Everything specific to Alabama in one place: what a death certificate costs and how to get one, who has the legal right to arrange the funeral, and where to find official help. Each section links to a full guide with its sources.
Alabama at a glance
| Certified death certificate (state fee) | $15 first copy, $6 each additional |
|---|---|
| Decides the funeral if nobody was named in advance | Surviving spouse |
| Can you name someone in advance? | Yes |
| The law | Ala. Code § 34-13-11 |
Funeral cost calculator for Alabama
Pick the kind of arrangement and what it includes, and the estimate updates line by line, using Alabama funeral homes’ own prices where we have them. Every line shows its source.
Funeral costs in Alabama
These are medians from 10 Alabama funeral homes’ own published General Price Lists (10 cities, dated 2023-11 to 2026-09), collected in September 2026. Each figure counts only the price lists that show that item. Direct cremation and immediate burial are the lowest option each home lists; some include a basic container or the crematory fee and some do not. Your funeral home’s own price list is the only figure that counts for your bill.
| Item | Median | Price lists |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation (lowest listed option) | $2,495 | 10 |
| Basic services fee | $2,545 | 10 |
| Embalming | $1,145 | 10 |
| Transfer of remains to the funeral home | $495 | 10 |
| Viewing (facilities and staff) | $497.50 | 10 |
| Funeral ceremony (facilities and staff) | $550 | 10 |
| Hearse | $395 | 10 |
The 10 price lists behind these figures
- Cremation Services of East Alabama, Anniston, 2026-09-01
- Norris Funeral Service (Norris Funeral Home), Bay Minette, 2026-02-05
- Tuscaloosa Memorial Park and Chapel, Tuscaloosa, 2024-01-01
- Frederick-Dean Funeral Home & Crematory, Opelika, 2024-06-26
- Lake Martin Funeral Home and Cremation, Dadeville, 2024-10-15
- Linville Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory, Eclectic, 2025-01-09
- Peck Funeral Home, Inc., Hartselle, 2025-10-01
- Freeman-Hood Funeral Services, Jasper, 2023-11-30
- Roselawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, Decatur, 2026-07-07
- Sunset Brown-Service Funeral Home, Northport, 2026-08-03
Under the FTC Funeral Rule every funeral home must give you its prices over the phone, so calling two or three is the fastest way to a real number. How much a funeral costs, line by line.
Death certificates in Alabama
Certified copies come from Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Alabama Department of Public Health. "Most death certificates can be issued while you wait" at county health departments (ADPH death certificates page). No time stated for mail or online orders. Full guide: getting a death certificate in Alabama.
Who decides the funeral in Alabama
Alabama law sets the order. The first people in line are: DD Form 93 designee (active duty); Person designated by notarized affidavit; Surviving spouse; Children (majority). The full order, ties, deadlines and disputes.
Help paying for a funeral in Alabama
Federal help is the same in every state: Social Security’s one-time $255 payment to an eligible spouse or child, VA burial benefits for eligible veterans, and FEMA help only after a declared disaster. What each pays and how to apply.
Some Alabama counties and cities also help low-income families with burial or cremation costs. Ask the social services office in the county where the person died.
More official links for every state: funeral resources · all states.