QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

EXHIBIT 12

CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(unaudited and in thousands)

		1999		2000			2001		2002		2003
Fixed charges:
	Interest expense	$	17,116	$	19,679		$	19,450	$	18,308	$	16,857
	Amortization of capitalized expenses related to debt		242		1,026			894		1,442		954
	Rental expense factor		876		1,606			1,516		1,529		1,221

Total fixed charges before capitalized interest and preferred stock dividends			18,234		22,311			21,860		21,279		19,032
Capitalized interest			686		770			298		184		131

	Total fixed charges		18,920		23,081			22,158		21,463		19,163
Preferred stock dividends			167		88			46		—		—

	Total fixed charges plus preferred dividends	$	19,087	$	23,169		$	22,204	$	21,463	$	19,163

Earnings (loss) available for fixed charges:
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	19,361	$	(101,035	)	$	11,253	$	12,162	$	10,599
Add fixed charges before capitalized interest and preferred stock dividends			18,234		22,311			21,860		21,279		19,032

Total earnings (loss) available for fixed charges		$	37,595	$	(78,724	)	$	33,113	$	33,441	$	29,331

Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges(1)			1.99		(3.41	)		1.49		1.56		1.53

Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges plus dividends(1)			1.97		(3.40	)		1.49		1.56		1.53

(1): For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges plus dividends: (i) earnings consist of income before provision for income taxes plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest) and (ii) "fixed charges" consist of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt discount and expense relating to indebtedness and the portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor attributable to leases for rental property. There were no dividends paid or accrued on the Company's Common Stock during the periods presented above.

* Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The coverage deficiency was $101,893 for 2000.