Below are some commonly asked questions. Feel free to contact us if you have one not listed below.
Who should sign the cremation authorization?
It should be the closest next of kin, also referred to as the “legally authorized person.” According to Florida statue 497.005(43) in order of priority: The person, spouse, a child over 18, a parent, a sibling, a grandchild over 18, a grandparent, and then a person in next degree of kinship. If no family exists then a guardian, personal representative, or friend may sign. Please look at the link below for more details.
What is a cremation container?
It is what a deceased is placed in prior to cremation and is required by state law, see Florida statute 497.005(24). A casket may be used in place of a cremation container, it would serve the same purpose. We typically use a minimum alternative container for the cremation container, because it is made with less expensive materials. It fulfills the state requirement and costs you less money. Please look at the link below for more details.
How long will the cremation process take?
Once we are notified of the death it typically takes about 7 days to complete all the required paperwork and the cremation process. The state requires a minimum 48 hour wait prior to cremation, but the death certificate must be filed and the cause of death must be approved by the medical examiner before the cremation can take place. If we get the information for the death certificate quickly from the family and the doctor signs the death certificate shortly after we send it to he or she, it might take less time to complete the process. However, the opposite is true, the longer it takes for us to get the information and the longer it takes the doctor to sign the longer it will take to get the cremation completed.
How can I obtain a death certificate in Florida?
We can get certified copies of the death certificate for the next of kin we contract with. If you are not the next of kin or are out of our area you may get one from most County Health Departments in Florida. Each county has its own charges, but all you have to do is fill out a request form, have a photo I.D., and pay for the copies and they will make them for you. You may also purchase them from the State Department of Vital Statistics, whose link is below.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/birth/index.html
Who files the death certificate in Florida?
In Florida, the funeral home or direct disposer fills out the certificate with the information they gather from the family, then sends it to the doctor for the cause of death and his/her signature. Then the funeral home or direct disposer files it with the state for final approval. The average time to complete this is about 7 days.
How is my loved one identified during the cremation process?
Once we pick your loved one up an identification bracelet is placed on them with their name and other identifying information. It is like a hospital bracelet. Once the cremation is approved and the person is about to be cremated, they are assigned a metal disk with a unique number on it. This metal disk will accompany your loved one throughout the cremation, which allows us to identify the cremains regardless of where they are at in the cremation process. The number on the metal disk will become the cremation file number, which will be noted on the cremation certificate.
Can more than one person be cremated at one time?
The short answer is NO. First and foremost, it would be unethical. Second it is against Florida Statute 497.152. Third, it would be impractical if not impossible to fit two people in the cremation chamber. Crematories are designed to accommodate one person, and only one person at a time. Please look at the link below for more details.
Do I need an urn?
You are not legally required to purchase an urn, but it does help to purchase one. Just for the ease of transportation alone we recommend getting some type of container. If no urn is selected we return the cremains in a cardboard box. We have a temporary urn that is just a simple black plastic box, but is well suited for mailing scattering, or just simple transportation. We also have simple urns that start at $95 that would be suitable for almost any type of disposition of the cremains including display. We recommend purchasing an actual urn not just a vase or box and trying to use it as an urn. Reputable urn companies make urns that are more durable and actually made for holding cremains.
What amount of cremains will be returned?
To try to compare the amount of remains you will receive following the cremation, to a common household item the average amount for most full-sized adults would be close to the size of a 1/2 gallon of milk. The size of a person doesn’t make much deference in the final amount of cremains when the process is completed. To not get to technical, it has a lot more to do with the moisture content of the person and the number of times the crematory has been cycled the day the person was cremated. In any case, we recommend choosing an urn with no less the 200 cubic inches for an adult person (all our full-sized urns fulfill this suggestion).
Why does it cost $100 to mail cremains?
UPS and FedEx will not accept cremated remains. We must send them with the United States Postal Service and they require that they be sent by Express Mail. Please look at the link below for more information about mailing cremains.
https://about.usps.com/publications/pub139.pdf
How can I file for VA burial benefits?
We can help you get the flag and the headstone, if you bury the cremains that the VA provides, or help arrange for burial or inurnment at any National Cemetery. We will need a copy of the Veteran’s DD-214 or discharge paperwork from the military, to do this. The plot allowance and other benefits should be filed directly with the VA or your local Veteran’s Service Officer. The phone number for the regional VA office for Florida is 888-820-0230. The phone number for the local Veteran’s Services Officers are; Alachua County (352)264-6740, Dixie County (352) 498-1246, Gilchrist County (352) 463-3188, and Levy County (352) 486-5210. You may also use the link below to download, fill out the forms yourself, and submit them directly to the VA.
https://www.cem.va.gov/burial_benefits/
Can I submit an obituary to a newspaper?
Most newspapers allow family members to submit an obituary directly to the newspaper. Some require proof of death from the funeral provider, if this is needed for your paper please contact us and we’ll send you one. Please visit our links page to see contact information for some of the papers in our area.
Do I need to contact Social Security?
We take care of notifying social security that your loved one has passed away. The only time you should need to contact social security is if your spouse passes away. Once you get your certified copies of the death certificate you would need to contact Social Security to apply for the one-time Widow or Widower Benefit and they would adjust your monthly payment at that time, as well if you are already drawing Social Security. The only other time Social Security would need to be contacted would be if the person who passed away still had a dependent child under their care.
Can I scatter cremains in bodies of water in Florida?
By state law, Florida does not allow any scattering of cremated remains in bodies of water within the state. The EPA regulates scattering or placing of cremains in the ocean or gulf. The EPA has several regulations that govern this. The two basic ones are that the remains should be placed at least 3 nautical miles from shore and that a permit be filed with the regional EPA office within 30 days of the scattering or placing of the remains. You may use the link below to see all of the requirements and to find the permit that is required.
https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/burial-sea#instructions