Funeral Planning Resources

A step-by-step guide to documenting your wishes and making arrangements in advance.

• Choose between burial and cremation
• Select a funeral home or service provider
• Document personal wishes for the service
• Notify family members of your plans
• Review and update your will
• Consider a pre-need funeral insurance policy
• Designate a trusted person to carry out your wishes
• Store documents in a secure, accessible location

Funeral costs in Los Angeles vary widely depending on the cemetery, type of service, and level of care. Below is a broad range to help you plan and budget — from modest arrangements to premium options at cemeteries like Rose Hills and Forest Lawn.

• Basic services fee (funeral home): $2,000–$5,000
• Casket: $1,000–$15,000+ (premium hardwood or bronze)
• Burial plot: $5,000–$30,000+ (Rose Hills, Forest Lawn, and similar)
• Opening & closing fee: $1,500–$3,500
• Headstone or marker: $500–$10,000+ (upright monuments)
• Mausoleum or niche entombment: $8,000–$50,000+
• Embalming and preparation: $500–$1,500
• Funeral service & viewing: $1,000–$4,000
• Graveside service: $500–$2,000
• Cremation (direct): $700–$2,500
• Cremation with full service: $2,000–$6,000
• Cremation niche or columbarium: $2,000–$15,000+
• Flowers and décor: $300–$3,000+
• Obituary and death notices: $100–$500
• Death certificates (multiple copies): $50–$200
• Total range: $5,000 (simple) to $60,000+ (full-service, premium cemetery)

Key documents every family should have in order before and after a loss.

• Last Will and Testament
• Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)
• Durable Power of Attorney
• Beneficiary designations (life insurance, retirement)
• Death certificate (typically 8–10 copies needed)
• Funeral pre-arrangement contract
• Social Security card and birth certificate
• Property deeds and financial account records

You are not alone. These resources can help you and your family navigate the grieving process.

• Grief counseling — individual and family sessions
• Support groups in the Los Angeles area
• Online grief communities and forums
• Books and workbooks on grief and healing
• Children's grief resources and programs
• Hospice bereavement programs
• Crisis support lines (available 24/7)
• Faith-based grief ministries