It normally takes three to five business days from the time of death until the cremated remains are ready to be picked up or shipped. In order to cremate a dead human body in the Lone Star State the following three steps must be completed:

1) A death certificate must be signed by the attending physician, medical examiner or justice of the peace that presided over the death.

2) The medical examiner (in counties were he/she has jurisdiction) must “sign off” on the cremation or at least 48 hours must have passed since the time of death.

3) The signed death certificate, medical examiner authorization (if within 48 hours) must be presented to the local registrar who will then review the case and issue a cremation permit. After this step has been completed we can schedule the cremation.