Making any end-of-life decision is difficult and when you find yourself in the middle of it all, it can feel very overwhelming. Certain aspects of funeral services are regulated in BC to protect you during this emotional time, including some rules that can help you make an informed choice about a casket, container, or urn.
Here are five things that you may not know about your rights in this area:
- A funeral providerâs showroom must display at least six different containers (either as full or partial replicas)
- One of those containers must be their lowest-priced model.
- All of the containers must have clear price tags so that you can make an informed decision.
- If the funeral provider doesnât have a separate room to display their caskets and urns, they must share pricing information about the containers they sell in a public manner, such as in a book, in a brochure, or online.
- By law, you are allowed to supply your own casket or urn, if it meets certain specifications. It must meet the requirements found in the Public Health Act, and it has to be strong enough to hold and move the human remains and canât pose any health hazards. For more details and specifications, check out this part of the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation.
The law in BC
Funeral services are governed in BC under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (and regulations) and the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, and the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation. We oversee those laws.
Where to go for more information
Funeral homes and funeral directors must hold a licence with us, be trained, and meet certain requirements. Always check that a funeral home or provider is licensed with us using our online search feature. For more information about the funeral services rules in BC, visit the funeral services section of our website.
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What can be done with my ashes when I die?
Do you need a container when you are cremated?
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific sectors and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we canât help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
I wish to be composted. Return my accumulated carbons to the soil that fed me into the person that i am. I do not deserve nor do I have any desire for an elaborate pharoah service engineered to make keep the industry wealthy beyond belief. I have no need for carpentry that could be of better use as kitchen cabinets rather buried within a concrete bunker with flashy silk that no one will ever see again. Makes absolutly no sense beyond “He/She would have like that” BS sales pitch.
Seattle is doing it “recompose funeral service” what stand in the way of doing it here?
What about BC’s green funerals?
Please elaborate.
Hi Marcel, thanks for reaching out to us here. There are providers who offer green burials in BC as well. I would suggest doing some research to see what options there are in your community. Weâve written a blog about this topic here if youâre interested: https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/2013/01/green_burials/
Green burials have always been allowed at Mountain View Cemetery, in the city of Vancouver..
No casket, no embalming, etc.
I have an issue with a local funeral “team” I was not shown or given a choice of casket. Also the so called “pre-paid” deal was not pre paid. I got double billed.
Hey Conrad, thanks for reaching out. If you havenât already, I would bring your concerns to the business to see if they can help resolve the issue for about being double billed. At the same time, I would also suggest referring the rules for displaying casket options to see what they have to say about that. If you canât resolve the issue with the funeral provider, please feel free to submit a complaint to our office using our complaint form. Thanks!
very interesting, but nothing sensible