Do you need to arrange a cremation at a low-cost?  Then we can help you arrange everything for one low price of $725.

Our attitudes to death and funerals have been changing and many families are today finding that cremation offers a more simple and affordable option.

More families are deciding they just want a simple, “no fuss” option, one that can be delivered at a low cost.

Cremation offers a more affordable alternative to a traditional burial funeral.  A direct cremation package can help you arrange a low-cost funeral at a fraction of the cost of traditional funeral services.

This does not mean it is any less dignified, and a memorial service can still be conducted with the cremated remains.  Direct cremation takes care of the immediate disposition of the deceased, and once the cremated remains are available, a memorial or ash-scattering service can be conducted.

When you can take care of everything for $725 and are dealing with a family-owned funeral business, why should you pay more than this?

What is included in a Simple Cremation Package?

Our simple cremation service includes:

• 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
• A cardboard cremation container for the cremation process
• The cremation process
• Return of the cremated remains in a temporary cremation urn

*an additional mileage fee can apply if outside our basic service area

 Are there any extra costs?

The only additional fees are county fees, which are subject to change and payable to the county in order to facilitate the cremation proceeding.  Death certificate fees in Arizona are $20 for the 1^st certificate and $20 for each additional copy at present.

Can we still have a funeral service if we arrange a direct cremation?

Yes, of course, you can.  A memorial service can be arranged once you have the cremated remains returned, or even held at a later date that is convenient or appropriate for the family.

A memorial service is the type of funeral service where the deceased’s body is not present.  You can hold a memorial service with, or without, the cremation urn present.  A memorial funeral service can also take the shape of an ash scattering ceremony, or a candlelit vigil or tribute.  We have some useful resources to help you plan and make your own memorial tributes in our Memorialization section.

Comparing cremation costs in Chandler, AZ

As cremation is becoming a popular choice for residents of Chandler, there are several cremation service providers serving Maricopa County.  The cost of a cremation can vary significantly, for the exact same service, so it is wise to ensure you do compare cremation prices between a few providers to ensure you are benefitting from a value for money cremation service package.  The average cost of a cremation memorial service in Chandler is $3,123*, and the average cost of a direct cremation is $1,576*  It is important to check that a direct cremation package includes everything. 

A cremation significantly reduces funeral costs.  The average cost of a funeral in Chandler is $6,128.

How can you save money when arranging a cremation service?

A direct cremation is the most economical means of disposition there is.  In Chandler, a direct cremation can be conducted for $725 complete, making this very affordable funeral option.   If you need to keep funeral costs down, then a simple cremation arranged through a cremation provider is your lowest cost cremation option in Chandler, AZ.  You can then arrange your own memorial services once you have the cremated remains returned.  This significantly cuts down on funeral expenses.

What do I need to know about arranging a cremation?  What are the legal requirements?

A cremation authorization form must be signed by the legal next of kin for a cremation to proceed.

If there are multiple siblings, all must sign and agree for a cremation to be carried out.  There is a 24-hour mandatory wait period after death before the cremation can go ahead.

What help is there with cremation costs?

If qualifying for Social Security, you may be entitled to the lump-sum death benefit payment of $255.  The funeral director will generally assist you with submitting the claim to Social Security.  Of course, many people use life insurance policies to offset funeral costs, but with a direct cremation, the funeral provider will require payment upfront.

There is very limited public assistance support for funeral costs and this can vary by county. Check out Maricopa County Assistance Programs.

Maricopa County Human Services Department

234 N. Central Ave. 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: (602) 506-5911

How do I obtain a copy of a death certificate?

You can obtain copies of a death certificate from the Vital Records office at Maricopa County Health Department, 4419 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85205

What happens if the deceased is taken to the Coroner’s Office?

If there were circumstances surrounding the death that led to the deceased being taken to the County Coroner’s office, you will need to employ the services of a funeral director as soon as possible to liaise with the Coroner to have the body released into their care.  Only a licensed funeral director can collect a body from the Coroner’s morgue.

As funeral directors are familiar with the process, and the body is released with death certificate & cremation permit, it is generally easy to maintain a low cost to offer a direct cremation service for an individual that has been in the care of the Medical Examiner.  The County Coroner’s office is at Forensic Science Center, 701 W Jefferson Street, Pheonix, AZ 85007 Phone: (602) 505-3322

Please contact your local DFS Memorials cremation services provider on (602) 638-1151 with any further questions you have, or to make immediate arrangements for a low-cost cremation service.

*Cost data obtained from funeral price comparison website 2020

Do you need to save money on funeral costs?  Looking for a simple and inexpensive alternative to a traditional funeral service?

Consider arranging a simple cremation service for just $725.  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 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 Scottsdale?

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 Scottsdale is $6,535.

How much does a cremation cost in Scottsdale?

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 Scottsdale DO vary quite considerably between funeral homes, and depending on 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 $3,572*, however, it is possible to find much lower-priced cremation services in Scottsdale.

How much is a direct cremation in Scottsdale, AZ?

A basic cremation can be conducted in Scottsdale for as little as $725 complete.  This is what is known as a “direct cremation”.  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 (602) 638-1151 to arrange a low-cost cremation for $725

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 Scottsdale, AZ

The cost of a cremation can vary significantly – 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 Scottsdale

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 Arizona 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, birdbaths, and paintings.

Preplanning an affordable cremation service

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?

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 pays 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 Maricopa County Human Services Department at:

234 N. Central Ave. 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: (602) 506-5911

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 Maricopa county coroner’s office: Forensic Science Center, 701 W Jefferson Street, Pheonix, AZ 85007 Phone: (602) 505-3322

We hope this short guide has helped answer some of your immediate questions and provided some help in understanding how you can arrange an affordable funeral or cremation service in Scottsdale, AZ.  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 2019