Category: Cremation Cost

Options to Pay for A Cremation in Florida

03.13.2021

options to pay for cremations

Cremations in Florida can vary in price greatly and be a very expensive purchase for the family. However, there are options for families that have to pay for a direct cremation and cannot afford to pay the whole price all at once. At Going Home Cremations, we want to make sure our families can afford their cremations so we have created this article to help guide families that are arranging a cremation in Florida.

 

Choose a direct cremation

  • If you choose a direct cremation over a normal cremation with a viewing or a funeral, you will save thousands of dollars. The average direct cremation price in Florida is around $2,000 whereas a funeral in Florida can be over $15,000. With this smaller price point, we have seen many families can then afford to cremate their loved one without as significant of financial concerns when they choose a direct cremation in Florida.

 

Life Insurance Policy

  • If your loved one had a life insurance policy, then there is a good chance the simple cremation cost can be covered by the life insurance policy in Florida. The exacts depend on the life insurance policy and who the beneficiary is for the policy. In general, these policies can take 30 to 60 days to be paid out in Florida, so most families will need to arrange an intermediate payment plan. However, some direct cremation facilities will help you process the life insurance policy and then you do not have to defer the payment.

 

Payment Plans

  • Many direct cremation facilities include Going Home Cremations work with families for payment plans by referring them to companies that can help with payment plans. In general, the families will apply for a payment plan so they can make smaller payments for their direct cremation in Florida.

 

Burial Insurance

  • Families can purchase burial insurance and so when the time arrives that a family member passes, the insurance will cover the cremation costs. It is important that the beneficiary of the policy be involved in arranging the cremation in Florida.

 

Crowd Funding

  • We have seen an uptick in families using crowd funding to help cover cremation and burial costs. Websites like GoFundMe can help families cover some or all of the cremation costs.

 

Veteran Benefits

  • If your loved one was a veteran, when they pass, you should reach out to the VA to see if they can help covering the cremation costs.

 

Employer Programs

  • Some employers offer their employees assistance in paying for a cremation or burial when an employee or their direct family member passes.

 

Body Donation

  • You can donate your loved one’s body to science which will eliminate all costs associated with their death. However, you have no control of the body at that point.

how to pay for cremation in florida

At Going Home Cremations, we will try and help our families figure out how to pay for their loved one’s direct cremation in Florida.

Scattering Ashes and Average Cremations Cost in Florida

09.28.2020

In St. Petersburg, , there are no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter ashes. Ashes may be stored in a crypt, niche, grave, or container at home. If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many options. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so there is no public health risk involved in scattering ashes.

Ashes are called Cremains. Cremains are considered final disposition, so no laws or rules can hinder you from doing as you please with the ashes. You must be careful about scattering cremains on private property.

The average cost of cremation in the state of Florida is between $2,500 to $3,500. This is lower than a casket burial but can result in financial hardship for some individuals and their families. These prices are the average cost when dealing with a large funeral home. If you deal with the cremation establishments direct you can save thousands.

Scatterings Ashes in Florida: Rules and Where to Scatter

Our average cost for cremation is $695.00 to $1,500. We help families with the final costs of cremation by offering lower than average costs in St Petersburg, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Bradenton, Naples, Ft Myers and all of Southwest Florida. The reason our cost are so much less, is that we do not have large funeral home buildings, hearses, or funeral director staffing.

You can deal direct with the cremation facility, and pay much less, without sacrificing service. When dealing direct with the crematory at Going Home Cremations, you will receive personal caring attention at your time of need just as if you were using a funeral home, but without absorbing the cost of their overhead.

Cremation Cost vs. Burial Costs

09.28.2020
low cost cremation services in florida
low cost cremation services in florida

Burial Vs Cremation: Cost Comparison

Frequently, people choose cremation because they perceive it to be cheaper than burial.

While this is mostly true, extra options can frequently increase the total cost of cremation to as much and sometimes more than a basic burial.

Below is the approximate costs associated with each one, beginning with the basic costs and then with the added options that may be offered:

Basic Burial Services:

  • Fee for a basic service – $4000
  • Transportation of the body to the funeral home – $300
  • Preparation of the body – $200
  • Embalming – $700
  • Car for the transportation of flowers and other belongings – $130
  • Use of the staff and facility for the viewing and funeral – $900
  • Hearse – $300
  • Memorial print package such as memorial directories, registration book, acknowledgement cards – $150

Additional Burial Costs:

  • Grave plot- $1000
  • Burial vault – $1300
  • Opening and closing fee – $1200
  • Casket (metal) – $1000 – $15000
  • Headstone – $1500

Direct Cremation:

If the previous costs are unaffordable, there is another cheap cremation option. Here is a breakdown of what is included:

  • The body is cremated immediately after death. You will engage the services of a crematory,  bypassing the expense of a funeral home.
  • The body can be cremated in a simple cardboard container.
  • No memorial service is held.
  • No embalming or other preparations of the body are necessary because there is no service, viewing, or wake.

Dealing directly with a Crematorium

In most areas, you can transport the body to the crematorium and take care of the paperwork such as the death certificate and transit permits yourself.

In some states you will have to hire a funeral director for these services. Therefore, you should look into your state’s requirements in advance.

The Cost of Direct Cremation

It can be as low as $700 and usually no higher than around $2000, depending on what is mandatory in your state and also with who you deal with.

 Additional Cremation Costs:

  • Urn – $250
  • paperwork – $300

If you must use the services of a funeral director, some charge much more than others for the same service or will attempt to sell you unnecessary options.

Therefore, be sure to look around and make comparisons. For those interested, our Cremation Price Guide compares the costs from 40 different states.

Advantages of Burial:

  • Provides a gravesite for family and friends to visit
  • Considered a more natural method by some
  • Required by some religions
  • The body can be exhumed if necessary
  • May give loved ones more closure

Disadvantages of Burial:

  • Normally much more expensive than cremating
  • Difficult for loved ones who live away to visit

Cemeteries can have restrictions on leaving flowers, taking pictures, or visiting hours