Funerals, Cremations and Cemetery
Plots in Florida
Dealing with a bereavement is
an extremely stressful time, especially so if you are responsible for making
funeral arrangements. This article aims to guide you through the
process of arranging a funeral or cremation in Florida, hopefully answering
many of the basic questions you may have.
There are some 1300+ funeral
homes in the state of Florida, and some 300+ cemeteries, crematories and
Memorial Parks. No wonder then, that it can be a daunting decision
choosing a funeral director to take care of your funeral needs.
Florida is the fourth most
populated state in the United States, also being home to a large retirement
population and a transient population seeking a warmer climate. This
does mean that an above-average percentage of deaths can occur in Florida,
and many families are often left with the task of transporting a deceased
family member back to their state of origin.
US Funerals Online provides
a comprehensive directory of all funeral homes and funeral
parlors in Florida. In addition our web site is a resource guide
of information and we can signpost you to reputable companies who service
the funeral industry. There are many ways to save money on arranging
a funeral service in Florida, such as buying
a casket online, buying a headstone direct, or even locating a cemetery
plot.
The Cost of Funerals in Florida
The average cost of a funeral
in Florida these days can amount to $6,500 or more. For many Americans
struggling under the burden of our economical recession, this can be an
overwhelming financial liability, especially when the deceased has made
no financial provisions.
Cemetery plots and burial
vaults can add a significant additional cost to a funeral, with a cemetery
plot in Florida costing anything between $600 - $3,000. Florida law
does not stipulate that you need to purchase a burial vault, although certain
cemeteries may insist on it. You should note that a cemetery company
cannot require that you purchase a vault or grave liner from their company.
It is recommended that you carefully check a cemetery’s regulations before
committing to a cemetery plot.
The cremation rate is higher
than average in Florida, with cremations in some areas starting from as
little $495. Cremation is increasingly popular with the baby boomer
generation and many retirees, hence why it is more popular in the state
of Florida. It is also much easier to transport cremated remains
from Florida to another state or country.
Arranging a Disposition in Florida
A licensed funeral director
(licensed in Florida) can perform funeral services in Florida. The
funeral director will collect the deceased from the place of death and
coordinate disposition arrangements. A ‘direct disposal establishment’
that performs direct cremations can also directly supply cremation services.
You can apply to have a family
burial plot on your own property. Florida law allows for this on
less than two acres of land and without any rights to sell burial spaces.
You need to check local deed restrictions and zoning regulations.
You can contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for
further information.
Cremations in Florida
As mentioned earlier, the cremation
rate in Florida is above-average and increasing. Florida is one of
the states in the U.S. where a direct cremation is cheaper than most other
states. A simple, direct cremation can be conducted in Florida for
as little as $495. Cremation is increasing in popularity as more
people opt for simplified end-of-life rituals, at lower cost. Also,
it enables families to decide upon their own type of memorial service to
be arranged at a time best-suited to all family members.
DFS Memorials of Florida
can connect you to your nearest low-cost funeral and cremation provider.
Florida law allows for ash
scattering on any land, but not in any Florida fresh water. You must
check with the landowner as spreading ashes on private property could be
construed as establishing a cemetery. If in doubt, check with the
Department of Environmental Protection.
Ash scattering at sea is
more common in Florida as obviously the state has a beautiful coastline
and the easy means by which to arrange a sea burial. The United States
Coast Guard issues permits for burials at sea within a three-mile limit.
The Neptune Reef is also
situated just off the coast of Florida and provides a unique way to immortalize
a loved one.
Embalming in Florida
The state of Florida does NOT
require embalming. Law stipulates that a body must be refrigerated, or
embalmed, within 24 hours of death.
Pre-planning a Funeral in Florida
A pre-paid funeral plan or funeral
insurance can be a great way to alleviate family of the decision process
and financial burden of arranging funeral services. Pre-need funeral
plans in Florida are state regulated. All pre-need plans must be
secured by one of the following: a trust account, a letter of credit or
an insurance policy. There is a cap on the dollar amount a policy
can be established for in conjunction with a pre-need plan, this amount
is $12, 500. A funeral director, or a licensed broker, can sell pre-need
contracts in Florida.
Obtaining a Death Certificate
in Florida
The funeral home will ordinarily
obtain the death certificate for you if they are handling your disposition
arrangements. If you need to obtain a death certificate, or further
copies, you will need to contact the county office of the Department of
Vital Statistics.
If a Death Occurs Outside of
Florida, or the deceased needs transporting to another state
If your loved one has died away
from home and you need to transport the body back, the funeral director
will need a burial transit permit. This is issued by the local registrar
of the district, and can only be issued if there are no questions remaining
about the cause of death. If your loved one has died in Florida and
you need to transport the body to another state, you may need the services
of a funeral director specialized in funeral shipping. This often
requires the liaison of funeral directors, both where the body is being
shipped from and to.
Transporting the deceased
can become quite costly, sometimes amounting to as much as $3, 500 plus
the shipping fee. For this reason many people choose to arrange a
cremation at the place of death, and arrange for the transportation of
the cremated remains.
If you need further information
about shipping a loved one from, or to, Florida – please visit our funeral
shipping page.
Whole Body Donation in Florida
Another possible option for
end-of-life choices today is to opt for a whole
body donation to science. This is a means by which your whole
body can be donated as an ‘anatomical gift’. If you wish to donate
your body to science in Florida, you have the option of donating your body
to one of the Universities or Medical Schools that accept donations, or
you can make a whole body donation to Biogift.org, a national organization
that manages whole body donation to establishments across the U.S.
Biogift.org facilities a
whole body donation at no cost to the donor. They arrange to collect
the deceased, coordinate the donation, cremation of the remains and the
return the remains to the family – usually within about 2 weeks.
Visit Biogift.org for further
information.
If you have a complaint about
how a funeral has been conducted in Florida
It does not happen very often
as the industry is now very well regulated, however, should you have cause
to make a formal complaint about a funeral home, you can put your complaint
in writing to:
The Division of Funeral,
Cemetery and Consumer Services
200 E. Gaines Street
Tallahassee
Florida 32399
If you need further information
about the funeral industry in Florida contact:
Florida Cemetery, Cremation
and Funeral Association
325 John Knox Road
Ste. L103
Tallahassee
Florida 32303
ffda.org
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