July 23, 2026
Published by 
Foresight on July 23, 2026
Foresight on July 23, 2026Written by the lawyers of WRW Legal, PLLC: Wendy Russell Wiener, Lauren Pettine and Hank Thompson. Unclaimed cremated remains: a problem for so many funeral homes and crematories. I would be surprised if even a handful of my clients did not have a storage closet containing unclaimed cremated remains. Those unclaimed cremated remains are often the result of inaction by a former owner of the funeral home or crematory. Buyers, however, have caught on to the sticky problem of unclaimed cremated remains and will often stall a transaction while the cremated remains are handled. We’ve even seen a transaction fall apart because of the inability of the Seller to address the dozens of unclaimed cremated remains on hand. The problem of unclaimed cremated remains is not unavoidable. In fact, there is a law or rule in nearly every state which […]
July 23, 2026
Published by Foresight on July 23, 2026
Foresight on July 23, 2026Written by Jen Graziano, Attorney/Licensed Funeral Director/Owner It can be argued that the funeral industry is the last bastion of humanity. Of the many great conundrums in our field is it’s inability to be swallowed up by AI. While the rapidly growing “funeral-tech” industry has eagerly taken up space in our unchartered waters, AI may have found its first glass ceiling in our realm. Tech disruption is real but how much can they truly disrupt? While the latest tech can assist us in writing obituaries, scheduling appointments, and general administrative tasks, it can not replace the one facet of funeral service that has long set us apart…the human factor. The funeral industry’s reliance on human capital can not be replaced by artificial intelligence. When a trembling, choked up voice makes the dreaded call to a funeral home, they need the […]
June 25, 2026
Published by Foresight on June 25, 2026
Foresight on June 25, 2026Written by the lawyers of WRW Legal, PLLC: Wendy Russell Wiener, Lauren Pettine and Hank Thompson. Our clients’ favorite advice to receive from us is: do nothing. It is advice we give with some regularity when circumstances call for it. But, more often our advice is to take action. I can think of no better action to highlight here than the action related to decedent identification. Throughout the summer each year I travel from convention to convention, trade show to tradeshow usually speaking on how funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories can avoid liability – both regulatorily and civilly. My advice is always the same. The single most effective way to avoid all kinds of liability is the easiest and it’s FREE! It’s simply to slow down. I have coined the phrase “the Wendy 30” which is your reminder that everyone […]
June 11, 2026
Published by Foresight on June 11, 2026
Foresight on June 11, 20262026 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study Insights Summary DOWNLOAD NOW The future funeral consumer continues to evolve. Are you evolving with them? Every year, consumer expectations evolve. New technologies emerge. Preferences shift. And the businesses that thrive are the ones that understand where families are headed before they arrive at the front door. That is why we created the Funeral & Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study. Now in its seventh year, the 2026 FCCBS provides one of the most comprehensive looks at the attitudes, expectations, and behaviors shaping the future of our profession. Drawing insights from more than 5,000 consumers and 1,000 funeral and cemetery professionals, this year’s study highlights the opportunities and challenges that every owner, manager, and leader should understand. Inside the report, you’ll discover: How consumer expectations continue to evolve What families expect from funeral homes […]
May 28, 2026
Published by Foresight on May 28, 2026
Foresight on May 28, 2026Written by Jen Graziano, Attorney/Licensed Funeral Director/Owner Every funeral director holds in their possession an arsenal of war stories from the field. From the unique situations we encounter with families, the memorable characters we deal with and the far fetched “asks” we sometimes hear, we see more than most, for sure. I, personally had a recent encounter that left quite an impression, worthy of sharing with my fellow colleagues in my opinion. The story, I hope, will remind us of our role as funeral directors. We are here to literally and figuratively hold the hands of our client families, and how well we do that makes all the difference. I recently had the privilege of meeting with an elderly gentleman, coming to the funeral home to discuss his own arrangements. The purpose of the meeting is one we’ve all heard […]