Arranging a Funeral or Cremation Service in Maine

This guide aims to answer some key questions about making funeral or cremation arrangements in Maine. We provide an overview of some legal aspects of making funeral plans specific to Maine funeral laws and what funeral or cremation costs to expect.

With the average traditional funeral in Maine costing between $7,000 and $10,000, and that’s before a cemetery plot and grave marker are added to the total bill, it’s not hard to see why more and more families in Maine are considering cremation as an alternative. 

Why has Cremation become the Preferred Funeral Option?

Cremation is not only significantly less expensive, but it also allows families much more flexibility in planning a memorial service.  Unlike the traditional funeral burial, where everything must be planned and arranged quickly, a cremation can happen immediately after the death. 

Direct Cremation is the least expensive type of cremation. However, you may find some funeral homes reluctant to discuss this as an option, and often, the funeral directors will want to discuss other products and services available, such as extras.  With a direct cremation, the funeral director chosen is responsible for:

• collecting the body from the place of death
• storage of the deceased before the cremation
• filing the legal paperwork
• taking the body to the crematory for cremation
• returning the ashes to family or next of kin 

Comparing Cremation Prices in Maine

How do I choose a funeral services provider in Maine?

Contacting a funeral director is one of the first things families automatically do when a death has occurred. If you have prior experience with a funeral service provider, this can be a straightforward decision, but if not, it can be daunting to decide where to start.

All funeral establishments are licensed by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Funeral Service. Furthermore, funeral businesses are bound by the Federal Trade Commission’s ‘Funeral Rule’, which protects funeral consumers.

The location of the funeral service provider and whether you have something special in mind for the funeral ceremony can be the key determining factors. Do you want a traditional burial, a cremation, or a more contemporary celebration service? Do you need a simple cremation and plan to conduct your own ceremony? Do you have a budget in mind? Just having a clear outline of your specific requirements can help you when contacting funeral providers to inquire about their services.

Funeral prices are one of the main reasons some families are researching online today. So, let’s discuss funeral costs in Maine.

What is the average cost of a funeral in Maine?

The average funeral price in Maine these days can amount to more than $7,000, which can be a complete financial burden to those arranging a funeral service if no pre-planning for funeral expenses is in place. This cost does not take into account cemetery plot costs.

The national average price is $7,848 (NFDA), which means that a traditional funeral service involving a burial in Maine can cost over $10,000. However, more affordable funeral options are available, and cremation is fast becoming a preferred means of disposition, especially for those working on a budget or choosing not to opt for a traditional burial.           

How much does a cremation cost in Maine?

The price of cremation varies depending on which provider you select and the type of cremation service chosen. Cremation can be a simple disposition with no service; the ashes are returned to the family, who can organize a memorial service themselves.

It can be as elaborate as a traditional funeral, with the difference being that the deceased is cremated instead of buried. A full-service cremation service is likely to cost between $2,500 and $4,000. However, a simple cremation without a service, also known as a direct cremation, can be conducted for between $1,200 and $1,500.

Because the prices from different funeral service providers can vary quite significantly, it is imperative to compare prices for the same service. Ensure you compare like-for-like funeral services before committing to a funeral contract.

If you are concerned about funeral costs, the DFS Memorials providers in Maine offer low-cost cremation services and affordable burial services. All DFS Memorials providers guarantee a ‘best value’ direct cremation package.

Know your rights: funeral laws in Maine.

All funeral homes in Maine are required by law to provide you with a General Price List that lists the prices for all their services. A funeral home should provide you with information about all the services available, but at no time should pressure you into a sale. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ‘Funeral Rule’ protects you as a funeral consumer, so ensure you equip yourself with the knowledge about your rights.

Can I conduct a home funeral in Maine?

Yes, if you wish, you can prepare the deceased and make the required arrangements.  You must file for a death certificate and a burial or cremation permit. There is NO legal requirement in Maine that dictates you must employ the services of a funeral director. The “authorized person” responsible for the disposition of the body is the next of kin or the person given signed authority by said next of kin.

The authorized person has the authority to dispose of the body according to his/her wishes as long as the appropriate permits are held. The authorized person may keep the body at home, build a coffin, transport the body to the crematory or cemetery, collect the ashes, have their own memorial service, and do the paperwork themselves. Arranging a home funeral for as little as $1,000 is possible.

It is possible to establish a family burial plot on your property in Maine if the site is no larger than one-quarter acre and the burial plot is registered with the property deeds. (Title 13, Section 1142.)

What do I need to understand about cremation laws in Maine?

Each state has its legislation that governs funeral practice. A crematory must abide by specific practice standards in disposing of human remains by cremation. In Maine, a cremation can only be performed once a ‘Cremation Authorization Form’ has been signed by the legal next of kin and the coroner has issued the cremation permit.

Generally, a mandatory waiting period is 24 hours before a cremation can proceed, but this is not enforced in Maine. That said, it usually takes about three days to make all the necessary arrangements and complete the paperwork, but an expedited service can be arranged if required.

A casket is NOT required by law for a cremation. All that is needed is a suitable rigid container. A cremation container is usually a reinforced cardboard or plywood box. Some funeral homes offer rental caskets if you wish to hold a funeral service before the cremation.

Who can authorize a cremation or burial in Maine?

You can pre-sign a Cremation Authorization Form to authorize your cremation without needing consent from any other family member. However, suppose you have not pre-planned and completed the necessary authorization for cremation as part of prearrangements and laying out your wishes. In that case, your immediate next of kin must authorize a cremation.

It can certainly help and save emotional decision-making if you wish to be cremated to pre-sign a cremation authorization form. The following people may authorize cremation:

• Your spouse
• Your adult children
• Your parents
• Your siblings
• Your representative acting under your signed authorization.

Who is responsible for paying for the funeral expenses?

There are two options – either you pre-plan and prepay for your funeral expenses, or the surviving family will become liable for your disposition costs. You do not have to formally set up a funeral contract with a funeral service provider. Still, you can make adequate provisions by putting funds aside in a POD account so that the person who will arrange your funeral can access this fund immediately upon the death.  

You can read more about this in ‘What is my best and safest option for putting aside money for a funeral?’

Prepayment funeral & cremation plans in Maine

Preplanning and prepaying a funeral can relieve the financial burden on the surviving family and ensure your wishes are met. As mentioned above, a POD account can prove a very safe and adequate way to set funds aside to cover funeral costs.

Due to the economy and the national rise in the cremation rate, the cost of funerals is coming down. This means that locking thousands of dollars into a preneed funeral contract may not be a wise investment. If you are considering cremation, you can pre-purchase a direct cremation plan for between $1,500 and $3,500.

Does the deceased have to be embalmed in Maine?

According to Maine state law, a body does not have to be embalmed. However, some funeral homes stipulate that embalming is required depending on certain services, such as an open casket viewing or service or a body being transported across state lines.

Purchasing a casket in Maine

According to Maine state legislation, you do not have to use a casket. However, you do require a “suitable container,” which the law allows to be an unfinished wooden box or “alternative container” made from other composition materials, such as canvas, cardboard, or pressed wood.

Although grave liners and burial vaults are NOT required by state law, some Maine cemeteries do stipulate that they require them to prevent the ground from sinking around a cemetery plot. It is strongly advised that you check a cemetery’s requirements before committing to purchase a cemetery plot. 

What can we do with the cremated remains? Laws for Ash Scattering in Maine

Maine law stipulates that cremated remains may be “deposited in a niche of a columbarium or a crypt of a mausoleum, buried or disposed of in any manner not contrary to law.” (13 M.R.S.A. § 1032). If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many options. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so no public health risk is involved in scattering ashes. They are sterile, organic matter. Use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be evident to others.

Scattering on private land requires the landowner’s consent, and it is wise to check local ordnance zoning if you wish to scatter on public lands. If you want to scatter ashes in a state park, you should check if the park has any rules about permits required for ash scattering.

Of course, sea scattering is popular in Maine, but you need to bear in mind EPA regulations. A burial at sea should be 3 nautical miles out, and a written notification should be provided to the local EPA representative within 30 days. Burial at Sea Coordinator, US EPA Region 1, EPA New England Phone: (888) 372-7341

How do I obtain a certified copy of a death certificate in Maine?

The funeral home will usually obtain your necessary death certificates as part of their services.  In Maine, the death certificate must be filed with the Department of Health within 3 days. (Maine Health & Human Services Rule 10-146, Chp 1). If you need additional copies after the death, these can be obtained from the Maine Division of Public Health, and you will need to provide a photo ID and your relationship to the deceased. A death certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $6 for additional copies. You will need certified copies to formally register the deceased’s death with government institutions, banks and insurance companies, etc. 

Veteran’s funerals in Maine

Veterans and certain dependents are entitled to certain benefits. This is primarily a free cemetery plot, grave marker, and U.S. flag. Certain funeral homes will also offer discounted funeral services to veterans. The VA cemetery in Togus is closed to new interments. There are four state-run veterans’ cemeteries: 2 in Augusta (but one does only cremated remains), Springvale, and Caribou. To learn more about veteran benefits entitlements, contact your local VA office.

When a death occurs outside of Maine

If a loved one dies away from his/her home in Maine, you may wish to arrange to have the body collected and returned to Maine for disposition. Transporting a body internationally can be quite complex, but it frequently happens.

Visit our page on Funeral Shipping for more information on domestic and international transfers. However, in many cases, it is often easier and more cost-effective to arrange a cremation wherever your loved one died and then transport the ashes to or from Maine.

If you do regularly travel for work, pleasure, sport, visiting family, or snow-birding, you may wish to consider our great value Travel Protection Plan. This plan costs just $450 for an individual for lifetime protection against the costly expense of returning a body home if a death occurs 75 miles (or further) from your residence. It also provides global coverage. Domestic funeral shipping can cost from $3,000, and International repatriation can start at around $6,900.

Can I donate my body to science in Maine?

Donating your body to medical science has been an end-of-life choice for some time; however, it has undoubtedly gained more popularity recently. For many, it now seems a valuable disposition method, commonly called an “anatomical gift.” The University of New England operates a whole-body donation program. 

Finding a low-cost cremation provider in Maine

With 76% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck today (CNN October) and 35% now in debt recovery, it is understandable why more families are looking to lower-cost funeral alternatives. It can be difficult enough to lose a loved one without being faced with the unexpected cost of making funeral arrangements.

The least expensive funeral option is a direct cremation. This is a simple cremation with no services or viewing. Contact your nearest DFS Memorials provider to access low-cost cremation or burial services near you. A direct cremation can deal with the immediate disposition promptly and cost-effectively.

Families can then arrange their memorial services at a time and place that suits family members. This does not have to be at a funeral home or place of worship; it can be anywhere you choose.

What help is there for those on low income with funeral costs in Maine?

The state of Maine Department of Health & Human Services – Family Independence Division will evaluate if a family is entitled to any financial support with funeral costs. The General Assistance administrator is responsible for compiling an application on behalf of the deceased to determine the municipality’s share (if any) of the burial expenses (Title 22, section 4313, subsection 2). A funeral director must notify the GA immediately if the deceased is family cannot meet funeral costs.

Under the General Assistance Program, the responsibility of the father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, children, or grandchildren, by kinship, or the spouse or registered domestic partner, is to pay for burial or cremation costs of the eligible person in proportion to their respective abilities. (Title 22, Ch. 1161, §4313).

A $255 lump sum death benefit payment is available from Social Security for those who qualify. Your funeral director will generally submit this claim on your behalf. 

For further information on how to pay for a funeral if you have limited funds, visit our article on What to do if you cannot afford a funeral. 

If you have a complaint about how a funeral or cremation was conducted in Maine

Suppose you have a grievance with a funeral home in Maine, and they do not resolve it to your satisfaction. In that case, you may file your complaint with the Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation. You must file a complaint in writing to: 

Department of Professional & Financial Regulation 
Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation  
76 Northern Avenue  
Gardiner, Maine 04345

Hopefully, this guide has answered some of your immediate questions. Arranging a funeral is no easy task, and there are many decisions to be made, often when you feel incapable of making them. Please check out our Library/Info section, where you will find a catalog of other articles to assist you through the funeral planning process.

Resources: 

Funeral Homes in Maine

DFS Memorials – Save on Cremation Costs in Maine

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine