Who Has Legal Rights to Cremation in Texas

In recent years, there has been a greater demand for alternative and even more affordable burials. Interest in cremation services in Texas has grown because it offers a cheaper option than a traditional funeral service. The cost of cremation in Texas can be less than $1,000, so a meaningful and affordable burial can be done for one-tenth the cost of an elaborate traditional burial. Important note: While the Code sets out minimum requirements for people to sign, most funeral directors require all parties to sign a cremation permit at the same level of kinship. This ensures that everyone with a legal right to decide knows that cremation has been chosen as the final method of disposal. Texas law states that for deaths that occurred within the last 25 years, the people legally entitled to request a certified copy of the death certificate are: “Sara, that was an incredibly quick response. Thank you for updating the Maine page with information about the General Assistance Program for Funeral and Cremation Expenses. I find your website informative and very helpful. David Bailey, Maine If the deceased has a prepaid funeral plan or has expressed wishes, funeral arrangements should go well. Contacting the funeral home or cremation provider comes next, so read on for details. Ann and Curtis agreed that Thomas wanted to be cremated and buried his remains next to Irene in a family grave in a Houston cemetery.

Ann and Curtis agreed that Thomas left no writing as to who would control the disposal of his ashes during cremation. Ann and Curtis wanted that responsibility. A: Texas law allows people to receive an anatomical donation at research or medical institutions in the state. The majority of medical schools accept body donations. Some companies organize whole-body donation programs and offer “free” cremation in Texas. When the waiting period is over, cremation can continue. The cremation permit must be signed by the next of kin before the cremation form is issued. Under Texas law, cremation is technically defined as the irreversible process of reducing human remains to bone fragments through extreme heat and evaporation, which may include the treatment or spraying of bone fragments. Sounds nice, right? A cremation with memorial is really not much different from a burial, only the deceased is cremated instead of being buried. There are several ways to perform cremation in Texas.

You can arrange a funeral service with the deceased before cremation or perform a cremation and hold a memorial with the ashes present or missing. In Texas, you can use the burial and transit permit issued by the locally registered cremation permit. The permit is issued upon presentation of the death certificate. Often, families assume they know who the next of kin are, but later discover that they are wrong. Knowing what Texas considers to be the next of kin is often helpful, especially when direct cremation arrangements are made. After the prescribed waiting period, cremation can be performed. The next of kin must sign a cremation permit form and a cremation permit will be issued. Whether you`re for or against cremation, make sure your family knows your preferences as part of your comprehensive estate plan. An experienced estate planning lawyer can explain your options, discuss your situation, and help you make the right decision for you. Despite its legal description in Texas, cremation is gaining popularity in the United States. Over the past fifty years, the number of Americans choosing cremation has increased tenfold, from about 4% in 1958 to 40% today.

It can be very intimidating to know what to do first when a death occurs. If a death occurs in Texas, the determination of death must be made by a coroner, justice of the peace or attending physician. If the deceased had a prepaid funeral plan or had expressed wishes, these can be implemented immediately and you will need to find the documents and contact the appropriate funeral home or cremation provider. Nevertheless, many people have a strong opinion about cremation. Some of us have no problem with the idea of our remains being cremated, or certainly prefer them because of their lesser impact on our environment. However, others strongly oppose it, whether for themselves or for a loved one. Expect the crematorium to ask you to hire an undertaker to plan the cremation. If you don`t want to hire a funeral director, you should at least contact the crematorium to see if they take the body directly from the family. You can make an anatomical donation to a medical or research facility in the state of Texas. Most major medical schools accept body donations. You`ll also notice that there are companies in the U.S. that run whole-body donation programs and offer free cremation in Texas.

Please note that not all donations are accepted at the time of death. Therefore, it is advisable to have a plan for a cremation service provider. Direct cremation in Texas is growing in popularity. Direct cremation simply means that immediate cremation is performed without service and without minimal services and procedures by a funeral home. The deceased is usually picked up at the place of death and taken to the funeral home or crematorium. At the end of the 48-hour waiting period, the deceased is cremated (usually in a simple cardboard container) and the cremated remains are then returned to the family. This guide to arranging funerals or cremations in Texas has hopefully answered some of your questions. Please use our library of funeral resources to access additional articles to help you arrange a funeral. In the state of Texas, there are also no laws requiring you to use a casket for cremation. In all cases, federal law requires the funeral home or crematorium to present your alternative containers. In addition, you should also be able to buy them an alternative container. Typically, these containers are made of cardboard, pressed wood, unprocessed wood or fibreboard.

Direct cremation in Texas can usually be obtained for the cost between $595 and $995 (depending on where you live in Texas). In some rural areas, direct cremation can be much higher, but if you look around and compare cremation prices, you should be able to get low-cost direct cremation in Texas. People have been looking for more affordable options for years. As a result, interest in cremation services has increased sharply. You can even pay less than $1,000 for cremation in Texas without sacrificing too much on the ceremony. As for the cost, you can pay between $695 and $1200 for direct cremation. It also depends on where you live in Texas. Expect to pay more in some rural areas; Either way, look around to get the best deal for direct cremation. According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), the cremation rate in the United States increased from 47% in 2014 to 48.6% in 2015. CANA predicts that the cremation rate in the United States will reach 54.3% by 2020. Texas has strict laws about who can authorize cremation and who has the right to control remains. Section 711,002.

DISPOSAL OF MORTAL REMAINS; (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (l), the following persons on the priority list shall have the right to inspect the disposition, including cremation, of the remains of the deceased and shall be liable for the reasonable cost of burial in accordance with paragraph (a-1): Texas law allows individuals to give instructions for the disposal of remains, including cremation, in a valid will, prepaid funeral contract or written deed that we have signed and accepted in accordance with the law. Considering what you want for the burial and disposal of your remains is part of a comprehensive estate plan. More and more people are opting for direct cremation for many reasons. In the case of direct cremation, there is no service, and there are also minimal measures on the part of the funeral home. Coffins are not required by law in Texas, but there may be cemetery or mausoleum restrictions regarding caskets and external burial containers or vaults. The law does not require a casket for cremation, but some type of container such as a cardboard box or canvas bag is usually required by the crematorium. It is important to know who the legal parent is before the time of death. The Texas Health & Safety Code specifically outlines the order of priority for next of kin. This is where funeral directors like aCremation turn to counselling to determine who is ultimately responsible for cremation arrangements. This person is legally referred to as the “right of disposition”. Death is still a little-discussed topic in our culture today. Something that many people suddenly have to face without ever having openly thought about what the funeral care process is.

Many funeral directors in Texas offer pre-planning services. If you`re grieving recently and need to arrange a funeral or cremation, US Funerals Online can help you find the services you need in Texas. If you`re worried about funeral expenses, DFS Memorials providers in Texas offer low-cost cremation services and affordable funeral services. All DFS Memorials providers guarantee that they offer a direct cremation package at the “best value for money”.