According to data published by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) in September 2024, the median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023. Conversely, it was only $6,280 for a funeral with cremation. No wonder more Americans now prefer cremation, with the 2024 cremation rate projected to be 61.9% and 82.1% by 2045!

So, if you have a dearly beloved in Fort Worth, TX, who has just passed, consider honoring their life with cremation services.

To help you plan remembrance cremation services in Fort Worth, TX, the kind and compassionate team at Lone Star Cremation has shared valuable insights. Read on for practical tips to make the process seamless and ensure a service befitting your loved one’s memories.

Know the Legal Requirements for Cremations in Texas

The State of Texas imposes several legal requirements for cremations, including:

• A written authorization from the deceased person’s next of kin
• A 48-hour waiting period before cremation (unless a court order or medical examiner waives it)
• Filing a death certificate
• Obtaining a medical examiner’s cremation permit

Please ensure you have completed the above steps to help facilitate a seamless cremation service.

Understand the Different Cremation Options Available

Knowing the different types of services and options available is one of the first steps to cremation planning:

• Direct cremation: A simple cremation with no viewing or funeral services in Fort Worth, often the most affordable option
• Traditional cremation with memorial service: Provides a memorial and viewing service before or after the cremation
• Direct cremation with a post-celebration of life: Includes Fort Worth memorial services after the cremation, dedicated to celebrating the deceased’s life and sharing memories

Your choice may depend on whether your deceased loved one has left an official legal document known as “Disposition of Remains.”

Honor the Deceased Person’s Disposition of Remains

Under Texas Health & Safety Code § 711, a Disposition of Remains is a legally binding, written, and signed document that outlines who has the right to control a deceased person’s disposition of remains, including cremation. If the deceased has left written instructions, their survivors must honor their wishes. Otherwise, the following individuals can make the decision, based on priority:

1. Designated Person: The person named in the written Disposition of Remains signed by the deceased
2. Surviving Spouse: The deceased individual’s surviving spouse
3. Adult Children: Any of the deceased person’s surviving adult children
4. Parents: Either of the deceased individual’s surviving parents
5. Adult Siblings: Any one of the deceased person’s surviving adult siblings

Familiarize Yourself With Cremation and Funeral Costs

Another crucial step to planning remembrance and cremation services in Fort Worth, TX, is preparing for necessary cremation and funeral expenses. Given how these services can be pretty hefty for many people, knowing and understanding their costs can help ensure you pay only for what you need and willingly choose.

It’s also crucial to note that legal regulations exist to protect consumers and help them make educated decisions when planning or purchasing funeral, cremation, and burial services. A perfect example is the regulation enforced by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) known as the Funeral Rule. Some of the most vital elements of this law include:

• Requiring funeral and cremation service providers to provide accurate information about their goods and services
• Guaranteeing consumers the right to purchase only the goods and services they need and want
• Mandating service providers to list and price all items separately

Explore and Compare Cremation Packages

Exploring cremation packages can help you make informed decisions that align with your deceased loved one’s and your family’s needs, preferences, and budget. Comparing your options can reveal considerable differences in:

• Price
• Inclusions (and exclusions)
• Service levels

With this strategy, your family can find the most suitable cremation arrangements for your dearly beloved. For instance, Lone Star Cremation offers three service packages for cremation in Fort Worth, TX. They include the following:

• Basic Plan, starting from $795
• Priority Plan, starting from $995
• Premium Plan, starting from $1,595

At Lone Star Cremation, we pride ourselves on the transparent pricing of all our cremation packages. You can explore and verify all the inclusions and exclusions and their prices by visiting our website’s dedicated package pricing page.

Choose a Trusted Provider of Cremation Services in Fort Worth, TX

Preparing for a memorable remembrance cremation service in Fort Worth, TX, requires a thorough review and careful selection of a reputable crematorium. So, when choosing a facility, please ensure that it has:

• Proper licensing from the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC), which regulates the state’s death care industry
• Certification as a crematory operator
• The equipment and highly trained and educated staff members that are necessary for performing the cremation process efficiently
• A sanitary, well-maintained crematorium
• Full insurance and bond

Lone Star Cremation, our cremation service facility in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, meets all those criteria (and much more). We have been a trusted name in the cremation industry since our establishment in 2004. We’re also proud to be the first-ever company in the area to offer customers the ability to arrange the services they need online.

At Lone Star Cremation, you can complete everything, including the following, within or under 20 minutes via our website:

• Necessary forms
• Authorizations
• Cremation package selection

Through our efficient online services, you don’t have to worry about the additional burden or stress of visiting our facility in person. However, please know that our kind, compassionate, and caring team is always happy to set up a face-to-face meeting if you prefer.

Let Lone Star Cremation Help Honor Your Deceased Loved One

Planning remembrance cremation services in Fort Worth, TX, doesn’t have to be time-consuming, complex, and riddled with unnecessary expenses. So long as you choose a highly experienced, reputable provider, you can have everything arranged online in as little as 20 minutes.

Lone Star Cremation is here to help ease the burden of cremation planning and preparation. With our 20+ years of experience, you can rely on our compassionate and caring team to assist you throughout the process, from completing all the necessary forms to choosing the most appropriate package that befits and honors your loved one’s wishes.

Contact our team today to inquire about our services or start your online arrangement.