The aftermath of a loved one’s death is a traumatic time for you and your family. In between medical discussions, family notifications, and handling the estate, is the question of the funeral. Your loved one may or may not have let it be known their preferred burial method. However, regardless of their preference, planning a funeral is a large undertaking that takes an emotional toll on you and your family. This time period can be made even more traumatic if you experience any accidents or misunderstandings with the funeral home you are using.

Funeral Home Negligence

Funeral home negligence can include the following:

• Funeral misidentification
• Funeral theft
• Improper graveside care
• Wrongful cremation

Any one of these could have a devastating impact on the family of the deceased.

Funeral misidentification unfortunately happens more often than many of us think. The impact of discovering your loved one was switched with another person at the funeral home can prove devastating and will often have a longlasting impact on you and your family. A funeral is a time to say goodbye to your loved one, and should not be spent negotiating with the funeral home. Many family members travel long distances to make the funeral, and the discovery of funeral misidentification could lead to delayed travel and a new date for a ceremony. All of this are things that the family of the deceased should not have to worry about during their period of mourning.

Some of the most devastating forms of funeral negligence occur from funeral home neglect leading to funeral theft. The improper staffing of security at a funeral home could have detrimental results on many gravesites in the cemetery. While grave robbery may sound to be a thing of the past, it occurs on a daily basis throughout the country. The funeral home is responsible for appropriately staffing the cemetery with security guards and other personnel to ward off any instances of theft, and the failure to do so could result in liability for vandalism or theft.

Funeral homes are in charge of maintaining appropriate graveside care. The failure to upkeep the cemetery and gravesites could lead to overgrown gravesites and eventual funeral theft due to the lack of supervision. It is important to bring any improper graveside care to the funeral homes’ attention as soon as possible.

The worst possible instance of funeral home negligence occurs when a loved one is wrongfully cremated. Many families have discussed their wishes for their body after death, and the family tries to honor these wishes as best as they can. When the funeral home has a mix up and improperly cremates a deceased whose wishes were to be buried, it seems like there is no way to make up this mistake. The family has paid for a plot of land where they can visit their loved one on a daily basis if needed. The wrongful cremation has robbed them of this special place in their hearts, and the funeral home should be held responsible for this mistake.

Malley Law Firm | Houston Funeral Home Negligence Attorney

If you or your family have experienced negligent behavior while planning the funeral of a loved one, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling funeral negligence cases, and knows how devastating a mistake can be during this already traumatic time. Contact our Beaumont or Houston offices today for your initial free consultation.