Today, more and more families are seeking simpler and more affordable funeral alternatives. We’ve made it easier to select an affordable cremation in Miami Beach by comparing prices and choosing a cremation provider that offers a direct cremation for $765.
If you are worried about the expense of a funeral or do not want to spend unnecessarily….then a simple, direct cremation is a great alternative.
How funeral care is changing and the economic reasons for choosing cremation in Miami today
Deciding whether to bury or cremate is a personal choice. For some families, their funeral budget dictates the decision, and a cremation service costs less than a traditional burial.
On average, a cremation service will save you at least 40% on the cost of a burial; sometimes, you can save as much as 60% on the price of a burial service.
More families are choosing cremation because it offers greater flexibility. The funeral service does not have to go ahead immediately. Instead, a cremation can be performed, and the immediate disposition of the body dealt with, and then a service held at a later date convenient to the family.
The economy has definitely impacted how we are changing our approach to death care today. Many families simply cannot, or do not, want to spend unnecessarily on funeral costs. A cremation provides a simple, efficient, and economical means of disposition.
How much does a funeral cost in Miami Beach?
This is not a simple question to answer, as funeral costs can vary significantly depending on the services and products selected and the funeral service provider used.
How much does a cremation cost in Miami Beach?
Firstly, a cremation WILL save you on funeral costs. There is no requirement for a casket, cemetery plot, or burial vault, which alone saves thousands of dollars.
Generally, embalming is not required when a cremation is performed, so you can save on many funeral expenses, meaning that a cremation will cost at least half, if not less, than the full cost of a burial funeral.
It is essential to state that cremation prices in Miami Beach DO vary quite considerably between funeral homes, and depending on the type of cremation service you opt for.
Not all funeral homes have their own crematory; some use a local crematory.
How much is a direct cremation in Miami Beach, FL?
A basic cremation can be conducted in Miami Beach for as little as $765. This is known as a “direct cremation” and is the most affordable cremation option in Miami Beach.
No services are performed; the deceased is collected, transported to the funeral facility, prepared for cremation, and cremated.
The cremated remains are returned to the family in a temporary plastic urn. The family can arrange a brief final goodbye viewing at the funeral home if desired. A direct cremation is the most affordable cremation in Miami.
Call DFS Memorials now at (305) 901-2403
What type of cremation services are available?
You can select from a range of cremation services and packages. These will start with a basic cremation without additional services, which is the cheapest cremation package.
You can have a full-service funeral followed by the cremation, a cremation followed by a memorial service, or just a viewing followed by a cremation. Cremation offers versatility in your options and when and where any services can be held.
How to compare cremation costs in Miami Beach, FL
As mentioned, the cost of a cremation can vary enormously for the exact same service from different cremation service providers. Ensure that you compare like-for-like services.
Some cremation service providers include crematory fees and cremation container costs in a direct cremation package; others do not. Death certificate fees and cremation permits are often additional ‘cash advance’ items.
How do I know that the cremated remains I get back are my loved one’s remains?
This is probably the most common cremation question we are asked. Strict laws govern the cremation of human remains, and identity checks have to be made along the way.
The cremation retort must be completely cleared following a cremation, and only one can be performed at a time. The remains are cleared into a machine that filters out any metal parts (tooth fillings, hip replacements, etc) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ that is returned as cremation ashes.
Understanding the legal requirements for cremation in Florida
There are laws in place regarding the cremation of human remains. A cremation cannot be performed until the medical examiner’s office issues a cremation permit. The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form.
In Florida, the mandatory wait period is 24 hours after death before cremation can proceed.
It is not necessary to embalm a body for cremation, and refrigerated storage is used to preserve the body until the cremation is performed. The funeral home will generally store the body in refrigeration for up to 5 days at no extra charge.
An additional storage fee may apply if the cremation does not proceed within 5 days.
What can we do with the cremated remains when we receive them?
Cremation offers greater flexibility in what you can do with the cremated remains once you have them returned. You can, of course, inter them in a grave plot or niche.
However, you can store them in an urn at home or scatter the cremated remains. There are also options, such as creating cremation artifacts from cremated remains, such as cremation diamonds, glass jewelry, bird baths, and paintings.
Preplanning an affordable cremation in Miami, FL
If you wish to preplan a simple cremation, you can lock in a low-cost cremation price. This may depend on your age when you set up a prepaid cremation plan.
Call our DFS Memorials provider now at (305) 901-2403 to learn more about pre-arranging and payment terms for a simple cremation plan.
A cremation plan can be set up through an insurance policy, with the funds deposited into a trust. You can also opt to preplan your cremation service without prepaying. This ensures that your surviving family can proceed with arrangements at the time of need without worrying about completing the paperwork or making difficult decisions.
The money to pay for the cremation can be put aside in a POD account (Payable on Death), which your beneficiary can draw down immediately upon your death without probate.
The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs?
It is sadly a reality that more folks are passing without leaving the means to pay for their funeral. If you are faced with this situation, you must explore what help may be available. Social Security pays out a $255 lump-sum death benefit (if you qualify), and your funeral director can assist you with this.
Support for indigent burials varies widely by state and county. Some counties offer financial assistance to low-income families, whereas in other counties, only indigent dispositions are conducted. To find out what may be available, you should contact the Miami-Dade County Human Services Department at:
5400 NW 22nd Ave #300, Miami, FL 33142 Phone: (305) 636-2389
The deceased is at the Medical Examiner’s Office. What do I need to do?
If the deceased was the victim of a crime or there were unusual circumstances surrounding the death, the deceased’s body may be taken into the care of the coroner for an examination to determine the cause of death.
You will need to employ the services of a funeral director as soon as possible to coordinate the release of your loved one from the ME’s office.
A deceased person can only be released into the care of a licensed funeral director. Many funeral homes are familiar with the process of liaising with the ME to have the body released as quickly as possible.
You may also find that a simple, direct cremation can be arranged at a very low cost when the deceased is in the Coroner’s morgue, as all the paperwork can be expedited. The process of transferring the deceased to the funeral facility is simplified.
Address of county coroner’s office: Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner, 1851 NW 9th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, USA
We hope this short guide has answered some of your immediate questions and helped you understand how to arrange an affordable funeral or cremation service in Miami Beach, FL.
If you need to research more information on funeral planning, please visit the Resources Section on US Funerals Online.
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.
