When you lose a loved one, the first big question isn't when they will be laid to rest, but how it will be done. While some people choose to be buried, others opt to be cremated. Cremation might sound strange sometimes, especially if it's not popular in your culture. But what would happen if you choose to be cremated instead of being buried? If you wish to be cremated when you die, pre-planning the cremation service is critical and here's how you do it to make the process easier for your family:
Review and Clarify Your Decision
Share your mind with your family members before you finally decide to be cremated. Don't just focus on what you want, but also on the impact your decision will have on your family members. When you convince your family why you should be cremated, the plans begin to take shape, and everybody participates without duress.
Before you choose a cremation service, find out the benefits it has over a burial service. If some of your family members live abroad, cremation might be a suitable option since the disposition of your remains can be done in several ways. Check if the funeral home in your area has a crematory and talk to a funeral director to understand the process.
Get Prepared
Cremation is just like the other legal processes that can't proceed without some legal documents. Find out from the funeral director the legal documents they will require for the cremation service to take place. First, you will need a cremation authorisation form, which your family members should sign in good time. Find out from the funeral director how long it will take your family to get your death certificate and if there's anything you could do to make it easier for them. Without a cremation authorisation form and death certificate, a cremation permit will not be issued. Set some funds aside for your cremation service and check if your life policies can adequately cover it, so you don't overburden your family.
Understand the Process
Understand the cremation time-frame to avoid guesswork in the process. According to most funeral home directors, the body should be cremated between five to seven days after death. Conducting the memorial services before the cremation service begins makes the set time-frame more practical. Once you understand the process, you could decide how you want the family members to be involved in it. Where possible, allow your family members to determine how the memorial service will be conducted, how the urn will be collected and even who will collect it.
Proper pre-planning helps to achieve a streamlined and straightforward cremation process. Choose a funeral home in good time and let the funeral directors help pre-plan the cremation service to save your family unnecessary grief, financial constraints and stress after your death.
For more information on cremation, reach out to a local funeral home.
