More and more Texans are accepting cremation as a simple and much more affordable option than burial. You can arrange a direct cremation in San Antonio for as little as $795. If you want to understand more about cremation prices and options, read on.
San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. A modern hub of growth and modernity, where a simple direct cremation service is one of the cheapest in the country.
A direct cremation can be conducted in San Antonio for as little as $795 complete.
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Why is the direct cremation price so low in San Antonio?
Overall the average price for a direct cremation in Texas, (and in most major cities) will range between $795 – $1,195. So, San Antonio stands out as a “cheaper place to die.” Demand has driven the shift to cremation, with some resistance by the industry.
A few local funeral businesses certainly embraced the demand for affordable death care alternatives. Several local businesses positioned themselves at the ‘right time’ to capture the simple cremation service market. Opening their own crematories when many funeral homes were still lamenting the decline in the traditional death care market.
Texas is a state of big business and opportunity, and it seems sufficient entrepreneurial death care experts have decided to invest in the potential for cremation early on.
What does a direct cremation in San Antonio include?
A direct cremation is the industry term for a simple, no-ceremony cremation. This service offers families an exceptionally affordable option at $795. The deceased is collected and transported to the funeral home/crematory, the legal paperwork completed and obtained, the cremation performed, and then the cremation ashes returned to the family in a simple, temporary urn.
This effectively takes care of the immediate need to conduct a disposition. Families have sometimes already decided they want to scatter the ashes. Or, they are opting to host their own memorial service at a later date.
What extra costs are there?
Death certificates are a fixed state fee of $21.00 for the initial certificate and additional copies priced at $4.00 each. You only need at least one copy of the death certificate, which is included in the cremation service package at $795. But many families find that 3-5 copies make it easier to manage closing down the deceased’s estate.
Cremation permits are issued by the Bexar County Medical examiner’s office within 24 hours of a request received from a funeral home. Bexar County charges $25.00 for issuing a cremation permit.
If the deceased is a ME case, this can expedite the process of obtaining a cremation permit. The Medical Examiners office is at 7337 Louis Pasteur Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229
Can you pre-plan a cheap direct cremation?
You can pre-plan a cremation service. But the $795 price is for an immediate (or at-need) service. Pre-planning usually involves putting funds into a state trust or insurance plan that will cover the costs at a future date. For this reason, pre-arranging a cremation will generally cost in the region of $1,000 -$1,500.
It will depend on the individual circumstances of how, for whom, the provision is being made, and over what terms it is pre-paid. The Neptune Society (operated by Service Corporation International) has a location in San Antonio. They tend to focus on selling direct cremation packages, and especially pre-arrangement services. They do not publish cremation prices on their website. But they reference cremation costs as being “The total cost of cremation can range up to several thousands of dollars depending on those choices”.
This useful article from US Funerals Online explains in detail how you can pre-plan, without pre-paying, and benefit from low pricing with a Payable on Death (POD) bank account.
Another handy resource is this article on cremation laws and a comprehensive funeral guide for the state of Texas.
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
