What You Need to Know About Cremation Plans
You’ve taken a great first step in your end-of-life planning and chosen cremation. But how do you share your cremation plans with family and friends to keep them from having to make your tough decisions, and what steps should you take to be sure you get the final goodbye you want?
How to Plan a Loved One’s Cremation Now
If you have an immediate need to arrange a cremation now for someone else, you’ll want to gather some information and documents to get started. If your loved one made cremation plans by preplanning their arrangements, find their paperwork and contact that provider. Check to see if they included travel protection in their plans in case that's relevant to their situation.
Whether they planned ahead or not, the funeral home or cremation provider will help you with paperwork and usually assists with Veteran benefits and with ordering death certificates.
Before you begin calling around to traditional funeral homes or other cremation providers, familiarize yourself with your rights. You have a right to:
- Know the final price
- Provide your own urn or container
- Get information by phone from your own home
You can get more consumer advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website about consumer rights guaranteed by the Funeral Rule.
What You'll Need for the Death Certificate and Other Details
Once you find a place or service you are happy with, make sure you have all the information they will need about your loved one, including details for their death certificate. To begin the cremation planning process, the funeral home or service will ask you:
- The loved one’s birth and death dates
- Their level of education and profession
- Where they were born
- Their weight (will affect how many people are needed to transport them)
- Where to send (or arrange pickup) cremated remains
The Next of Kin is the person authorized to approve the cremation services unless the deceased made another choice in a legal, written document.
How to Plan a Future Cremation
While more than two-thirds of Americans say planning for the end is important, less than half actually do it, surveys show. However, by planning your own funeral arrangements, you can lift the burden off of your family and ensure you’ll have the plans that meet your needs.
What’s Needed to Create Your Cremation Plan
One way to be sure your plans are followed is to contact a local funeral provider or cremation service. Check with family, friends, and neighbors for referrals and read online reviews. The process will include:
- Paperwork and legal forms authorizing the cremation services
- Contracts, if you choose to pay ahead
- Choices about what to do with the remains
- Decisions about whether to plan a service
Preparing for Cremation Costs Inside or Outside a Funeral Home
Cremation costs can vary widely, so be sure to do your homework. State laws ensure that the deceased will receive a dignified cremation no matter the price point. A funeral provider must share the complete cost of all of the cremation services you select. You can decide if you'd like to skip or include items like a guest book or thank you notes. You and your family may like a package approach while others will choose "ala carte."
If you prefer not to work with a particular funeral home or prepay for the cremation services, you can set up a bank account in advance with enough money to cover the costs of the arrangements you want. You’ll still want to check around on pricing to make sure you’ve left enough for loved ones. A Payable Upon Death Account is a special bank account that’s easier to gain access to for family after death.
Creating Your Direct Cremation Plan with Tulip
Tulip makes this process of creating a cremation plan even easier and can be completed from your home. Tulip is a direct cremation provider. A direct cremation is a simple cremation for those who don’t require a service before cremation services occur. With Tulip, a direct cremation plan includes a package of services including:
- A licensed funeral director and staff with 24/7 support
- Collection, transfer, and care of the body from the place of passing
- The filing of all paperwork and permits
- A private cremation at its facility
- Return of your loved one by the United States Postal Service (USPS)
- An online memorial
Consider Your Cremation Options
If you prefer cremation services that follow a traditional funeral, you may want to choose a full-service cremation rather than direct cremation. Your local funeral home can help you understand your cremation options. They range from very simple to more traditional, with plenty of staff support for celebration and memorialization.
Planning a Service or Rituals After Cremation Services
There is a wide range of options for a service or ritual following cremation services. Whether for yourself or someone else, you can choose the event that’s most meaningful to you and best represents the person being honored. Among the popular choices:
- A celebration of life: Can take place anytime after cremation and often is more colorful and lighthearted than a traditional funeral.
- A traditional funeral: You can choose a traditional funeral with casket, followed by a cremation, or include the remains as part of the ceremony.
- A scattering: A small gathering can scatter cremated remains in a meaningful place. Be sure to ask permission if it is a public place or private property (not your own).
Planning Final Wishes Like Throwing a Future Party
Like planning in advance for any other party, holiday, or gathering, you’ll need to consider how much space you need for the number of people you invite and consider whether you’ll be serving food or drinks. If you are making your final wishes for your own cremation plan, think about the things that have been important to you in life, a favorite restaurant, a hobby or sports team, a club or nonprofit, and think about how to incorporate those into your memorial gathering.
No matter what you choose in your cremation plan, make sure to share it with your family in writing and consider making plans with your chosen funeral home or with Tulip. Our dignified cremation services are affordable and simple.