Care for families on their hardest day.
Professional liability for handling remains, property and chapel cover, equipment breakdown for retorts and cooling, hearse and limousine auto, general liability and workers' comp.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Remains, records and processions
Funeral home claims are often about emotional harm rather than injury: a body released to the wrong family, a mix-up in cremation, an embalming error, or a delayed service. These are professional claims, and general liability alone usually won't respond.
Then there's the physical side: a chapel full of visitors, a crematory retort that can't fail, cooling units, and vehicles that lead processions on public roads. The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau licenses funeral establishments, directors, embalmers and crematories in California, and I ask for those license numbers up front.
- Professional liabilityMishandling of remains and service errors.
- PropertyChapel, caskets in stock and furnishings.
- Equipment breakdownRetorts, cooling and HVAC.
- Commercial autoHearses, limousines and removal vans.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Location: address, chapel size and on-site crematory.
- Licenses: establishment, director, embalmer and crematory numbers.
- Services: yearly calls, cremations and embalmings.
- Vehicles: hearses, limos and removal vans with drivers.
- Procedures: how you track identity from intake to release.
- History: current policies and any complaints or claims.
Funeral home insurance, answered
Does general liability cover a cremation mix-up?
Usually not. That's a professional claim. Funeral directors' professional liability is written to respond to mishandling of remains, subject to the policy terms.
Do I need separate cover for the crematory?
The retort needs to be listed for property and equipment breakdown, and some insurers rate crematory operations separately. Tell me if you cremate for other funeral homes.
Are family members riding in my limo covered?
Passengers in your vehicles are a commercial auto question. Livery-style use needs to be disclosed so the auto policy fits.
What about employees handling preneed money?
A crime policy or fidelity bond can cover employee theft of funds, subject to its terms. It's separate from the trust rules the state sets.
Do you offer funeral home insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 48 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida and Washington, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Insure the home and the care
Send me your location, licenses, yearly calls and vehicles. I'll quote it with insurers that write funeral service.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
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(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
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