Death Certificates

Get multiple copies of the death certificate. The executor will need to contact the following agencies, most of which will request at least one copy of the death certificate:

• Social Security (800-772-1213; socialsecurity.gov) to discuss ceasing benefits, obtaining survivor benefits and Medicare. Veterans Affairs may also be necessary for the cessation of benefits (800-827-1000; va.gov).

• Health, life, homeowner, automobile and other insurance companies to cease or transfer benefits.

• Utility companies to change or stop services.

• Employer for pension plans or employment benefits; each separate claim will require a separate copy of the death certificate.

• Probate attorney for asset, trust and estate inventory.

• Tax preparer to determine if an estate tax return or final income tax returns should be filed.

• State department of motor vehicle services to cancel driver’s license.

• Bank for safe deposits and remaining accounts; you may be advised to open a new account for the estate.

• Deliver the will to the appropriate office for probate.

• Notify the post office of the death and the location to which mail should be forwarded. (Going through your loved one’s mail can help you become aware of bills, subscriptions or other accounts or services that should be canceled.)

• Notify the police if your loved one left behind a house that will sit vacant, so that they can periodically monitor the home against suspicious activity.

Cremation FAQs

Is a Casket Required for Cremation to Take Place?

A casket is not required for a cremation to take place. In most states, all that is required is an alternative container which can be constructed of wood or fiberboard/cardboard, and is cremated along with the deceased.

Is Embalming Required for Cremation?

Absolutely not. Public health law states that any human remains held 24 hours beyond death, and not yet cremated or interred at a cemetery, shall be either embalmed, or kept under refrigeration. Most reputable funeral establishments and crematories have on-site refrigeration.

Can a Cremation Be Witnessed by the Family?

Yes, in most situations, the cremation provider will permit family members to be in attendance when the body is placed into the cremation chamber. Actually, a few religious groups include this as integral part of their funeral practice.

Are There Any Religions That Do Not Approve of Cremation?

Most major religions readily accept cremation, with the exception of Islam and Orthodox Judaism. Today, most of the Christian denominations allow cremation. The Catholic Church approves cremation, but advocates the interment of the cremated remains in a cemetery. Buddhists favor cremation, and for Hindus, cremation is the orthodox method of disposition.

Can More than One Cremation Be Performed at Once?

No. Not only is it a practical impossibility, but it is illegal to do so. The majority of modern cremation chambers are not of adequate size to house more than one adult.

What Usually Happens after the Cremation Is Finished?

All organic bone fragments and all non-consumed metal items are collected into a stainless steel cooling pan located in the lower front of the cremation chamber. All non-consumed items, such as metal from clothing, joint replacements, and dental bridgework, are divided from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and may be commingled with the cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size, sealed in a plastic bag, and then placed into a cremated remains container/urn selected by the family.

What Do Cremated Remains Look Like?

Processed cremated remains are a mixture of powdery and granular substances, and are varying shades of gray to white in color. The remains of an average sized adult usually weigh between four to eight pounds.

Are All Cremated Remains Returned to the Family?

With the exclusion of minuscule and microscopic particles, which are impossible to remove from the cremation chamber and processing machine, all of the cremated remains are returned to the family.

Are Urns Required to Collect the Cremated Remains?

There is no law requiring an urn. Although, they do need to be kept in some type of container. We provide a simple, standard urn in our cremation package and have a large selection of urns for you to choose from if you wish to upgrade.

What Options Are Available with the Cremated Remains?

In California, after the cremation, the cremated remains may be returned to a designated family member or friend to be kept at home, scattered at sea (over 500 yards off the coast), scattered on private property with written permission, or released to a cemetery for burial or above-ground entombment. Cremated remains are often divided to satisfy various memorialization requests. There are smaller urns and even jewelry which hold "keepsake" portions of cremated remains. Cremation offers infinite possibilities to memorialize a loved one.

How Can You Be Certain That All Remains Are Kept Separate, and You Receive the Correct Remains?

All responsible cremation providers have thorough operating policies and procedures in order to provide the highest level of service and reduce the possibility of human error. If you have questions, ask the cremation provider what procedures they use relating to the cremation, including retrieval, processing, and packaging of the cremated remains. It is not only your right, but also your responsibility to gain a feeling of confidence in your cremation provider's facility, employees, policies, and procedures.

Cremation Process

Prior to cremation, the death certificate and the cremation permit must be completed and accepted by the county health department. This usually take about 4 business days (emergency filing is available for an extra fee). It is important to get all the paperwork given to you by the funeral home back to them ASAP, so that the process is not withheld.

Before cremation, mechanical devices such as pacemakers must be removed because they cause extensive damage both to the integrity of the human remains and to the cremation chamber.

To being the cremation process, the human remains and the cremation container are placed in the cremation chamber. Open flames raise the temperature to 1600o-2000o Fahrenheit for a period of approximately two to four hours. The time varies with each human remains.

To remove the cremated remains from the cremation chamber, a broad brush-like instrument is used. Every effort is made by the operator to completely remove every particle from the chamber floor.

After the cremation process is complete, the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber and placed in a tray for cooling. They are then processed to their final reduced consistency. The processed cremated remains are placed into an urn or some other type of container, according to the wishes of the family. Most cremated remains weigh between 5 to 15 pounds, depending on the bone density of the human remains.

Metal objects, such as jewelry and dental gold, may break down into small pieces during the cremation process. These small pieces, along with large pieces of metal (i.e. hinges, screws, and prostheses), may be removed from the cremated remains using a magnet or some other means, then disposed of according to local laws and company policy.

The family chooses the final disposition of the cremated remains. Pending this decision, our funeral establishment will hold the cremated remains for a limited, specified time. The family may select inurnment in a permanent location such as a mausoleum or columbarium niche, cemetery plot, or other special location of the family's choosing. Alternatively, the remains may be scattered in a cemetery scattering garden, at sea, or in some other location, so long as it is in accordance with local laws. However, the decision to scatter should be chosen carefully in that it is irreversible.