Everything specific to California 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.
California at a glance
| Certified death certificate (state fee) | $26 |
|---|---|
| Decides the funeral if nobody was named in advance | Surviving spouse |
| Can you name someone in advance? | Yes |
| The law | Cal. Health & Safety Code § 7100 |
Funeral cost calculator for California
Pick the kind of arrangement and what it includes, and the estimate updates line by line, using California funeral homes’ own prices where we have them. Every line shows its source.
Funeral costs in California
These are medians from 13 California funeral homes’ own published General Price Lists (9 cities, dated 2024-01 to 2026-08), 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) | $1,875 | 13 |
| Immediate burial (lowest listed option) | $2,880 | 13 |
| Basic services fee | $2,200 | 13 |
| Embalming | $695 | 13 |
| Transfer of remains to the funeral home | $595 | 13 |
| Viewing (facilities and staff) | $635 | 12 |
| Funeral ceremony (facilities and staff) | $695 | 13 |
| Hearse | $495 | 13 |
The 13 price lists behind these figures
- Los Angeles Funeral Service, Inc., Los Angeles, 2025-01-02
- Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries (Calvary Mortuary; one GPL shared by All Souls, Holy Cross, Mission Hills, Queen of Heaven, Santa Clara mortuaries), Los Angeles, 2026-08-03
- Bravo Family Mortuary, San Diego, 2025-02-15
- San Diego Memorial Chapel, San Diego, 2024-01-01
- Price Funeral Chapel, Citrus Heights (Sacramento area), 2026-07-03
- Akes Family Funeral Homes, Riverside, 2025-01-01
- Rubidoux Mortuary – Kimberly Family Chapel, Riverside, 2026-01-05
- Santa Clara Funeral & Cremation Service – The Casket Store, San Jose, 2025-01-01
- Sacred Space Funeral and Cremation Services, San Jose, 2026-03-09
- Alta Mesa Funeral Home, Palo Alto, 2024-08-21
- Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, Visalia, 2025-10-06
- Eggen & Lance Chapel / Santa Rosa Mortuary, Santa Rosa, 2026-02-01
- Farewell Funeral Service, Fresno, 2024-12-01
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 California
Certified copies come from California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR). CDPH Processing Times page: "CDPH-VR's average time to process a certified copy request is 4 to 6 weeks." CDPH says you can often get copies faster from the county. Full guide: getting a death certificate in California.
Who decides the funeral in California
California law sets the order. The first people in line are: Agent under power of attorney for health care; Surviving spouse; Adult children (sole or majority); Parents. The full order, ties, deadlines and disputes.
Help paying for a funeral in California
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 California 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.