Everything specific to Arkansas 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.
Arkansas at a glance
| Certified death certificate (state fee) | $10 first copy, $8 each additional |
|---|---|
| Decides the funeral if nobody was named in advance | Person appointed in a declaration |
| Can you name someone in advance? | Yes |
| The law | Ark. Code Ann. § 20-17-102 (Final Disposition Rights Act of 2009) |
Funeral cost calculator for Arkansas
Pick the kind of arrangement and what it includes, and the estimate updates line by line, using Arkansas funeral homes’ own prices where we have them. Every line shows its source.
Funeral costs in Arkansas
We are collecting Arkansas funeral homes’ own published General Price Lists, and state figures will appear here once there are enough of them to be reliable. Until then, the most recent national figure is the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, and $6,280 with viewing and cremation. Those are national midpoints, not Arkansas prices.
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 Arkansas
Certified copies come from Vital Records Section, Arkansas Department of Health. ADH page: online "Requests typically take 7-14 business days from the date your order is approved plus additional shipping time"; mail "Please allow 10-14 days for processing, in addition to mail delivery time"; walk-in "Most certificate requests can be fulfilled the same day for customers arriving by 4:00 P.M.". Full guide: getting a death certificate in Arkansas.
Who decides the funeral in Arkansas
Arkansas law sets the order. The first people in line are: DD Form 93 designee (military); Person appointed in a declaration; Surviving spouse; Children (majority). The full order, ties, deadlines and disputes.
Help paying for a funeral in Arkansas
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 Arkansas 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.