Can you pay for a funeral in installments?
Ava Arnold
Updated on January 17, 2026
Can you pay for a funeral in installments? Some funeral homes may make payment arrangements with you, depending on your financial situation. And if you arrange to pay your own funeral costs with a pre-paid funeral plan, you can usually set up an installment plan with the funeral home.
What is the cheapest way to pay for a funeral?
A funeral home's least expensive option is a direct burial, in which the body is buried soon after death, with no embalming or visitation.
- A Federal Trade Commission pamphlet says:
- Cremation can be a cheaper alternative to burial. ...
- Only a couple dozen “natural burial grounds” around the country accept shrouded bodies.
Is prepaying funeral expenses a good idea?
They urge customers to pay for their own funeral in advance—in order to spare their survivors the trouble and expense, lock in current prices, or shelter their assets from Medicaid. The truth is that it is usually not wise to pay ahead.What are the pros and cons of a prepaid funeral?
Here are the biggest pros of prepaid funeral plans to determine if they're right for you.
- Reduce your family's burden. ...
- Honor your personal decisions. ...
- Secure an affordable price. ...
- Choose your funeral home. ...
- You can't transfer your plan. ...
- There can be unexpected fees. ...
- Prepayment doesn't cover all costs.
How do you bury someone with no money?
Here are some ideas for paying for a burial when you have no money.
- Medicaid Funeral Assistance.
- Look into Veteran Death Benefits.
- Seek Out Prepaid Funeral Plans.
- Look for Life Insurance Policies.
- Consider Donating the Body to Science.
- Ask for Donations.
- Consider Direct Cremation.
- Other Things to Consider.