1. Introduction

At Good Send Off, we recognize the deep trust you place in us when sharing or relying on content about funerals, obituaries, and memorials. Our Editorial & Review Standards ensure that every piece of information from directory listings to user-submitted reviews meets rigorous quality, integrity, and sensitivity criteria.

These standards guide how we verify, moderate, and present content, so you can use Good Send Off confidently whether you’re planning a farewell, browsing funeral homes, or reading about someone’s life.

2. Core Principles (Our Ethical Foundation)

We operate based on these fundamental values:

  • Accuracy & Verification — We check facts, credentials, and sources to ensure reliability.
  • Compassion & Respect — We treat every story, review, and obituary with empathy and dignity.
  • Transparency & Accountability — We clearly communicate how content is reviewed, moderated, and used.
  • User-Centered Trust — We allow users (families, funeral directors) to flag issues or suggest corrections.

3. Content Types & Our Standards

Here are the main types of content on Good Send Off, along with our editorial and review policies for each:

a. Funeral Home Listings

  • Entity: Funeral Home
  • Attributes Reviewed: Name, Address, Contact Info, Licensure, Services Offered
  • Verification Process:
    1. We confirm basic business data (address, phone) via public records or funeral home websites.
    2. We require at least one proof of licensure (or equivalent) for each memorial business in our directory.
    3. We periodically re-verify listings to keep them up to date.

b. Reviews & Testimonials

  • Entity: Review / Testimonial
  • Attributes: Reviewer Name, Relationship to Deceased, Rating, Text, Date
  • Review Moderation:
    1. All reviews submitted by users go through a moderation process, where we check for authenticity, relevance, and respectful tone.
    2. We reject spam, hate speech, defamatory language, or unrelated content.
    3. We encourage reviewers to share their real experience (no anonymity except as needed for privacy).
    4. We use structured data (Review, AggregateRating) so Google and other platforms can understand the review context.

c. Guides, Articles & Planning Resources

  • Entity: Article / Guide / Editorial Content
  • Attributes: Topic (e.g. Funeral Planning, Cost, Etiquette), Author, Sources, Date Published / Updated
  • Editorial Review:
    1. Our content team includes writers and editors who specialize in bereavement, funeral planning, and grief support.
    2. We cite reputable sources (industry associations, funeral professionals, academic or legal references).
    3. For complex or technical topics (e.g., cultural funeral practices), we consult with subject-matter experts to ensure accuracy.
    4. We regularly review and refresh guides to stay current on global funeral cost trends, legal changes, and cultural practices.

d. Obituaries / Memorial Pages

  • Entity: Obituary / Memorial Notice
  • Attributes: Full name, Dates (birth/death), Biography, Funeral Details, Guestbook
  • Standards for Submission:
    1. We require that obituary submissions come from a verified source (e.g., a family member or a funeral home) to prevent unauthorized or fictitious entries.
    2. We do not allow copyrighted text from other sites without proper permission.
    3. We provide a moderation process to review submitted notices for taste, respect, and factual integrity.
    4. Families may request edits or corrections; we maintain a clear correction policy and track versions of obituaries.

4. User Feedback & Correction Policy

  • Flagging Content:
    Every listing, review, and obituary page has an easy-to-use “Report” or “Flag” button. Users can flag: incorrect contact details, inappropriate language, duplicates, or outdated info.
  • Review of Flags:
    Moderators review flagged content within a set timeframe (e.g., 48–72 hours). High-urgency flags (e.g., defamation) receive priority.
  • Corrections & Updates:
    When a user-provided correction is verified, we update the content and document the change publicly (e.g., “Last updated on 2025 by Good Send Off team”).

5. Trust & Security Measures

  • We use HTTPS encryption site-wide to protect user data.
  • All sensitive user submissions (reviews, obituaries) go through manual review before publication.
  • We limit who can edit obituary or listing details only users with verified authority (e.g., family or funeral homes) can request changes.

6. Transparency in Monetization

  • We clearly label any sponsored funeral homes or promoted listings in our directory.
  • If we earn affiliate revenue (e.g., from sympathy store purchases), we disclose it in a dedicated Affiliate Disclosure section.
  • We never alter user-submitted obituary or review content for commercial advantage: editorial integrity is separate from revenue operations.

7. Privacy & Data Retention

  • Personal information submitted in obituaries or reviews is protected under our Privacy Policy
  • We retain user-submitted content (e.g., guestbook entries, reviews) for archival and trust-audit purposes, unless users request deletion.
  • We comply with global data protection laws (e.g., GDPR) for users in applicable jurisdictions.

8. Ethical & Cultural Sensitivity

Funeral practices and grief traditions differ everywhere. We commit to:

  • Respecting cultural, religious, and regional funeral customs.
  • Avoiding content that stereotypes or misrepresents traditions.
  • Inviting community input from grieving families, religious leaders, and funeral professionals to inform our guides and editorial tone.

9. Our Editorial Team

Our team that oversees content and verification includes:

  • Experienced writers in bereavement, grief, and funeral planning.
  • Funeral industry professionals (directors, embalmers, grief counselors).
  • External advisors: cultural experts, legal consultants, reputable grief-support organizations.

10. Summary / Why This Matters to You

Good Send Off’s Editorial & Review Standards reflect our commitment to being more than just a directory: we are a trusted partner to families. By upholding high quality, ethical guidelines, and transparency, we ensure that our content from directory listings to thoughtful articles truly honors lives, supports grief, and helps people make informed, compassionate decisions.