When arranging a cremation for a loved one or pre-planning your own cremation, you can seek relevant information and details from a local funeral home or cremation provider. In fact, it is also possible to pay for a funeral and cremation in advance.

Consulting with a professionally licensed funeral director can help you comply with the legal, procedural and local requirements that you may not be aware of. Moreover, the funeral provider may suggest better alternatives for the procedures you want to follow.

Besides, you can take help and advice from non-profit memorial and funeral planning societies. For instance, when arranging a cremation for a loved one, you need to decide whether you want to go for direct cremation, cremation after a funeral service, or cremation followed by a memorial service.

People often prefer direct cremations that do not involve viewing or visitation. The procedure does not require embalming.

Plus, there is no need to spend on a standard casket as an alternative container can be used, thereby making the procedure simple and cost-effective.

In addition, you can discuss with the funeral director and other family members about the options for final disposition of the remains. Usually, the cremated remains are scattered, buried, entombed, or kept at home.

Watch the following video to understand more about cremation arrangements.

Steps for Arranging a Cremation

• Contact some funeral homes, go through their general price lists stating the prices of all the items that they offer to compare prices, and then select the one that suits your needs. 
• Take the social security number and other details about the deceased to the funeral home for the funeral arrangement conference where you discuss the funeral and cremation plan. 
• Get the body of the deceased transported from the site of death or storage to the funeral home. The funeral provider shall also help you secure certified copies of the death certificate, arrange for a notice in the newspapers, and look after other necessary paperwork. 
• Obtain a medical certificate by a doctor stating the cause of death or a certificate by the Coroner in case there has been coroner’s post mortem examination. 
• Sign the authorization form for cremation of the deceased. 
• Get a casket or alternative container for the body in which the cremation has to be performed. If you need a casket for the funeral service but do not want to buy it, consider renting a casket. 
• Select a cremation urn for storing the ashes. 
• You may ask the funeral home for a witnessing service so that you can witness cremation. Some crematoriums, however, do not allow it. 
• After the cremation has been performed dispose of the cremated remains by burying in a burial plot, placing in a columbarium, or entombing in a mausoleum.Besides, you may opt to scatter the ashes in a scattering garden, national park (if the local laws allow it), private property (with the owner’s consent), etc. The cremated remains can also be floated in water or scattered by plane.

All these arrangements are usually made by the next-of-kin or the Executor of the will. If you do not want to employ a funeral director then you can make the arrangements yourself.

Thus, you will have to obtain the death certificate and other paperwork, select a crematory, hire a transportation service for collecting and transporting the body, and look after other tasks associated with the funeral and cremation independently. You may contact the local cremation authorities for guidance.

Resources:

Wikipedia, Cremation

Bureau Of Consumer Protection Business Center, Complying With The Funeral Rule

Federal Trade Commission, Funerals: A Consumer Guide

International Cemetery, Cremation, And Funeral Association, ICCFA Cremation Guidelines