Glossary
What is at-need?
At-need refers to funeral arrangements made at the time of death, when a family plans and pays for services right after a loved one dies. It is the counterpart to preneed, or pre-planning, which is arranging and often paying in advance.
At-need decisions are made under time pressure and grief, which is why comparing itemized prices matters — you still have the same rights under the FTC Funeral Rule to an itemized list and to decline packages.
Pre-planning ahead of time can ease this burden, but at-need remains the most common way funerals are arranged.
Related terms
Preneed
Preneed, or pre-need, refers to arranging and often paying for funeral or cremation services in advance, before death. A preneed plan lets a person choose their arrangements ahead of time and can lock in or set aside funds to cover the cost.
General Price List
A General Price List, or GPL, is the itemized list of prices a funeral home must provide under the FTC Funeral Rule. It lets you see the cost of each good and service separately so you can compare providers and choose only what you want.
Final expense insurance
Final expense insurance is a small whole-life insurance policy, usually $5,000 to $25,000, designed to cover funeral, burial or cremation, and final bills. It pays a cash benefit to a named beneficiary and is also called burial or funeral insurance.
Common questions about At-need
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.