To help you understand cremation prices in Las Cruces, we have put together some information about how to arrange a cremation service.
Cremation services now account for 60 percent of funerals in the United States. The industry forecasts that the cremation rate will reach 80 percent by 2035.
If you need or wish to preplan, a simple direct cremation service; this guide is designed to answer your initial questions and help you arrange a direct cremation for just $750.
What exactly is a direct cremation service?
Firstly, let’s start by discussing what a direct cremation service is. A direct cremation is the industry term for a basic cremation without any ceremony or funeral home services. The deceased is cremated and the cremation ashes returned to the family. This takes care of the immediate need for the disposition of the body at an affordable cost. If a family wishes to hold a memorial service, they can do this once they have the ashes back or later.
What is included in a direct cremation service package?
- Collection & transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home*
- Arrangements with the family
- Preparation of paperwork required**
- Shelter of the deceased prior to cremation
- A cremation container
- The crematory fee
- A basic temporary urn
*Additional fees may apply for collection outside the basic service area, collection from a residential address, barometric cremation, & removing a pacemaker.
**county fees for death certificate copies & cremation permits may be charged
How much does a cremation service cost?
As I mentioned at the start, you can arrange a direct cremation service for just $750 with DFS Memorials in Las Cruces. However, cremation prices do vary. According to online sources, the local average price for a direct cremation in Las Cruces is $1,247.
Cremation services can also cost more if you opt for cremation funeral or memorial services. The nationwide average cost for a funeral cremation service is $6,260.
Who can authorize a cremation?
State and county legislation governs licensed funeral homes and crematories. Because cremation is such a body’s final disposition, laws dictate that a ‘Cremation Authorization Form’ must be signed by the legal next of kin before a cremation permit can be issued by the coroner.
There is also a mandatory wait period after death before the cremation can go ahead. This is generally 24-48 hours, but it usually takes this time to apply for the death certificate and cremation permit anyway.
Is there any financial assistance to help low-income residents of Doña Ana County with funeral expenses?
More families are struggling with funeral costs, especially if the deceased had no life insurance or provision to cover death care expenses. Doña Ana County has an indigent burial program, which offers direct cremation only. To qualify, a family would need to meet the criteria. The deceased would be considered indigent if he or she had insufficient estate funds to meet the cost of a basic funeral service. The deceased must have been resident in Doña Ana county for at least 6 months before their death.
More information is available about the indigent burial program for Doña Ana County here.
If a loved one has passed, call now at (575) 224-6244 for immediate assistance. Your local provider will be happy to answer any further questions you have.
Sara Marsden-Ille is a writer and researcher specialising in the death care industry. With more than 15 years covering end-of-life services, funeral trends, and consumer funeral planning, she writes for DFS Memorials and US Funerals Online to help families make informed decisions.
