Cremation in Fort Lauderdale
Cremation in Fort Lauderdale is the preferred final disposition choice the city’s residents select when making final arrangements. Its choice over burial has been growing for more than a decade and as of 2020, Florida’s cremation rate was 67.8 per cent (source). Still, making funeral arrangements is a new experience for many people. To make this process easier, here at Eirene Cremations our team has answered some of the most common cremation questions for those making final arrangements in Fort Lauderdale.
The following questions are covered in this article:
- What is the cremation process in Fort Lauderdale?
- What is the cremation cost in Fort Lauderdale?
- Is embalming required?
- What cremation funeral options are available in Fort Lauderdale?
- Is aquamation legal in Fort Lauderdale?
- What is direct cremation?
- Where can I buy a cremation urn in Fort Lauderdale?
- Can I witness a cremation in Fort Lauderdale?
- What can I do with cremated remains?
- Who regulates cremation in Fort Lauderdale?
- Is financial assistance available for end-of-life arrangements in Fort Lauderdale?
- Can I preplan cremation arrangements in Fort Lauderdale?
- Who can I call to make cremation arrangements?
What is the cremation process in Fort Lauderdale?
Below are standard steps associated with cremations in Fort Lauderdale Florida.
Reporting the death
All deaths occurring in Florida must be reported to the appropriate personnel. General protocol is as follows:
- Unexpected or sudden death. Call 9-1-1. If a death occurs under supervised care, a facility’s staff will handle this.
- Expected Death. An expected death typically means that a post death plan is in place which includes steps on how to handle it. Calling a funeral provider or physician is usually the first step in a post-death plan. Emergency services need not be contacted unless the death is suspicious or there is no post-death plan.
Cremation documentation in Fort Lauderdale
A licensed funeral home typically submits funeral documentation to authorities in Florida, but it can be completed by the deceased person’s family if desired.
Standard cremation paperwork includes:
- Death certificate: Official statement of death that must be signed by an attending physician or medical examiner before cremation or burial can occur.
- Vital Statistics Form: Contains identifying information about the deceased person needed to complete other documentation.
- Cremation authorization form: Provides legal consent for the funeral providers to handle cremation services.
- Release form: Authorizes the funeral home to transport the deceased person's body.
Cremation process
Cremation begins with body preparation. However, regulations in Florida require a 48-hour waiting period after death before the cremation process can begin.
Medical implants (e.g., pacemakers) that pose a risk to crematorium staff are removed. Other metals (e.g., dental fillings) remain in the body and are later separated from cremated remains and recycled.
Next, the body is placed in a cremation container and placed in a retort (cremation chamber). The body is exposed to extreme heat (1400 to 1800 F / 760 to 980 Celsius), which reduces organic matter to bone fragments. Bones are further reduced to a powder, called “ashes.”
How much does cremation cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Cremation costs in Fort Lauderdale run from $1,000 to $3,500 on average. Standard cremation services and fees included are:
- Documentation ($100 to $400)
- Transportation ($150 to $350)
- Storage ($90 to $300 or around $35 per day)
- Embalming ($400 to $700)
- Body preparation ($100 to $500)
- Cremation cost ($250 to $450)
- Professional services and staff fees ($200 to $2,000+)
- Ceremony/celebrations ($0 to $2,000+)
- Urn purchase ($10 to $2,000+)
- Cremation container/casket (usually under $500/$100 to $500+)
- Urn Interment ($500 to $4,000+)
For more details see our Cremation Cost in Fort Lauderdale article.
Is embalming required in Fort Lauderdale?
Embalming is a chemical preservation technique that slows down physiological changes after death. The process is not mandatory in Florida, but state regulations require that a body be refrigerated or embalmed within 24 hours after death. Learn more.
What cremation funeral options are available in Fort Lauderdale?
Individuals can opt for simpler cremation services or include traditional services (e.g., visitation, procession, mass, etc.). They can hold services before or after cremation. Or incorporate a sustainable sustainable choices for funerals using a biodegradable urn.
What is water cremation and is it legal in Fort Lauderdale?
Water cremation, also known as aquamation, is a water-based disposition that uses alkaline hydrolysis to reduce organic matter in the body to ashes. The process is legal and available in Florida. (Learn more.). You can also learn more in our Aquamation FAQ.
What is direct cremation, and is it available in Fort Lauderdale?
Direct cremation involves cremating someone shortly after death. This eliminates the need and costs associated with traditional funeral services (e.g., embalming, wake, etc.), making it more affordable. Eirene Cremations offers this arrangement.
Where can I buy a cremation urn in Fort Lauderdale?
Cremation urns are sold online, through retailers, from funeral providers, etc. A wide selection of urns for various needs and budgets can be found on the Eirene Urn Store.
Who regulates cremation in Fort Lauderdale?
Cremation in Florida is regulated by the Division and the Board of the Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services in the Florida Department of Financial Services.
The roles of the Division and the Board are described in Chapter 497 of the Florida Statutes. In addition, chapter 69K of the Florida Administrative Code provides information about the death care industry. (Learn more).
Can I witness a cremation in Fort Lauderdale?
Witnessing involves viewing a deceased loved one before cremation and/or watching the start of the cremation process. Many providers in Fort Lauderdale offer witnessing packages.
Is financial assistance available for end-of-life arrangements in Fort Lauderdale?
There are several federal and state financial funeral assistance programs to help Fort Lauderdale residents afford arrangements. You can see detailed information in this article: Help with funeral expenses in Florida.
What can I do with cremated remains?
Cremated remains are typically kept, buried, scattered, or interred in a columbarium. However, many options on what can be done with ashes. Examples include:
- Launching ashes into space
- Support marine life with a memorial reef.
- Pressing ashes into a vinyl record.
- Turning ashes into a diamond.
- Solidifying ashes into memorial stones.
Related information
Here is some related information about cremation and final arrangements in Florida.
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- Cremation cost in Jacksonville
- Cremation cost in Miami
- Cremation cost in Fort Lauderdale
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