FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is death?
Death has not been discussed. What do we do?
What Is A Funeral Provider Require by Law to Do?
Can A Mortuary Require A Handling Fee For An Outside Casket Purchase?
What Is Cremation?
Can we Scatter Cremains?
Medical Examiner & Autopsies When Is An Autopsy Required?
Embalming: What is it? Is Embalming Required by Law?
Can We Use Another Mortuary?
We Do Not Have A Grave Space, What Do We Do?
My Spouse is a Veteran, What Are We Entitled To?
Do We Need A Vault?
Do We Have To Buy The Vault From The Cemetery?
What is a Grave Liner?
Shipping of Remains
Death is defined as permanent cession of all vital functions, including those of the heart, lungs and brain.
First, since "End of Life," issues have not been discussed there are several points to consider.
What were the wishes of the deceased? Is there a will, trust, insurances or other codicil? In other words is there a legal instrument that directs the family or those responsible for Final Disposition. Is there a Power of Attorney for health care? Is there a Preneed funeral arrangement with a Mortuary? Which Mortuary? Are there Shipping Issues?
Families must choose between burial and cremation. If the choice is cremation, the next decision is the disposition of the deceased's cremains? Cremains may be held in residence, buried, or scattered at sea, or shipped worldwide.
Next, choose your death care provider. Do you want a "Corporate Owned," or Independently Owned death care provider?
What's the family budget? Is there a PreNeed, Pension or Insurance? Determine your financial ability before you call a mortuary or crematory. Know The Costs, Stay within your means and do not let the cost add to your grief because of your emotional state.
Do Not Make Decisions Under Stress. Do Not Compress Your Time For Making Arrangements and Service.
Call the mortuary of your choice, to set a time for arrangements and the transfer of your loved one to their facility.
What Is A Funeral Arrangement? - A funeral Arrangement is the setting down with Family, Friends and Party Responsible for Final Disposition, (Service) with a Funeral Director or Funeral Arranger You Will Need To Determine What You Want To Do. Sign Documents and Give Death Certificate Information. This is a personal time to carefully decide what if any service you want and how your wishes are to be accomplished. But remember this is your time your way. Have a Service Your Way. Make Sure You Understand The Mortuary Contract. Know What The Cash Advance Items Are. Make Sure All Merchandise Is Described. Know What you Have Purchased.
Funeral Providers are regulated by FTC and DCA (Department of Consumer Affairs) There are (3) items that are to be given a family to keep prior to making an "Arrangement) The first is the (Consumer Guide to Funeral & Cemetery Purchases) Second, the (GPL) General Price List. Third, (CPL) Casket Price List. AtNeed Family Service Councilors by California Law Business & Professions Code 7635; Subdivision; 7615 Must by Law have documented training or have passed the Law Class (ARRANGEMENT COUNSELOR TRAINING) and demonstrate knowledge of all laws applicable to state and federal laws and those pertaining to anatomical gifts and vital statistics, Coroner and other laws and rules pertaining to the duties of the Funeral Director. Request to see a Funeral Directors License or Current Documented Training of a Councilor. Protect your family.
Have all pertinent information for Death Certificate information and Social Security. Know about how many certified copies of death you will need, based on property, assets and any titled possessions.
NOTE: Death Certificates in California are $12.00 each, the Disposition Permit is $ 11.00, the DCA fee for Cremations is $ 8.50 and the faxing fee is $ 3.00. It is illegal for any mortuary or crematory to "MarkUp," state charges. There is also no additional charge to expedite death certificates. Mortuaries and crematories have to all go through the same process. Options; Either pickUp the Death Certificates at the Mortuary, Request the Mortuary to have the Death Certificates Mailed Directly To You from the Health Department.
SERVICES - Decide what's best for the family; Is it a full funeral? Visitation and Memorial Service, Memorial Service, Graveside Only, Family and Friends Gathering.
Remember: The only thing "Normal," about the Death Experience is "Nothing Is Normal." You the family should have what you want your way irrespective of what anyone else thinks. There is no set way that a service must be done.
Where and When - Having a service can be stressful at this difficult at best time. Discuss with the family as to where and when you want to have Service. Do Not set unreasonable times for travel always consider the safety of those that travel and the age of those traveling.
How Soon Does Grief Pass? There is no magic answer. The reality of death and dying has changed because of the internet and technologic games that have resets. Unfortunately, there is no reset to start the game of life over. Grief is different for everybody, there is no time line. A guide for making peace with death is a year. Family relations and many other variables dictate how you feel.
Anytime you are in pain say so, to others that's companioning. If you're depressed and just cannot get up then seek professional help.
THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT ANY CASKET WITH A SEALING DEVICE WILL PRESERVE HUMAN REMAINS
CASKETS: Caskets are made of many materials from Fiber Board to Bronze.
What Kind of Casket Do You Need?
Most families have no idea? Do you want metal, or wood? Is the interior Velvet, Crape or Taffeta. Do your religious beliefs dictate a pine box and no interior? One of the most important considerations is How Big Is Your Loved One and How Heavy. This is not being anything but forthright. In other words caskets are made for weight and size. Lifting Handles either Stationary or Swing Bar are specifically designed for specific weights. Caskets come in Standard, Large Standard and Oversize. Large Standard Caskets serve two purposes. One the casket fits into a standard vault without buying an oversize. Secondly and most importantly the Larger Standard accommodates a larger American. OVERSIZE Caskets are for the obese to morbidly obese. Caskets come in Fiber Board (Cardboard) Woods such as Oak, Cherry, Cedar, Walnut, and Mahogany. Metal caskets (Steel Copper) are in Gauge of metal, 12, 18, and 20. Bronze Caskets are by Ounce i.e. 32. Caskets are also Protective and NonProtective. What does that mean? Steel Caskets if they are Protective have a Gasketed Locking System that keeps the natural elements out for as long as it is intact in the grave. NonProtective Caskets have No Locking Device or Gasket to keep natural elements such as water out.
Buyer Beware: When you purchase a Hardwood Casket, be absolutely sure you have purchased what you wanted. Some caskets have a Veneer covering over a pine or other wood and stains or pressboards that have the appearance of a more expensive casket.
California (B&P) Business & Professions Code 7702; Strictly forbids the reuse and resale of a casket by a Funeral Provider, Purchaser or Retail Casket Outlet. When you purchase a casket from a source other than a Licensed Funeral Director, then you leave yourself open to additional problems.
Why? Remember Retail Outlets are commissioned sales and not professionally trained. They have never seen your loved one. Should you make a purchase, and its incorrect casket stores are under no obligation to take back the casket nor can a casket be reused once human remains have been placed into the casket. There are also restocking fees and disposal fees at retail outlets. Remember size and weight does matter. Check with your Funeral Director to see if an outside purchase will meet the requirements necessary.
No. Handling fees are Illegal. However, if the Mortuary or Crematory of choice offers "Package Prices," they are under no obligation to pass the savings along, when the casket is an outside purchase. What's That Mean? Simply put, Funeral Providers then go to the (GPL) General Price List and you pay Al A Carte. This means that you will lose all the savings that you thought you were saving by not purchasing a casket from the mortuary of choice. Know what your costs are.
Cremation Rental Caskets - Do we have to buy a casket for cremation? No! The purpose of a rental casket is so the family does not incur additional costs of a casket for cremation. A rental casket has at the cremation container inside with a casket interior fixed. At the end of a visitation or service the cremation container with the deceased is removed from the foot end of the casket as it has a removable panel built for this application. The top of the cremation container is placed onto the cremation container (Fiberboard) and taken to the crematory. Cremation containers are a heavy fiberboard box that holds the deceased until all permits and certificates are filed with the local Office of Vital Records. It is required by law that all unembalmed bodies be refrigerated within 24 hours after death to retard decomposition. Casket for Transportation to the Crematory is "NOT," Required By Law. Do Not Allow Yourself to Be Pressured Into Buying a Casket for Transport of the Deceased.
Cremation is the destruction and reduction of human remains, by reducing them to bone a bone fragment using high heat and flame. The cremation chamber is called a (Retort). The retort is preheated, the remains are identified to be sure that the right family member is being cremated. The remains are in a heavy fiberboard box or wooden casket depending on family desire. The remains are loaded into the preheated retort and the doors close. The afterburner and timer are set and with heat, flame and pressure the remains are reduced to bone fragments in an average of one hour thirty minutes. The time allotment for cremation depends upon the size and weight of the remains. This is based on adults; babies take moments to a few minutes. Once the cremation process is complete the retort and cremains are cooled. The bone and fragments are placed into a pulverizer which reduces all bone and fragments to a flour and sand consistency. It is the desire of the crematory operator to retrieve as much of the decedent as possible, by sweeping out the retort and blowing air. The cremains are then placed into a heavy plastic bag with a metal tag that is numbered. This number correlates to the cremains, crematory and Funeral Director. The cremains are then placed into an urn of family choice or readied for Burial at Sea. Retorts are designed to hold only one remains and not many. Animals cannot be cremated with human remains. There are stringent regulations and accountability that apply.
Do We Get Services With A Direct Cremation?
No, direct cremations are just that. There is no service, viewing or ceremony. The decedent is taken from refrigeration after the Disposition Permit and Death Certificate is filed with the San Diego Board of Health. Until the Disposition Permit and Death Certificate are filed no Funeral Director can proceed with burial or cremation without final disposition permit. Each Mortuary has different cremation options or you the family can hold your own services which do not require mortuary staff.
Some families or religions want to witness the family member being placed into the retort, and that is done. There are some requirements and additional charge for doing this. Check with the Funeral Director.
Certainly. There are requirements for scattering cremains as prescribed by California Law, H&S 7116 Health & Safety Code; States those Cremains that are scattered cannot be distinguishable to the public. You must have the written permission of the owner to scatter on private or governmental lands. You cannot scatter in inland waterways. Scattering at Sea must be off the coast at least 500 yards. When you scatter cremains keep the metal tag, so that law enforcement does not find it. There are fines and misdemeanor charges if Cremains are improperly discharged. The Disposition Permit must accurately reflect where the Cremains are to be scattered and the number one copy returned to Vital Records within 10 days after final disposition.
Can We Keep a Small Amount of Cremains? Yes, you can have a small amount of cremains for keepsakes. However the Disposition Permit requires you show that in percentage kept. In some cases families want enough Cremains for keepsakes that additional Disposition Permits are required at $11.00 each.
Role of the Coroner: By law, the Coroner has the duty and responsibility to inquire into and determine the cause and manner of death in a variety of situations. The types of death to be investigated are: All violent, sudden or unusual deaths and unattended death. Deaths where the patient has not been seen by a physician for more than 20 days. Death due to selfinduced or criminal abortion, homicide, accident, drowning or other injury, fire or gunshot and/or stabbing. The Medical Examiner takes charge in any questionable or unnatural death. Once, the Medical Examiner takes the remains irrespective of religion or custom the loved one cannot be released until the Medical Examiner concludes the autopsy and investigation. San Diego, Medical Examiner Fee is $173.00
Medical Examiner Waive Number - What Is That? Waive numbers are numbers obtained from the Medical Examiner by Funeral Directors as example when death has occurred in and expected manner such as Hospice care. What does this mean? The Funeral Director submits a Death Certificate too the Medical Examiner with causes of death from the attending Physician. The Medical Examiner assigns a number then the Death Certificate can be normally processed and filed along with the Disposition Permit at the Health Department Office of Vital Records. Funeral, Burial or cremation can then proceed.
Embalming, is the replacement of blood and the washing out of the cardiovascular system i.e. arteries veins and body organs with typically a formaldehyde solution or embalming fluids with a complex GlutaraldehydeAldehydes that have preservative factors, cosmetic, lanolin and humectants for preservation of the decedent. Embalming is done for the primary reason of sanitation and preservation. Embalming is done to preserve the decedent for an undetermined time while giving a lifelike appearance in death. Embalming is the vanguard of public health. Embalming should be done for visitations or services where the casket is open. The embalming process preserves the deceased, gives a more natural appearance to visitations. Embalming stops and slows the decomposition of dead human remains, while lessening the trauma to others seeing a dead body that is not prepared. Embalming is not Required By Law: FTC 453.5
We Do Not Want Embalming
There is no law requiring embalming: FTC 453.5 Families can still have services and should not defer because embalming has not been done. It is however recommended that if a casket is to be placed in a crypt that the body be pouched because of the liabilities of blood and body product leakage as decomposition progresses. This is the same recommendation should the family elect to use a cloth covered or wood casket. Protecting the public health is paramount. Metal caskets in most cases will not leak if they are NonProtective some do. Protective Caskets those with sealing devices are safe for unembalmed bodies. Why? Casket companies use vacuum checking to test for leaks.
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is required by California State Law CCR 1223.1 (d). Funeral Directors are required to place human remains into refrigeration within 24 hours of death. Refrigeration of covered remains in a fiberboard container slows the decomposition process of the body. Refrigeration is used for remains awaiting cremation or burial and because of religious customs cannot be embalmed. Refrigeration is also necessary while causes of death are obtained from the Physician and until the Death Certificate and Disposition Permit can be filed at the office of Vital Records.
Removal
Removal is a mortuary term used to indicate the taking of the deceased from place of death to the mortuary or crematory facility. Typically, the deceased is wrapped in a sheet, identification tags are placed on either the arm or leg as per state law. The remains are placed on a mortuary cot with either a plastic shroud or body bag to protect everyone from blood and body products discharged after death. It is paramount to protect others from any infectious contamination.
Are Removal Fees Included In The Price? At ALL FAITHS Mortuary & Crematory FD1733 the Removal Fee is included in a 30 mile radius of San Diego. The fee per loaded mile beyond 30 miles is $3.00 per mile. But not all mortuaries include the removal fee. Mortuaries have the option of using their own staff or Removal Services that are companies that remove remains for mortuaries and crematories.
Yes, the family has the right to select the mortuary of their choice. What is required is a release for the other mortuary. The holding mortuary must immediately release the deceased to the families' choice of mortuary (B&P 7706). No mortuary has the right to refuse to release a body or hold a body for charges.
You have options; those are paying the local cemetery fees or corporate owned cemetery fees, or use a cemetery broker. What is a Cemetery Broker? The capacity of a Cemetery Broker is to sell properties in cemeteries that were previously owned by other families for a fraction of the current costs that can average $5,800.00 to $12,000.00. Typical cemetery fees include; Space Cost, Opening and Closing of the Grave, Vault and setting fees, Title Fees. These same properties through a Cemetery Broker average $2,500.00 to $3,500.00. Niches and burial space for urns in ground or mausoleum all have properties that a Cemetery Broker can help you with.
The Veteran and spouse and minor children are entitled to free burial in a National Cemetery such as Ft. Rosecrans in San Diego or Riverside National in Riverside, CA.
Veterans are entitled to burial in any National Cemetery in the nation. The Veteran and spouse are also entitled to free grave markers. There is also a $250.00 Veterans benefit for the surviving spouse, should there be one. At National Cemeteries a vault or grave liner is included at government expense. There is no out of pocket expense for burial in a National Cemetery.
What Do We Need To Get In? What is required for admittance for burial in a National Cemetery is a DD214 or Honorable Discharge. The Veteran must have a minimum of 180 days of active duty service to be eligible.
Most all cemeteries require a vault for in ground burial of caskets and urns. Families need to recognize that a great deal of weight is on top of a grave, the grave without a vault or grave liner can collapse, thus causing great damage to the family member and to those that walk, mow and maintain the surface. Vaults come in Topseal, Airseal, Fiberglass, HDPE (High Density Polyethylene.) Standard vaults come in unfinished concrete, and are fine for most applications. Better quality vaults are concrete with outside asphalt coating and a tongue and grove asphalt sealing to assist in keeping the elements out. The HighEnd vaults are those that are concrete with asphalt outer coating and internally lined with either 316th stainless steel, or copper. How well you want your family member protected is again your decision. The choice of vault or liner system is dependent on the water table of the cemetery and your concerns as to the soil being acidic or alkaline.
No, again you have the option of buying the vault from a funeral director or third party as long as it meets the requirements of the cemetery. Some cemeteries charge an inspection fee, even though they may get their vaults from the same source you did. Fees are charged for vault itself, delivery and installation fee. If you purchase a vault from a third party some cemeteries require the lid be put on at the end of the graveside ceremony to release the cemetery of liability for damage.
Typically, Grave Liners are made from Concrete or HDPE (Hi Density Polyethylene). The design of a grave liner is such that it is bell shaped, without a bottom, the casket sits on the bottom of the grave. The grave liner is placed over the casket in the grave it offers little protection to the casket, its primary use is to prevent collapse of the grave from the weight of the soil and normal cemetery equipment. Grave liners are also used for religious customs. there are religions such as the Jewish and Muslim that use grave liners, allowing advanced deterioration of the wooden casket and remains.
This is done everyday, there are different requirements and Airline Fares and Requirements. Speak to your Funeral Director because of the detail involved in worldwide shipping.
We at ALL FAITHS have representatives from Los Angeles, CA to the East Coast to handle our shipping requirements of either casketed remains or cremains around the world. Our representatives handle our Consulate requirements for repatriation anywhere in the world. We also customarily use two airlines in San Diego, CA for domestic shipping