Funeral Establishments

Branch Establishment is a place of business situated at a specific street address or location which is a subsidiary of a licensed funeral establishment, which contains a casket display room, a viewing area, or an area for conducting funeral services, or all of them, and where any portion of the funeral service or arrangements for the disposition of a dead human body is conducted.

Funeral Establishment is a place of business situated at a specific street address or location devoted to the care and preparation of dead human bodies for burial, disposition, or cremation or to conducting or arranging funeral services for dead human bodies.

For Funeral Directing and Embalming information, click here.

purple bar

purple bar

Requirements for Licensure

Any person who operates a funeral establishment or branch establishment must obtain an establishment license prior to opening. All materials shall be submitted to:

Licensure Unit
Funeral Establishments
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986.

Initial Funeral Establishment

License Requirements: To qualify for a license you, must:

  1. Employ as its manager a licensed funeral director and embalmer who is responsible for all transactions conducted in the funeral establishment, (exception: any person holding a valid license as only a funeral director), may serve as a manager of a funeral establishment; and
  2. Pass an on-site inspection.

Application Process: Submit to the Department:

  1. pdf icon Application
  2. Fee: $25.00

Initial Branch Establishment

License Requirements: To qualify for a license you, must:

  1. Be a subsidiary of a licensed funeral establishment;
  2. Employ as its manager a licensed funeral director and embalmer who is responsible for all transactions conducted in the branch establishment, (exception: any person holding a valid license as only a funeral director), may serve as a manager of a branch establishment; and
  3. Pass an on-site inspection.

Application Process: Submit to the Department:

  1. pdf icon Application
  2. Fee: $20.00

Upon receipt of a completed initial funeral or branch establishment application, an inspector will contact you within 30 days. The inspector will then schedule an inspection date. An establishment can not operate until it receives a satisfactory rating on the inspection and the license is issued.

Change in location of a Funeral or Branch Establishment

Change Location Requirements: To change the location, you must:

  1. Employ as its manager a licensed funeral director and embalmer who is responsible for all transactions conducted in the establishment, (exception: any person holding a valid license as only a funeral director), may serve as a manager of a establishment; and
  2. Make application at least 30 days prior to the designated date of such change in location.

Application Process: Submit to the Department:

  1. pdf icon Application
  2. Fee: $25.00 - Branch: $20.00

Change in Manager of a Funeral or Branch Establishment

Change Manager Requirements: To change the manager you must:

  1. Employ as its manager a licensed funeral director and embalmer who is responsible for all transactions conducted in the establishment, (exception: any person holding a valid license as only a funeral director), may serve as a manager of a establishment; and
  2. Make application at least 15 days prior to the designated date of such change, except that in the case of death of a manager, the application shall be made immediately following such death.

Application Process: Submit to the Department:

  1. pdf icon Application
  2. Fee: $10.00 - Branch: $10.00

Change in Name of a Funeral or Branch Establishment

Change Name Requirements: To change the name you must:

  1. Employ as its manager a licensed funeral director and embalmer who is responsible for all transactions conducted in the establishment, (exception: any person holding a valid license as only a funeral director), may serve as a manager of a establishment.

Application Process: Submit to the Department:

  1. pdf icon Application
  2. Fee: $10.00 - Branch: $10.00

No license shall be issued by the department until the original license has been turned into the Department.

Top of Page

purple bar

Fees

pdf icon Fee Schedule

Top of Page

purple bar

These forms may be completed online; however, they cannot be submitted via e-mail due to the fact that all applications and forms require original signatures. If you complete the form online, you must print the form and mail it to the address below.

Fees (if applicable) are payable to the "Licensure Unit."

Licensure Unit
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

pdf icon Amended Establishment Application

  • Manager Change
  • Name Change
  • Location Change

pdf icon Duplicates/Reissue
pdf icon Establishment Application
pdf icon Listing/Labels Request form and the pdf iconPrice Listing Information

Top of Page

purple bar

Renewal

Expiration Date: All funeral directing and embalming licenses expire 2/1 of each even-numbered year.

Renewal Process: Notice of renewal is sent to each licensee approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date. It is important that your address is current with our office in order to assure delivery of the renewal notice. To renew a license, you must:

  1. Funeral establishment: Pay the renewal fee of $250.00;
  2. Branch establishment: Pay the renewal fee of $75.00.

Revocation: Renewals not postmarked or received by 2/1 will be sent a notice of revocation.

Additional Information: Click pdf iconhere to find additional information relating to the renewal, revocation and reinstatement process.

Top of Page

purple bar

Inspection Criteria

Click here to see informaion relating to inspections.

Top of Page

purple bar

Grounds for Denial of a License and Disciplining a License

A complete listing of grounds for denial or discipline can be found in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-178 of the pdf iconUniform Credentialing Act.

In addition to the acts or offenses specified in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-178 and 38-179 the department shall deny an application for a license as a funeral establishment or branch establishment, revoke or suspend a license, or refuse renewal of such a license on any of the following grounds:

  1. Conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude;
  2. Obtaining a license as a funeral establishment or a branch establishment by false representation or fraud;
  3. Operating a funeral establishment or branch establishment without a manager responsible for the operations of the establishment;
  4. A conviction of a violation of any of the provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§  38-178, 38-179, 38-1402 to 38-1418;
  5. Unprofessional conduct, which is hereby defined to include (i) misrepresentation or fraud in the conduct of a funeral establishment or branch establishment or (ii) aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice funeral directing and embalming; or
  6. Violation of the rules and regulations governing the practice of funeral directing and embalming.

    Top of Page

purple bar

Rules and Regulations/Statutes

pdf iconRegulations Relating To Funeral Directing and Embalming - 172 NAC 67
pdf iconRegulations Relating to Branch Establishments and Funeral Establishments - 172 NAC 68
pdf icon Statutes relating to Cemeteries
pdf icon Statutes relating to Human Skeletal Remains or Burial Goods; Prohibited Acts; Penalty
pdf iconStatutes relating to Pre-Need Burial Sale Act
pdf iconStatutes relating to State Anatomical Board, Disposal of Dead Bodies, and Anatomical Gifts
pdf iconStatutes Pertaining To a Funeral Directing and Embalming and Crematories
pdf iconStatutes relating to Vital Statistics Statutory Provisions

Top of Page

purple bar

Practice Issues

To view practice issues relating to the following topics, click pdf iconhere.

  • Control of Remains
  • Price List
  • Auxillary Personnel
  • Transporting Bodies
  • Bodies Dead of Communicable Diseases
  • Final Disposal of Dead Human Bodies

    Top of Page

purple bar

Licensee Assistance Program

The Licensee Assistance Program (LAP) is an assessment, education, referral, case management, and monitoring service designed to help licensees, certificate holders, and registrants of the State of Nebraska work through substance abuse/addiction problems.

The LAP services are free. However, in some cases treatment from a community resource agency may be needed. If further assistance is needed, the LAP Coordinator will help refer the Licensee to the most appropriate agency. When a treatment referral is made, those expenses become the responsibility of the Licensee.

LAP telephone number: (800) 851-2336 or (402) 354-8055, Web address: www.lapne.org

Top of Page

purple bar

Board Information

The Board of Funeral Directing and Embalming advises the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure on all issues related to the regulation of funeral directing and embalming. Board member composition and length of terms follows:

Membership: 3 members holding a funeral director and embalmer license
1 Public Member
Length of Term:; 5 years, no more than 2 consecutive full 5-year terms
Professional Requirements: Been actively engaged in practice of his/her profession in the State of Nebraska, under a license issued in this state, for a period of 5 years just preceding his/her appointment
Public Member:
  1. Be a resident of this state who has attained the age of majority.
  2. Represent the interests and viewpoints of consumers.
  3. Not be a present or former member of a credentialed profession, an employee of a member of a credentialed profession, or an immediate family or household member of any person presently regulated by such board.

The Board of Funeral Directing and Embalming meets 2 to 4 times per year - see Board meeting Schedule for meeting dates and times. Meetings are open to the public, with the exception of investigational matters. Minutes of meetings are available by contacting Rita Watson (402) 471-2117 or by e-mail at rita.watson@nebraska.gov.

Top of Page

purple bar

Contact Us

Office Address:

Mailing Address Physical Address
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health
Licensure Unit
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986		 Nebraska State Office Building
301 Centennial Mall South
14th and M Streets
3rd Floor
Lincoln, Nebraska

Phone: (402) 471-2115
Fax: (402) 471-3577

Office Hours:

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (central time)
Monday through Friday

Nebraska Licensure Information

Rita Watson
Phone: (402) 471-2117
Fax: (402) 471-3577
E-Mail: rita.watson@nebraska.gov

Kris Chiles, Section Administrator
Phone: (402) 471-2117
Fax: (402) 471-3577
e-mail: kris.chiles@nebraska.gov

Top of Page

purple bar

Other Related Contacts

Department of Insurance / Pre-need Insurance
The Terminal Building
941 O Street, Suite 400
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-2201
www.doi.ne.gov/

Licensee Assistance Program
Center Point Professional Plz
9239 West Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124
Phone: (402) 354-8055
Toll Free: (800) 851-2336
www.lapne.org

Nebraska Cemetery Association
Mike Hutchinson
Wyuka Cemetery and Funeral Home
3600 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68510Phone: (402) 474-360

Nebraska Funeral Directing Association
6000 S. 58th Street, Suite B
Lincoln, NE 68516
Phone: (402) 423-8900

State Anatomical Board
42 nd and Dewey
Omaha, NE
Phone: (402) 559-6249

Vital Records
Finance and Support
State Office Building
Lincoln’s Gold’s Galleria, 1st floor 
1033 "O"  Street,  Suite 130 (11th & N Streets)
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-2871
www.dhhs.ne.gov/vital_records.htm

Finance and Support
State Office Building
Lincoln’s Gold’s Galleria, 1st floor 
1033 "O"  Street,  Suite 130 (11th & N Streets)
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-2871

Top of Page

purple bar

Duplicates/Reissue

 

Duplicates: A duplicate large license or small license card may be requested at the time of initial licensure. A $10.00 fee per document is required.

Reissue: A large license and/or small license card may be reissued when the licensee requests: additional documents; replacement of original document(s) due to loss, mutilation or destruction; or replacement of document(s) due to a name change.

To request a reissued license, you must submit a pdf iconrequest for reissuance and include a fee in the amount of $10.00 per document. Submit said request to:

Licensure Unit
Funeral Establishments
PO Box 94986
Lincoln NE 68509-4986

Top of Page

purple bar

Certifications/Verifications

To request either a certification or verification or your license, contact Rita Watson at (402) 471-2117.

Certification

  1. Fee - $25.00
  2. Certification includes:

    1. Name
    2. Profession
    3. License number
    4. Issuance date
    5. Expiration date
    6. Whether the license was granted by examination, waiver, or reciprocity
    7. When requested, the grades acquired by the subject for issuance of a license
    8. Whether disciplinary action has been taken against the license. If so, the type(s) and date(s) of the action will be included.
    9. SEAL of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services

Verification

  1. Fee - $5.00
  2. Verification includes:
    1. Name
    2. Profession
    3. License Number
    4. Expiration Date
    5. Department Staff Signature

A verification does not include the SEAL of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services nor information relating to discipline, school, or examination.

This information can also be obtained by checking the website at: www.dhhs.ne.gov/lis/lisindex.htm

Top of Page

purple bar

Listings and Labels

You may purchase listings/labels and diskettes of health related occupations and professions by the following methods:

  1. Print the listing/labels pdf iconrequest form and the pdf iconprice listing information, mail completed form with fee to the address listed at the top of the form; or
  2. Contact Carla Hartl at carla.hartl@nebraska.gov or by telephone at (402) 471-2115.

Top of Page

purple bar

Complaints

 

How do I file a complaint? To file a complaint, see the Investigations Division web site: www.dhhs.ne.gov/reg/investi.htm

To file a complaint, see the Investigations Division web site:

How is a complaint reviewed, and what is the disciplinary process? The following provides information relating to the complaint, investigative, and disciplinary process.

Top of Page

purple bar

Documents in PDF format require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc.  Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Mental Health and Consumer Services Page

Facilities Page

Licensure Unit Page