In Washington, can families choose to provide their own casket?

In Washington, families have the right to provide their own casket for a funeral. This practice falls under the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule, which grants consumers the freedom to select their service products, including caskets. This means that families are not obliged to purchase a casket from the funeral home and can instead choose a casket that they feel meets their needs, whether it is an existing one they own or one they purchase from an outside source.

This option enhances consumer choice and allows families to make personal and financial decisions that align with their beliefs and circumstances. While funeral homes may have their own caskets to sell, they cannot force families to use one of theirs and must accept an outside casket without imposing additional fees, although certain conditions related to the casket's suitability for the funeral home's facilities may apply.