Then what do you do with it? You have to find a funeral home who will allow you to use your own coffin purchased elsewhere.
Here is where pre-planning factors in. NOT pre-paying, as that can bite you in the butt as we found out with grandma-in-law, but pre-planning you get to ask all these questions. For example, does this funeral allow the family to provide it’s own casket or do we HAVE to select from the ones you offer? Some states may have laws in place, and it’s best to look into that stuff a head of time. Some funeral homes may have policy different from what the state law allows. Ask many questions.
Like embalming for example. In NY we don’t have to have that done, unless it is going to be a public viewing. If it is a small family only viewing, no embalming required. Many states are that way. This saves us about $900. Our family is tiny, and Pop only has a few friends, so we won’t have a viewing at all except that a couple of family members may take a moment to “visit” once Pop is casket-ed. That saves over $1000. of charges for a tiny family viewing. I opted out of the limo ride for Pop, and he will go in the SUV “lead car” instead. Saved $300. on that.
Like I said, nitty-gritty. But it will be nice, it will be dignified and have a graveside service with clergy, and it will be paid for in full. My father never thought a minute to provide for his own final expenses, so it falls on me.