<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000912057-02-031794
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>4
<PERIOD>20020814
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20020814
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CARRIAGE SERVICES INC
<CIK>0001016281
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7200
<IRS-NUMBER>760423828
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11961
<FILM-NUMBER>02732192
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1300 POST OAK BLVD STE 1500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77056
<PHONE>2815567400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1300 POST OAK BLVD
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77056
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2086852z8-k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02HOU1603_1">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Washington, DC 20549  </B></FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="120">
<BR>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM 8-K  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>CURRENT REPORT  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B> Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August&nbsp;14, 2002 </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc.<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>(Exact name of registrant as specified in is charter)  </I></FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<DIV ALIGN="CENTER"><TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)</I></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="21%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>1-11961<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>(Commission<BR>
File Number)</I></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="23%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>76-0423828<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>1900 St. James Place, 4<SUP>th</SUP> Floor<BR>
Houston, Texas 77056<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)  </I></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's telephone number, including area code:<BR>
(713)&nbsp;332-8400 </FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="1",CHK=407881,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]BA1603A.;5',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:48' -->
<A NAME="page_ba1603_1_2"> </A>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regulation FD Disclosure  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On August&nbsp;13, 2002, each of the Principal Executive Officer, Melvin C. Payne, Chief Accounting Officer, Terry E. Sanford, and Principal Financial Officer,
W. Clark Harlow, of Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc. furnished to the Securities Exchange Commission certifications pursuant to Section&nbsp;906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18&nbsp;U.S.C.
1350). A copy of these certifications is attached hereto as an Exhibit&nbsp;99.1, 99.2 and 99.3. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>2</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=2,SEQ=2,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="1",CHK=398711,FOLIO='2',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]BA1603A.;5',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:48' -->
<A NAME="page_ba1603_1_3"> </A>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ba1603_signature"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ba1603_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURE    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="78%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>CARRIAGE SERVICES,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Date: August&nbsp;14, 2002</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>TERRY E. SANFORD</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Terry E. Sanford<BR></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><I>Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting
Officer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>3</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=3,SEQ=3,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="1",CHK=589206,FOLIO='3',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]BA1603A.;5',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:48' -->
<A NAME="page_ba1603_1_4"> </A>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ba1603_index_to_exhibits"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ba1603_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT
SIZE=2><B><U>Exhibit</U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Description</U>  </B></FONT></P>

<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>99.1</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer dated August&nbsp;13, 2002
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>99.2</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Certification
of the Principal Accounting Officer dated August&nbsp;13, 2002
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>99.3</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer dated August&nbsp;13, 2002 </FONT></DD></DL>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>4</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=4,SEQ=4,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="1",CHK=692203,FOLIO='4',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]BA1603A.;5',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:48' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02HOU1603_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ba1603_1">SIGNATURE</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ba1603_2">INDEX TO EXHIBITS</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=MTRAN,SEQ=,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="1" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2086852zex-99_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02HOU1603_2">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="kq1603_exhibit_99.1"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_kq1603_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit&nbsp;99.1    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="kq1603_certification_pursuant_to_sect__cer02832"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_kq1603_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO<BR>  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002<BR>  (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc. (the "Company") on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2002 (the "Report"), I, Melvin C. Payne, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, hereby certify that to my knowledge: </FONT></P>

<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(1)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(2)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
<BR>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="78%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Date: August&nbsp;13, 2002</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>MELVIN C. PAYNE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Melvin C. Payne,<BR></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><I>Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->


<P><FONT SIZE=2>THE
FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION IS BEING FURNISHED SOLELY PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18&nbsp;U.S.C. 1350) AND IS NOT BEING FILED AS PART OF THE
FORM&nbsp;10-Q OR AS A SEPARATE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. </FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="2",CHK=216707,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]KQ1603A.;3',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:46' -->
<BR>
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02HOU1603_2">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_kq1603_1">Exhibit 99.1</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_kq1603_2">CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)</A></FONT><BR>

<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=MTRAN,SEQ=,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="2" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>a2086852zex-99_2.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.2
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02HOU1603_3">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ks1603_exhibit_99.2"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ks1603_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit&nbsp;99.2    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ks1603_certification_pursuant_to_sect__cer02832"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ks1603_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO<BR>  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002<BR>  (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc. (the "Company") on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2002 (the "Report"), I, Terry E. Sanford, Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, hereby certify that to my knowledge: </FONT></P>

<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(3)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(4)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
<BR>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="78%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Date: August&nbsp;13, 2002</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>TERRY E. SANFORD</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Terry E. Sanford,<BR></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><I>Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting
Officer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->


<P><FONT SIZE=2>THE
FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION IS BEING FURNISHED SOLELY PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18&nbsp;U.S.C. 1350) AND IS NOT BEING FILED AS PART OF THE
FORM&nbsp;10-Q OR AS A SEPARATE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. </FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="3",CHK=132866,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]KS1603A.;4',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:49' -->
<BR>
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02HOU1603_3">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ks1603_1">Exhibit 99.2</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ks1603_2">CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)</A></FONT><BR>

<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=MTRAN,SEQ=,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="3" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.3
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>a2086852zex-99_3.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.3
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02HOU1603_4">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ku1603_exhibit_99.3"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ku1603_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit&nbsp;99.3    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ku1603_certification_pursuant_to_sect__cer02832"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ku1603_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO<BR>  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002<BR>  (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of Carriage Services,&nbsp;Inc. (the "Company") on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the period ended
June&nbsp;30, 2002 (the "Report"), I, W. Clark Harlow, Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, hereby certify that to my knowledge: </FONT></P>

<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(5)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section&nbsp;13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(6)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
<BR>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="78%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Date: August&nbsp;13, 2002</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>W. CLARK HARLOW</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> W. Clark Harlow,<BR></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><I>Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial
Officer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->


<P><FONT SIZE=2>THE
FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION IS BEING FURNISHED SOLELY PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18&nbsp;U.S.C. 1350) AND IS NOT BEING FILED AS PART OF THE
FORM&nbsp;10-Q OR AS A SEPARATE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. </FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="4",CHK=447860,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK015:[02HOU3.02HOU1603]KU1603A.;4',USER='DCUSHIN',CD='13-AUG-2002;00:50' -->
<BR>
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02HOU1603_4">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ku1603_1">Exhibit 99.3</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ku1603_2">CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)</A></FONT><BR>

<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=MTRAN,SEQ=,EFW="2086852",CP="CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.",DN="4" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
