How to Arrange a Cremation

A funeral home usually makes all the necessary phone calls, contacts the appropriate agencies and obtains permits for cremations. It is important to know, however, that you are not legally obligated to buy the services of a funeral home.

Things You'll Need

• Death Certificates
• Grave Sites
• Flowers
• Urns
• Vases
• Cremation Permits

Instructions

1. Contact a funeral home and ask for a general price list. This list should contain an itemization of all the services offered by the funeral home and what they cost. Repeat this process with other funeral homes in the area and comparison shop for the best prices.

2. Choose an establishment to handle the services you would like. Be sure it will provide for transportation of the body, oversee the cremation, provide death certificates and file any necessary permits with the county.

3. Obtain a written disclosure that explains how a cremation is performed.

4. Sign a written authorization prior to cremation.

5. Decide if you want to be in attendance during the cremation. This is not usually done, but if you feel you would like to be there, obtain permission from the funeral home.

6. Select a cremation container. Most state laws say that you do not need a casket for a cremation, but you do need a cremation container, which is much less expensive than a casket. (The least expensive cremation container is a cardboard box that is specially made for cremations.)

7. Decide whether to have a casket for viewing prior to cremation. This will raise the cost of the cremation substantially but may be a good idea if you are having a viewing. The casket can be incinerated at the time of cremation.

8. Determine how you'd like to dispose of cremated remains: in a mausoleum, buried in a cemetery, retained at a residence, or scattered at sea, on private property or in a scattering garden. Be sure to investigate all additional costs associated with these options; some are more expensive than others.

Tips & Warnings

• If you elect to keep ashes in an urn at your residence, you'll need to make arrangements for disposing of those remains when you die.

• If you wish to scatter the ashes on private property, you may need to obtain written permission from the owner if the property is not yours.

• Extra costs associated with some methods of disposing of the cremated remains can include charges for endowment care, nameplates, markers, urns, flower vases and so forth.

• According to the 1999 General Price List Survey, the national average cost for a direct cremation - with the container provided by the funeral home - was between $1,146.08 and $1,541.94.

• By law, you are entitled to choose the goods and services you want and need from a funeral home and to pay for only those you select. If the funeral home refuses to provide you with a list of prices and services - either in person or over the phone - it is in violation of the law and can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).