Choosing a Funeral Home in Atlanta: What Families Need to Know

Planning a funeral is emotionally hard and often time-sensitive. If you’re searching for an Atlanta funeral home, you’re likely trying to balance cost, culture, location, and personal wishes—all while grieving.

This guide walks through how funeral homes work specifically in Atlanta, Georgia, what to expect, who regulates them, and how to choose one that fits your family’s needs.

How Funeral Homes Work in Atlanta

In Atlanta, a funeral home (sometimes called a funeral establishment or mortuary) is a licensed business that can:

• Arrange burials and cremations
• Prepare and transport the body
• Coordinate viewings, wakes, and memorial services
• Help with death certificates and required permits
• Assist with obituaries and communication with cemeteries or crematories

Funeral homes in Atlanta may be:

• Traditional, full‑service (chapel, visitation rooms, prep rooms, vehicles)
• Cremation-focused (simpler services, often lower cost)
• Religiously affiliated (connected to a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple)
• Culturally specific (serving particular ethnic, language, or cultural communities)

Key Questions to Consider Before You Call

Before you start calling funeral homes in Atlanta, take a moment to clarify a few basics. This will make every conversation easier and quicker:

1. Burial or cremation?
2. Religious or cultural requirements? (e.g., Catholic, Baptist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, African diaspora traditions)
3. Type of service?
   • Immediate burial or cremation with no service
   • Simple memorial service at the funeral home
   • Service at a church, mosque, or other place of worship
   • Graveside service only
4. Budget range? (You don’t need an exact number, but knowing what’s realistic helps.)
5. Location preferences?
   • Near your home (e.g., Buckhead, West End, Decatur)
   • Near a specific cemetery
   • Easily reachable by MARTA or major highways

Having these answers ready allows Atlanta funeral homes to quickly tell you what they can offer—and for how much.

Who Regulates Funeral Homes in Atlanta?

In Georgia, funeral homes and funeral directors are licensed and overseen at the state level.

Key agencies:

• Georgia Board of Funeral Service
  237 Coliseum Drive
  Macon, GA 31217
  Phone: (404) 424-9966

  This board licenses funeral homes and funeral directors statewide. You can:

  • Verify if a funeral home or director is properly licensed
  • File complaints about conduct or services

• Georgia Secretary of State – Professional Licensing Boards Division
  Also operates out of the Coliseum Drive address in Macon and manages licensing records.

In Atlanta itself, funeral homes must also comply with City of Atlanta business licensing, zoning, building codes, and health/sanitation rules.

When considering a funeral home in the Atlanta area, it’s reasonable to ask:
“Is your funeral home and director currently licensed in Georgia?”

Common Types of Services Offered by Atlanta Funeral Homes

Most Atlanta funeral homes offer similar core services, but how they package and price them can vary.

1. Traditional Funeral with Burial

Typically includes:

• Transfer of the deceased to the funeral home
• Embalming (if chosen or required for public viewing)
• Dressing and casketing
• Visitation or viewing (often 1–2 days)
• Funeral service (at the funeral home chapel or a local church)
• Hearse and lead car to the cemetery
• Coordination with a cemetery, like:
  • Westview Cemetery (Southwest Atlanta)
  • South-View Cemetery (historic African American cemetery)
  • Arlington Memorial Park in nearby Sandy Springs
  • City or county cemeteries in surrounding areas

This is usually the most expensive option, due to staff time, vehicles, and facilities.

2. Cremation with Memorial Service

Atlanta funeral homes may offer:

• Direct cremation (no service, minimal ceremony)
• Cremation with:
  • Memorial service at the funeral home
  • Service at a church or event venue (some families use community centers or private event spaces)
  • Scattering of ashes later, sometimes at a meaningful location (subject to property and city rules)

Many Atlantans choose cremation for cost reasons and flexibility in scheduling a memorial.

3. Immediate Burial or Direct Cremation (No Ceremony)

This is the simplest form of disposition:

• Immediate burial: Body is buried shortly after death without a formal service at the funeral home.
• Direct cremation: Cremation occurs soon after death, and the family receives the ashes.

Families often choose this when:

• The deceased requested something very simple
• Relatives live out of state and plan a later gathering
• Budget is a major constraint

4. Culturally or Religiously Specific Services

Atlanta is religiously and culturally diverse. Many funeral homes are experienced with:

• Black/African American church traditions, including extended viewings, musical programs, and homegoing services
• Jewish funerals, often favoring simple caskets, quick burial, and burial in specific sections or cemeteries
• Muslim funerals, which may require:
  • Prompt burial
  • Ritual washing (ghusl) and shrouding (kafan)
  • Burial facing Mecca
• Hindu, Buddhist, or other Asian traditions, often involving specific rituals before cremation
• Services with Caribbean, African, or Latin American customs

If your family has particular customs, ask early:
“Do you have experience with [our tradition] funerals in Atlanta, and what accommodations can you provide?”

What to Look for When Choosing a Funeral Home in Atlanta

1. Location and Accessibility

In a metro area like Atlanta, location and traffic matter.

Consider:

• Proximity to:
  • Your home (e.g., East Atlanta, College Park, Sandy Springs)
  • Place of worship
  • Cemetery or crematory
• Ease of access from:
  • Major highways (I‑20, I‑75/85, I‑285, GA‑400)
  • MARTA bus or rail lines for relatives who don’t drive

If you expect many elderly attendees, ask about parking, wheelchair access, and elevator availability.

2. Licensing and Professionalism

You can:

• Call the Georgia Board of Funeral Service to confirm licensing
• Ask the funeral home:
  • Who will be the licensed funeral director responsible for your arrangements?
  • How long they have been operating in the Atlanta area?

During initial calls, notice:

• Are staff patient, clear, and respectful?
• Do they answer pricing questions directly?
• Are they willing to email or print an itemized price list?

3. Transparent Pricing

Georgia funeral homes are expected to provide clear, itemized price lists upon request.

You can ask:

• “Can you provide your General Price List and any package options?”
• “What is the total you estimate for the arrangements I’ve described, including:
  • Basic services fee
  • Preparation of the body
  • Facilities and staff
  • Transportation
  • Cremation or burial charges
  • Cash advances (e.g., death certificates, clergy honoraria, musicians)?”

Be sure you understand:

• What is included in any package
• What is not included (e.g., cemetery plot, vault, obituary fees, flowers)

Quick Comparison: Common Atlanta Funeral Options

*Relative cost is general and varies by funeral home and specific choices.

Understanding Atlanta-Area Cemeteries and Burial Options

Funeral homes usually coordinate directly with cemeteries, but you may want to know the basics:

• Historic and urban cemeteries
  Some families choose older sites like Oakland Cemetery for historical or aesthetic reasons, though space and availability may be limited or regulated.

• Suburban cemeteries
  Many full-service cemeteries are in surrounding areas of Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties with more space and different pricing options.

• Religious cemeteries or sections
  Certain faith communities maintain their own sections or cemeteries in and around Atlanta, coordinated through local synagogues, churches, or mosques.

Ask your funeral home:

• Which cemeteries they commonly work with
• Approximate burial costs there (plots, opening/closing fees, vault requirements)
• Whether pre‑purchased plots can be used

How Cremation Works in Atlanta

Cremation is widely available through Atlanta funeral homes and stand‑alone cremation providers.

Key points:

• Authorization: A legal next of kin (spouse, adult children, etc.) must sign cremation authorization forms.
• Timing: There may be a waiting period and additional paperwork before cremation proceeds.
• Location: Some funeral homes in Atlanta have an on‑site crematory; others contract with an off‑site crematory.
• Ashes (cremated remains):
  • Can be placed in an urn at home
  • Buried in a cemetery plot
  • Stored in a columbarium (above-ground niche)
  • Scattered, subject to local rules and property permissions

If you prefer cremation, ask:
“Do you have your own crematory, or do you work with another facility? Can I know where the cremation will occur?”

Legal and Paperwork Steps in Georgia

Funeral homes in Atlanta typically handle most paperwork, but it helps to know the basics.

Death Certificates

• In Georgia, death certificates are issued through county vital records offices.
• For Atlanta deaths, this is commonly:
  • Fulton County Board of Health – Office of Vital Records
    10 Park Place South SE, 3rd Floor
    Atlanta, GA 30303
    Phone: (404) 613-1260

Funeral homes usually:

• Complete the initial documentation
• Obtain medical certification from the attending physician or coroner
• Order official, certified copies on your behalf (there is a per-copy fee)

Ask how many copies they recommend; families often need them for:

• Life insurance claims
• Bank and financial accounts
• Property and vehicle title transfers
• Pension or benefits claims

Permits and Transportation

The funeral home generally:

• Files necessary permits with local authorities
• Arranges transport within the Atlanta metro area and, if needed, to other states or countries
• Coordinates with county medical examiner or coroner if the death was unexpected or requires investigation

If your loved one died outside Atlanta and needs to be brought into the city, ask the funeral home:
“Can you help with transport from [city/state] to Atlanta, and what are those costs?”

Costs and Payment Options in Atlanta

Funeral costs in Atlanta vary by:

• Type of service (full traditional vs. simple cremation)
• Choice of casket or urn
• Cemetery fees
• Location and facilities

Most funeral homes in the city accept:

• Major credit cards
• Cashier’s checks or personal checks
• Life insurance assignments (in some cases)
• Pre‑need funeral plans, if already in place

Tips:

• Be upfront: “We need to keep total costs around [amount]. What are our realistic options?”
• Ask about lower-cost packages, especially if you are looking for cremation or immediate burial.
• Clarify payment timelines—some services must be paid in full before the funeral.

Pre‑Planning a Funeral in Atlanta

Many Atlanta residents consider pre‑planning to reduce the burden on family members later.

Pre‑planning can include:

• Documenting wishes (burial vs. cremation, type of service, music, readings)
• Choosing a specific Atlanta funeral home
• Selecting a cemetery and, in some cases, pre‑purchasing plots
• Setting aside funds or purchasing pre‑need funeral insurance or contracts

If you live in Atlanta and wish to pre‑plan:

• Meet with one or more funeral homes in person
• Take a trusted relative or friend
• Get all costs and terms in writing
• Confirm what happens if:
  • You move away from Atlanta
  • The funeral home changes ownership or closes

What To Do Immediately When a Death Occurs in Atlanta

If someone dies in or around Atlanta, what you do first depends on the situation:

1. Death in a hospital or hospice
   • Staff typically handle initial pronouncement and may ask which funeral home to call.
2. Death at home under hospice care
   • Call the hospice agency; they will guide you and contact the funeral home once you choose one.
3. Unexpected death at home or in public
   • Call 911.
   • Police and emergency responders will coordinate with the county medical examiner or coroner as needed.
   • After that process, you choose a funeral home to receive the body.

You do not have to decide on a funeral home immediately if you are unsure. You can:

• Ask where the body will be taken temporarily
• Take a few hours (or more) to call Atlanta funeral homes
• Make a decision once you have some basic cost and service information

Helpful Local Contacts

These resources may assist with practical questions related to death and funerals in Atlanta:

• Fulton County Board of Health – Vital Records
  10 Park Place South SE, 3rd Floor
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Phone: (404) 613-1260

• Georgia Board of Funeral Service
  237 Coliseum Drive
  Macon, GA 31217
  Phone: (404) 424-9966

• City of Atlanta (for general city information and services)
  City Hall – 55 Trinity Avenue SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main Information Line: (404) 330-6000

These offices do not provide funeral services themselves, but they oversee or connect to the systems that funeral homes must follow.

Choosing a funeral home in Atlanta comes down to matching your family’s needs and values with a provider that is licensed, transparent about costs, and respectful of your traditions. Take your time to ask direct questions, request itemized pricing, and select a funeral home that feels both competent and compassionate.