Making Good Decisions While Grieving

Dealing with setting up funeral services alongside a cremation may have you feeling like there are a lot of small details to run down. There are a number of legal requirements for the process, and it's a good idea to look into the professional requirements for a cremation services provider, too. Follow these tips to ensure that you can focus on celebrating the memory of a loved one rather than sorting out details.

What You Need for a Cremation

Prior to conducting a cremation, you'll need to contact the county register where the deceased passed in order to acquire a death certification. A copy of this will have to be provided to the funeral services company. If the remains need to be transported, you'll also have to seek a permit for that from the county. After getting all the paperwork in order, the folks handling the cremation will likely want you to sign some paperwork, including acknowledging receipt of the remains.

How to Find a Qualified Professional

Licensing requirements are variable from state-to-state, so it's wise to check out professional organizations within the industry that accredit cremation services providers. The National Funeral Directors Association takes on cremation operations as members, and there is also the Cremation Association of North America. You may also want to contact your local Chamber of Commerce for a list of businesses that perform cremations.

Time and Costs

Within the industry, it's normal for it to take about two weeks from a customer's request for a cremation to be done. For this reason, you may want to try to get in touch with a professional as early as possible so as not to drag things out long after a funeral. Cremations call for a high level of heat and time, with most taking about three to four hours to complete and a further two hours for the chamber to cool down.

Not counting costs for funeral services and viewings, a cremation can be anticipated to cost a bit above $1,000. If the deceased was a veteran or a family member of one, they may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $300 of the cost.

A Word About Urns

While selling urns is a profit center for funeral services businesses, under FTC rules you're allowed to acquire an urn from an outside source. The cremation company also can't tack on fees for using a third-party urn.

Contact a service, like Naples Funeral Home Inc, for more help.