Laws Regarding Cremations

Cremations are quickly coming into the forefront of American culture and are definitely growing in popularity. As cremations become more popular, people have lots of questions about cremation laws.

We here at Plinton Curry Funeral Home want to make sure all our customers have a complete and thorough understanding of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to cremations. This way, you as a consumer know we follow all laws and provide high quality, reliable and compassionate cremations.

So read on to learn more about laws regarding cremations.

Authorizations, Permits and Licenses

There are laws that require a next of kin or authorizing agent to authorize a cremation before it can take place. Cremation providers must have a completed authorization form before any cremations.

You will also need a cremation permit before the cremation. They are issued by local government and usually cost between $10 and $40.

Cremation providers need documents too! Licensed and certified cremation providers have to follow special rules and important regulations to follow safety guidelines and provide consumer protection.

There are more laws about body transportation and other cremation-related things. For example, you can transport a body across state lines for cremations, however if the travel will take over 24 hours, embalming is required. Or if the transportation is via plane, you will have to provide or purchase a designated aircraft mortuary-shipping container.

Merchandise and Post-Cremation

While you are not required to purchase any special products for cremation, you must have a cremation box or casket for cremation. While you are more than welcome to purchase a special or elaborate box, you can also use a simple container provided by the cremation business. There aren’t any other required purchases for cremations, but there are products you can choose to purchase if you desire.

Similarly, there are also some laws regarding what you can or cannot do with the remains after cremation. For example, many states prohibit scattering ashes in public places without special permissions or mixing cremated remains with those of another person. Be sure to check your local state laws.

Cremation costs are also highly regulated. Crematories and funeral homes that offer cremations are required to provide clear and concise descriptions of all services included each cremation price, as people who gave recently suffered a loss might be more susceptible to bad business practices. While cremations range in cost from $450 to up to $5,000, depending on the service and merchandise, the basics in what’s offered are similar and regulated.

Funeral homes and crematories are also prohibited from making false or exaggerated statements about merchandise or body guarantees.

Plinton Curry Funeral Home

Plinton Curry Funeral Home features two locations: 411 West Broad Street, Westfield NJ 07090 and 428 Elizabeth Ave, Somerset NJ 08873. Each location is convenient for cremations in South Plainfield, NJ. We here at Plinton Curry Funeral Home are all about clear and honest service, so if you have any questions about cremation laws, or simply want to learn more about how we can help you and your family, give us a call at 908-232-6869 or 732-469-3300.