Kudos to the FCA of South Carolina for helping with this great article in the Columbia Star laying out the plain facts about home and family-directed funerals.
Excerpt:
The FCA-SC explains why some would want to choose this option: Some may wish to do this because it seems more fitting and personal for them to care for their own dead rather than turning the body over to a funeral home. Other than embalming, which is never required by law, there is nothing that a funeral director can do that anyone acting as such cannot do for themselves. For most of our history, the family took the responsibility for caring for their own dead. Over recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in reclaiming this practice.
Another reason may be financial. The average cost of a funeral, not including any cemetery costs, is now more than $6,500. With caskets readily available on the internet or by building one yourself-it is possible to provide a meaningful and dignified funeral for a fraction of that price.
There is nothing in the South Carolina Code (laws) that requires the use of a funeral director. The situation is governed by the Code of Regulations 61-19.
