All articles about Wisconsin Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide.
Wisconsin funeral directors are licensed professionals running a business. Their legal guidance is filtered through a commercial interest. Here are the independent alternatives that give you the full picture.
Wisconsin funeral costs range from $2,866 for direct cremation to $8,280+ for a traditional funeral. Here's what drives the price and how to pay less.
Wisconsin law explicitly permits families to prepare and conduct final disposition without hiring a funeral director. The best guide walks you through the exact bureaucratic sequence — permits, deadlines, and filing requirements.
Choosing the wrong funeral trust type in Wisconsin costs up to $10,500 in lost asset protection. The best guide for Medicaid spend-down families explains the $4,500 bank trust cap vs. $15,000 insurance trust exemption.
Wisconsin residents can donate their body to science through medical school programs. Here's how it works, what it costs, and what families receive afterward.
Green and natural burial is legal in Wisconsin, including home burial on private property. Here's what state law says — and the local rules that actually control it.
Federal law gives Wisconsin families six enumerable consumer protections at every funeral home. You do not need an attorney to exercise them — you need the exact rights, the scripts, and the complaint procedure.
A Wisconsin irrevocable funeral trust can protect burial funds from Medicaid spend-down — but bank-funded trusts cap at $4,500. Here's the difference that matters.
Embalming is not required in Wisconsin except in two specific situations. Refrigeration is a legal alternative. Know your rights before a funeral home says otherwise.
Wisconsin law allows scattering ashes on private land, public land, and water — with some rules. The key requirement is that remains be reduced to 1/8-inch particles first.
In Wisconsin, an immediate family member can legally transport remains for a home funeral. Here's the paperwork required and what the law actually allows.
Alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation) and human composting are not legal in Wisconsin as of 2026. Here's the current status and what families can do instead.
The immediate steps after a death in Wisconsin: who to call, death certificate filing deadlines, cremation waiting periods, and how to settle a small estate.
In Wisconsin, a Healthcare POA dies when you do. The Authorization for Final Disposition (Form F-00086) is the only document that legally controls your funeral arrangements.
Wisconsin funeral homes cannot refuse third-party caskets or charge handling fees. Know your FTC Funeral Rule rights before making any casket purchase decision.
What Wisconsin law says about cemetery plot ownership, burial rights, multiple interments, and your rights as a plot owner or heir dealing with cemetery disputes.
Real cremation cost data for Wisconsin, including direct cremation, county medical examiner fees, and affordable options — compared to full funeral pricing.
Wisconsin requires a 48-hour waiting period and county cremation permit before any cremation. Here's what families need to know about cremation laws and authorization.
How to get a Wisconsin death certificate, what it costs ($20 first copy, $3 each after), who files it, and how many copies to order after a death.
Wisconsin funeral statutes are scattered across six chapters on three different state websites. Free does not mean fast, clear, or actionable — especially when you are making decisions under time pressure.
Wisconsin funeral consumers have strong federal and state protections. Understand your rights to itemized pricing, third-party caskets, and how to file a complaint.
If a Wisconsin funeral home misled you on pricing or disrespected your family, file with the DSPS Funeral Directors Examining Board. Here's exactly how the process works.
A Wisconsin elder law attorney charges $300+/hour. For most families navigating funeral rights, FTC protections, and Medicaid burial trusts, a state-specific guide handles 80% of the work — and costs less than 10 minutes of attorney time.
Wisconsin law permits family-directed home funerals. Here's the exact legal process: body preparation, death certificate filing, transport, and burial or cremation.
Can a Wisconsin surviving spouse be held responsible for a deceased spouse's funeral costs? The Marital Property Act and Doctrine of Necessaries explained.
Understand Wisconsin's preneed funeral contract rules, irrevocable trust protections, refund rights, and Medicaid burial trust limits before you sign anything.
Wisconsin probate fees are 0.2% of estate value over $10,000. Estates under $50,000 can skip court entirely with a Transfer by Affidavit. Here's how the costs break down.
When the Wisconsin Transfer by Affidavit doesn't apply, Summary Settlement and Summary Assignment offer a faster probate alternative. Here's how each works.
How to transfer a vehicle title after death in Wisconsin, including Form MV2300, the $50,000 estate threshold, surviving spouse exemptions, and current DMV fees.