Low cost cremation service in Lake Placid, FL

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Cremation Advisor

Are you looking for a simple, low-cost cremation service? Need a no-fuss package for one low cost that covers all you need to arrange a cremation?

The DFS Memorials provider in Lake Placid can help you arrange a direct cremation service for just $1,095 complete.

Mortuary Services of Florida is a licensed Direct Disposer Establishment as licensed by the Florida State Board F438949. Licensed to conduct direct cremations only.

We provide a very professional service, and we understand that families today want simple and affordable cremation alternatives.

What is included in the $1,095 direct cremation service?

Our simple cremation service includes the following:

Collection of the deceased from the place of death
Transfer to the funeral facility
Shelter of the deceased
Filing of the death certificate and cremation permit*
The cremation process
Return of the cremated remains in a temporary cremation urn

How do we proceed with arranging a direct cremation service?

We can make arrangements over the phone or online. We arrange for the collection of the deceased from a residence, hospital, hospice, or nursing establishment where they passed. Once the deceased is in our care, we file for the death certificate, notify Social Security and apply for a cremation permit from Highland County Coroner.

direct-cremation A ‘Cremation Authorization Form’ must be signed by the next of kin before the cremation can take place. We can complete this for you and will need all the deceased’s personal details. This form can be emailed or faxed for a signature, or you can call in to complete this.

Florida has a mandatory 48-hour waiting period before the death occurs before the cremation can occur.

Once this 48-hour has elapsed, and all the necessary legal paperwork is in order, the cremation is scheduled at the crematory. This can generally take 2-5 days, but an expedited service can be arranged if required. After the cremation has been conducted, the cremated remains are prepared and made available for collection or can be shipped to the family.

Visit our Complete Guide to Cremation: Everything from When the Deceased is Collected to Receiving the Cremated Remains.

Comparing cremation costs in Lake Placid

You will find our $1,095 direct cremation package is very competitively priced as value for money. We handle everything with compassion and caring. Feel free to compare our direct cremation price against other funeral and cremation providers in Lake Placid.

If you have any further questions about arranging a cremation in Lake Placid, call us now at (863) 226-4757, and we would be happy to help.

Can I preplan a cremation in Lake Placid, FL?

Yes, you can prearrange a cremation. Advance planning can help to ensure you get the most appropriate services provider for your needs and can save the surviving family the financial and emotional burden at the time of death.

There are various options open to you to plan ahead, so consult with your preferred services provider. A pre-arranged direct cremation plan can be preplanned at an affordable cost in Lake Placid, ensuring your family does not have the burden of worrying about funeral costs.

What can we do with the cremated remains?

As I mentioned earlier, there is versatility in what you can do with cremated remains. You can inter a cremation urn in a cemetery plot or niche, keep an urn at home, scatter the remains or create a cremation artifact such as a cremation diamond, glass paperweight, bird bath, or memorial reef ball, to name but a few!

The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs?

Sadly, there is little financial aid that supports families struggling with funeral costs. Most counties have a budget for indigent funerals, but this is generally for those who truly are indigent. Some counties do have limited funds to help low-income families with cremation costs, but this can vary county by county. Often, the most basic funeral services will be supported in these cases, with limited control over what happens. An affordable direct cremation from DFS Memorials can be arranged for $1,095 in Lake Placid.

If you have further questions about arranging a cremation, check out this Ultimate Guide to Cremation 2023

*Additional fees may be incurred dependent on Highland County permit fees

Death certificates in Florida cost $10 each

Do I need a funeral home if I just want cremation?

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Cremation Advisor

This is a question I have been asked more than several times by families. With the increasing interest in direct cremation, a family may question their need to deal with a funeral home at all. Now this may all depend on which state you are in, and whether your funeral services provider has their own crematory.

Do I legally have to employ a funeral director?

In most states, you do not. In fact, there are only 8 states that have laws in place specifically requiring you to employ a funeral director for death-care services. A list of these and their specific funeral laws can be found here on a guide to DIY Funerals – Home Funeral Care.

Can I transport the deceased direct to a crematory?

In those states that do not require a funeral director to legally transport the deceased, it may be possible for you to transport the deceased in a suitable cremation container or casket directly to the crematory. Of course, moving a dead body is not for everyone. There are considerations to make about how easily the body can be moved, and public health and safety aspects of managing a corpse.

What is a ‘direct’ cremation? And what services do the funeral home offer?

A direct cremation is where only the cremation is facilitated by the funeral services provider. No visitation, viewing or ceremony is held. The deceased is transferred from the place of death to the funeral home or crematory. There he or she is placed in refrigerated shelter for a few days while all the correct authorizations and permits are obtained. Once all legal requirements are met, the deceased is cremated in a basic cremation container. The cremation ashes are then returned to the family in a temporary cremation urn.

Cremation planning The funeral director arranges the transportation of the deceased, assists the family with completing the necessary arrangements, authorizations and submission for the death certificate.

A direct cremation service from a funeral home is a minimal service level package. As the cost for a direct cremation service is at an ‘entry point’ level, so too are the services that the funeral home offer.

Some funeral service providers offer more than one direct cremation package. From a minimal direct cremation service where most of the arrangements are made online, to concierge services where more support and extra benefits such as copies of the death certificate, obituary notice and upgraded cremation urns are offered.

What are the benefits of employing a funeral director to conduct a direct cremation?

Employing a funeral home, or funeral director, to conduct a direct cremation service does mean that you are using the services of a licensed professional with experience. Although, in many states it is not a legal requirement, it can still be a preferred option to let someone who knows exactly what they are doing to handle everything.

Cremation Laws The funeral director will already have processes in place for collating the data required legally to issue a death certificate, and obtain cremation authorizations and permits from the county.

Also, it can take several days to complete these before the cremation can go ahead, so you can be assured that your loved one is sheltered with care. In many states there is a mandatory wait period after death before a cremation can proceed. (24-48 hours)

With direct cremation gaining more popularity as the ‘simple’ cremation option, so more funeral service providers are offering competitive direct cremation packages. So, you may find that for under $1,000 in many cities, it is much simpler to employ a cremation provider to handle everything!

Do you need a casket for a cremation?

The simple answer is no. Legally there is no requirement for a casket. Generally, for a direct cremation a simple cremation container is used. This is a reinforced cardboard container, often with a plywood bottom. This burns easily during the cremation process. Alternatively, simple plywood or pine coffins can be used. A direct cremation is offered at such an affordable price because only a basic cremation container is used.

More funeral homes are also offering rental caskets for their cremation families. A ceremonial cremation rental casket is designed to house the basic cremation container inside for the purpose of a viewing or ceremony, then the cremation container with the body, simply slides out and can be moved to the crematory for cremation. This means that even if a funeral service or viewing is required prior to cremation, you do not need to purchase a casket, and can reduce overall cremation costs.

What can you do with the cremation ashes if you opt for a cremation without a ceremony?

This is another question I am asked about frequently with more families choosing a simple cremation. Less families are concerned about interring cremation ashes, especially sometimes with the costs involved. What had been an inexpensive cremation can become costlier with cemetery or columbarium cremation niche fees.

Some families just want to scatter the ashes after some kind of family memorial service. All of which makes the whole disposition process inexpensive and personal. There is also no time-frame to have to do something with the ashes. This can allow family members to take time to grieve and decide on some befitting final resting place at a later date.

There are also many different cremation artifact products now where some of the ashes can be blended into a keepsake memorial.

The growing market for simple and direct cremation is changing how funeral homes operate, and giving more control and options to families. If you need to find out the cost for a direct cremation in your area, use the state links to find your nearest city and DFS Memorials provider.

Guide to Affordable Cremation Services in Lancaster, PA

Posted on May 24, 2018 by N. G Pelling

Do you need to save money on funeral costs? Looking for a simple and inexpensive alternative to a traditional funeral service? Consider arranging an affordable direct cremation service for $1,195 in Lancaster. More families are opting to conduct a simple, no-fuss direct cremation and then perform their own memorial service at a venue of their choosing. This all saves thousands of dollars on funeral expenses!

How funeral care is changing and economic reasons for choosing cremation

Deciding whether to bury or cremate is a personal choice. For some families the decision is dictated by the budget they have for a funeral and a cremation service will cost less than a traditional burial funeral. On average a cremation service is going to save you at least 40% on the cost of a burial, sometimes you can save as much as 60% on the cost of a burial service. More families are choosing cremation as it does offer a 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 on 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 to conduct a disposition.

How much does a funeral cost in Lancaster?

This is not a simple question to answer as funeral costs can range significantly depending on the type of services and products selected, and the funeral services provider used. The average cost of a funeral in Lancaster is $7,378*.

How much does a cremation cost in Lancaster?

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 all-in-all 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 important to state that cremation prices in Lancaster DO vary quite considerably between funeral homes, and depending what type of cremation service you opt for. Not all funeral homes have their own crematory but will use the services of a local crematory. The average cost of a cremation memorial is $4,293*, however, it is possible to find much lower-priced cremation services in Lancaster.

How much is a direct cremation in Lancaster, PA?

A basic cremation can be conducted in Lancaster for as little as $1,195 complete. This is what is known as a “direct cremation” and is the most affordable cremation option in Lancaster.. No services are performed, the deceased is collected, transported to the funeral facility, prepared for cremation and the cremation is conducted. The cremated remains are returned to the family in a temporary plastic urn. If desired the family can arrange a brief final goodbye viewing at the funeral home.

Call DFS Memorials now on (717) 282-1833 to arrange an affordable cremation for $1,195 in Lancaster

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 any additional services, which is the cheapest type of cremation package. You can have a full service funeral that is followed by the cremation, a cremation followed by a memorial service, or just a viewing followed by a cremation. Cremation does offer versatility in what options you have, and when and where any services can be held.

How to compare cremation costs in Lancaster, PA

As mentioned the cost of a cremation can vary enormously – for the exact same service – but 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, and others do not always include these fees. 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 has to 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 etc) and then ground into the fine ‘dust’ that is returned as cremation ashes.

Understanding the legal requirements for cremation in Lancaster

As mentioned above, there are laws in place regarding the cremation of human remains. A cremation cannot be performed until a cremation permit is issued by the medical examiner’s office. The legal next of kin must sign a Cremation Authorization Form. There is a mandatory wait period of 24 after death in Pennsylvania before the 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 for up to 5 days in refrigerated storage at no extra charge. If the cremation does not go ahead within 5 days, an additional fee for storage may be incurred.

What can we do with the cremated remains?

Cremation offers some 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 choose to store them in an urn at home or scatter the cremated remains. There are also options such as having cremation artifacts made from cremated remains such as cremation diamonds, glass jewelry, bird baths and paintings.

Preplanning an affordable cremation service in Lancaster

If you wish to preplan a simple cremation you can lock in a low cost cremation price. This may depend upon your age at the time of setting up a prepaid cremation plan. A cremation plan can be set up using an insurance policy where the funds are put 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 having to worry 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 out upon death immediately without probate.

The deceased had no life insurance – is there any help with cremation costs?

Cremation Laws in Pennsylvania 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 need to explore what help may be available to you.

Social Security pay out a $255 lump sum death benefit (if you qualify) and your funeral director can assist you with this.

The support for indigent burials differs so much by state and county. Some counties do offer some financial assistance to low-income families, whereas in other counties only county indigent dispositions are conducted. To find out what may be available you should contact Lancaster County Human Services Department at: 832 Manor Street Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone: (717) 299-7411

The deceased is at the Medical Examiner’s Office. What do I 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 to liaise 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 quickly and the process to transfer the deceased to the funeral facility is simplified.

Address of county coroner’s office: 150 North Queen Street Lancaster PA 17603 Phone: (717) 735-2123

We hope this short guide has helped answer some of your immediate questions, and provided some help to understanding how you can arrange an affordable cremation in Lancaster, PA. If you need to research more information on funeral-planning, please visit the Library section on US Funerals Online.

*Funeral prices obtained from Parting funeral price comparison survey 2018

Why is Cremation becoming American’s Preferred Funeral Option?

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Cremation Advisor

direct-cremation The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) wound up its 3 day annual convention in Nashville yesterday where funeral professionals from around the nation, and even from around the globe, had gathered to discuss death. Or should I say death and business?

The NFDA opened the convention with a report on Cremation and Burial containing Research, Statistics and Projections. The most notable finding of this report was that cremation would surpass burial as the nation’s disposition choice by next year (2015). This marks quite a significant change in the once-traditional funeral industry of the U.S.

So why is cremation so popular now?

The report goes on to outline several reasons why we are converting to cremation – “cost, decreased household discretionary income, environmental concerns, fewer religious prohibitions of the practice, a growing preference for simpler, and less ritualized funeral ceremonies”. In a nutshell, we are choosing cremation because it costs less, we have less money and cannot afford expensive funerals anymore, and basically we have less concern about tradition, religion or ritual.

The cost of a cremation is, I believe, the primary reason why we Americans are shifting in our droves to choose this as a death care alternative. Add to this that we have become a nation who seeks out ease of task, convenience and instant gratification – and cremation helps us out – it is so easy to arrange (for a basic, direct cremation you don’t even need to go into a funeral home!), it can be arranged within a day or two, and you don’t need to make a lot of decisions (like what casket do you want? What color lining? What kind of burial vault, plot etc etc).

How many cremations are direct cremations?

What this report from the NFDA does NOT do (and that’s no surprise) is drill down to what percentage of total cremations are direct cremations. Whilst quoting a reason for why we choose cremation as having a growing preference for simple, no-fuss funeral ceremonies, there is no analysis of how direct cremation (the simplest form of cremation available) is in fact experiencing a significant growth in the U.S. right now.

Direct cremation is the industry term for a very basic cremation where no pre-funeral services are provided. The deceased is simply collected, cremated and the remains returned to the family. Simple, no-fuss, efficient and …..ECONOMICAL! Oh but of course many in the funeral industry are not very fond of direct cremation as it hurts their bottom line. However, there are a growing number of funeral practitioners who are responding to this need for simple, low cost cremation by offering affordable direct cremation packages. These are the smart funeral directors who recognize where the growth in the industry is, and understand that providing customers with what they WANT, is far more important than trying to sell customers something they really don’t want and can’t afford.

What do you need to know about direct cremation?

As mentioned above, this is the simplest cremation service available to you as a funeral consumer. Many funeral homes will not openly suggest it as a funeral service option but it will be on their General Price List (GPL). The cost charged for a direct cremation WILL vary tremendously! Some funeral homes charge $2,000+ for a basic direct cremation, whilst others will offer the exact same direct cremation for $895.

The important thing is to ensure you compare prices (like-for-like). Cremation prices, even for the exact same cremation services, can differ quite significantly in the same area from different funeral service providers.

A direct cremation does not mean you cannot have a funeral service. Many in the industry try and convince us that direct cremation prevents us from grieving properly, that we need a service with the body present in order to begin the healing process. I say baloney! Most families are perfectly capable of managing their own services and dealing with bereavement in their own way. Yes, some people will prefer to use the services of a funeral director, clergy, or celebrant to deliver a service….but some families do not feel this is necessary. And this is okay.

“Personalization” is another term the industry is fond of today. I agree that the ability to personalize a funeral ritual to the deceased is imperative, but I do not agree that only funeral directors understand how to do this. US Funerals Online has published numerous articles to help families with ideas on how to memorialize their loved one. We understand that whilst 58% of families (NFDA) may associate a cremation with a memorial service, more families today feel that they would prefer to deliver the memorial service themselves.

How much does a cremation cost? And what is included in this?

As cremation becomes more popular – more Americans are asking questions about cremation. The 2 most prevalent questions are “how much is a cremation going to cost” and “what is included in this cremation cost?” As I have already mentioned, not all cremations are created equal, and the price for a cremation service can differ depending on the service provider and the area.

As a rough guide – more often than not – corporate means more expensive. Cremations offered by Dignity Memorial funeral locations (owned by SCI) generally come in around the $2,200 – $3,000 bracket. Independent funeral homes can still be expensive, if they have elaborate premises and livery, chances are they will charge a higher price for their cremation services, although this is not always the case.

There is a new breed of funeral company on the block, one that caters primarily to the demand for low cost cremation. These are the guys to seek out if you want to find an inexpensive cremation package. DFS Memorials works with a network of these providers, local family-owned funeral businesses that offer a simple, fixed price, inclusive direct cremation package. All providers in the DFS Memorials network offer a direct cremation for between $600 and $1,395 (depending on the location). To find out the cost of a direct cremation near you, click on your state and select your nearest town or city.

According to the NFDA projections by 2020 at least 39 states will be cremating more bodies than they bury, with an expectation that the cremation rate will hit 70% by 2030. This is a staggering change for a once-traditional funeral industry to embrace! If you are a consumer considering cremation, either right now as a death is imminent or has occurred, or you are researching cremation to preplan, you will find many resources here to assist you. Click on your state on the right-hand navigation to find a low cost cremation provider near you, or use the Category sections to check out more articles about cremation.