Battle Creek Funeral Home Ordered Closed By State Of Michigan

A long running funeral home in Battle Creek has been shut down by the state of Michigan, for several reported problems.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ordered the Royal Funeral Home on Thursday to cease operations by May 28; LARA says that the funeral home on Upton Ave. committed numerous violations, including the failure to deposit at least $269,000 with an authorized escrow agent, failure to maintain copies of prepaid funeral contracts, fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in the practice of mortuary science, and Incompetence in the practice of mortuary science.

The exact details of the alleged wrongdoing were not disclosed.

As a result, they suspended the registration and licenses of Royal Funeral Home and its manager, Richard Royal. The home now has 60 days to either assign their prepaid contracts to another person who is properly registered, or to cancel their contracts and refund their customers.

Royal Funeral Home was founded in 1936, and has seen three generations of the Royal family managing and owning the facility.