agencies and people with a court order also qualify. You will need ID, the fee and proof of your relationship. The state lists ordering online or by phone through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the state office, where walk-in requests are typically processed within about two hours. Local vital records offices set their own fees and processing times. Our death certificate guide explains how many copies to order.

What about prepaying a funeral in New Jersey?

New Jersey's prepaid funeral rules (N.J.A.C. 13:36-11) require a provider to deposit all money it receives within 30 days into a funeral trust or with an insurance company, and prohibit mixing it with the provider's own accounts. If you cancel, the provider must act on a revocation request within 14 days, and a funeral trust refund must be made within 10 days, to the purchaser or the estate.

Before you pay, ask whether the price is guaranteed, what happens if you move, and whether the agreement is irrevocable, since the rules address irrevocable agreements separately. Our guide to prepaid plans versus funeral insurance covers the options.

Who can help pay for a funeral?

• Veterans. Eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost for the gravesite, opening and closing, headstone or marker, flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate. For non-service-connected deaths from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, the VA pays up to $1,002 toward burial and $1,002 for a plot; for deaths on or after October 1, 2026 the amounts are $1,032 each. For a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the maximum burial allowance is $2,000. Use VA Form 21P-530EZ. See VA burial allowance.
• Social Security. The FCA lists a one-time $255 payment to an eligible surviving spouse or child. See the Social Security death benefit guide.
• The county. Many counties have a burial assistance program for people who cannot pay, but eligibility and amounts vary. Ask your county's social services office before signing a contract, including whether a person who received Medicaid qualifies.
• Charities and community groups. The FCA lists faith communities, unions, employers and charities. See who pays for a funeral.

What to do next

1. Call at least three funeral homes and ask for prices by phone, then ask for the printed General Price List.
2. Ask what a direct cremation or immediate burial price includes and excludes.
3. Order death certificates only after the funeral home files the record, and start with a few copies.
4. If the person was a veteran, locate the DD-214 before you talk to the funeral home.