More families seek to find out how to save on funeral costs by arranging an affordable cremation.
Cremation continues to grow in popularity as more people realize they can save thousands of dollars by opting for a simple cremation instead of a traditional funeral service.
An affordable cremation service can be arranged for just $950 in Columbia. Read on to find out more.
For many years, families arranged a traditional funeral without much thought to how much it would cost. Today, many folks either do not want to spend thousands of dollars unnecessarily or cannot afford to spend $7000-$15,000 on a funeral service.
So, let’s look at the average costs for a burial or cremation in Columbia and how you can find the most affordable cremation service in Columbia, SC.
What is the average cost of a funeral in Columbia?
These days, we are more mindful of costs, and people are now realizing they can price-shop for funeral services just as you would for many other services. Why should we not ask how much it costs?
The Internet offers a great tool to research funeral costs from the comfort of your own home. Unfortunately, not all funeral homes have websites or put their prices online, so we have put this guide together to outline average funeral and cremation costs in Columbia for you.
According to Funeralocity (2024), the average cost of a traditional funeral in Columbia is $7,693. This is for a full traditional funeral service, including a casket, but not including any cemetery costs.
So, how do cremation costs compare in Columbia?
Cremation offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to a traditional burial and can, therefore, significantly reduce funeral costs. No casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault is required, immediately reducing some of the most expensive purchases related to funeral expenses.
The average price for a cremation funeral service in Columbia is $6,388. Although a basic cremation with a short service can be arranged for less than this.
It is important to know that prices vary quite a bit between different funeral homes or cremation providers. We have conducted a cremation price comparison between providers in Columbia.
This means we can help you quickly connect with a local, low-cost cremation services provider to save you from conducting extensive price comparisons.
Direct cremation services in Columbia, SC
Direct cremation is the industry term for a ‘simple cremation.’ Only the cremation service is provided by the funeral home. The funeral home provides no ceremony or funeral services. The deceased is collected and cremated, and the remains are returned to the family in a basic urn.
Direct cremation offers families lower-cost funeral services and more control over the time and type of memorial ceremonial services they desire. A memorial service can be held in a place of worship, a community venue, or even outdoors.
In Columbia, the cremation service can be conducted with or without the cremation urn present. It can even be an ash-scattering ceremony or interment in a cremation niche or scattering garden.
A basic direct cremation service is available in Columbia for $950, although the average price for a direct cremation is $1,622.
Call DFS Memorials now at (803) 380-8807 to arrange a low-cost cremation service.
Are there additional fees added to a direct cremation package?
In order for a cremation to be conducted, a ‘disposition permit’ must be issued by the county. This is a county charge, and costs can vary by county. Death certificates are an additional cost, as the county issues these and are a third-party expense. Death certificates cost $17 for the first certificate and $3 for each additional copy issued.
How do I know that I am getting the remains of my loved one back?
This is one of the most frequent questions families ask about cremation. Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks must be made all along the way.
The cremation retort must be completely cleared following a cremation, and only one cremation can be performed at a time. The remains are cleared into a machine that filters out any metal parts (tooth fillings, hip replacements) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ returned as cremation ashes.
Visit our Complete Guide to Cremation to learn about everything you need to know about the process, laws, authorizations, and other FAQs.
What if I am not sure about cremation or the family cannot agree about cremation?
Cremation is such a final disposition, and you do need to ensure that you are completely sure that this IS the ‘right’ disposition choice for you. Certain laws are in place to ensure this final disposition can only proceed if the legal next of kin has authorized it. The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form, and in the case of children, many funeral directors will require all children to sign.
You can authorize an agent for your final disposition or sign the authorization when you preplan a cremation.
What can you do with the cremated remains?
The options of what you can do with the cremated remains of your loved one are one of the reasons cremation is becoming more popular. You can, of course, choose to inter the remains in a cemetery plot.
You can inter the remains in a niche or columbarium, or you can keep the ashes at home. Keepsake urns enable you to disperse the ashes among several family members or choose to scatter some and retain a ‘keepsake’ memorial.
Ash scattering is also more common, and many options exist for creating a befitting ash scattering ceremony. Visit our Complete Guide to Scattering Cremated Remains to learn more.
Can I preplan a direct cremation service at an affordable cost in Columbia?
Yes. You can preplan a simple direct cremation service. This is generally funded through an insurance product or a pre-need cremation plan that will cover this cost when the need arises. All monies are secured in a trust fund.
How quickly can a cremation be performed?
It generally takes a few days to make the necessary arrangements, complete all the legal paperwork, and schedule the cremation. However, expedited services can be arranged if required. South Carolina has a mandatory 24-hour wait period after death before a cremation can be conducted.
What do I do if I cannot even afford a cremation?
There is very little ‘free’ money to help families with funeral costs. What is available constantly changes due to budget constraints and varies by county. Some counties do have a provision to assist needy or low-income families. Contact the South Carolina Department of Social Services to find out what Assistance Programs may be available locally.
SCDSS, 1535 Confederate Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-7601
There is also a $255 lump sum social security death benefit payment if the deceased qualifies, and your funeral director can help you claim this. So, you may find that a low-cost cremation at $895 with DFS Memorials is a dignified yet affordable disposition alternative if your family is struggling financially.
If the deceased is held at the county morgue as the Medical Examiner is involved, you will need the services of a licensed funeral director to arrange for the release of the body.
