File a Complaint Against a West Virginia Funeral Home
⚠️ Looking for the Official WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners?
The official board has moved to a new website. To file a formal complaint:
🔗 Visit: wvfuneralboard.wv.govThis website (wvfuneralboard.com) is an independent funeral planning resource and is NOT affiliated with the WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners. For official licensing, enforcement, and complaint actions, visit the board's official .gov website above.
When to File a Complaint — And What Else You Can Do
Filing a complaint with the state board is one option. Here's a complete guide to your rights as a funeral consumer in West Virginia.
The FTC Funeral Rule protects you. Federal law requires every funeral home to: provide a General Price List before discussing arrangements, allow you to purchase only the services you want, accept caskets purchased elsewhere, and not require embalming unless state law or specific circumstances demand it. Violations of the Funeral Rule can be reported to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
COMMON REASONS TO FILE A COMPLAINT
• Charged for services not authorized or not provided
• Refused to provide a General Price List
• Required purchase of a casket for cremation (not legally required)
• Misrepresentation of legal requirements (e.g., "embalming is required by law" when it's not)
• Failure to follow the family's wishes for disposition
• Unauthorized embalming
• Mishandling of remains
BEFORE FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT
1. Document everything — receipts, contracts, emails, notes of conversations with dates
2. Contact the funeral home director directly — many issues are misunderstandings that can be resolved with a conversation
3. If unresolved, file with the WV Board (wvfuneralboard.wv.gov) AND the FTC (ftc.gov/complaint)
YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT
• WV Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division: 1-800-368-8808
• Better Business Bureau of WV
How to Avoid Problems in the First Place
1. Always get the General Price List BEFORE making decisions. It's your legal right. Compare at least 3 funeral homes.
2. Get everything in writing. Verbal promises mean nothing in a dispute. The written contract is what matters.
3. Bring someone with you to arrangements. A clear-headed friend or family member catches things you'll miss while grieving.
4. Know what's required and what's optional. Embalming is NOT required by WV law for most situations. Expensive caskets are NOT required for cremation. A burial vault is NOT required by state law (though some cemeteries require one).