Frequently Asked Questions

Though not required, an obituary notifies friends, family, and the community of your loved one’s passing. Such a notice can be placed in a newspaper, or online. The Beachwood Society maintains Tribute Pages for all loved ones at no charge. This allows families to share their loved one’s obituary in emails and on social media. It also allows friends and family to leave condolences and share memories, all in one place.

Yes, we encourage people to pre-plan their final arrangements for two reasons: (1) making these arrangements in a calm environment announces your wishes and eases the burden of your family having to look for a provider and make these decisions while grieving, and (2) pre-planning allows you to “lock in” the rates of our services, regardless of our regular price increases. Funds are held in-trust until the time of need and are subject to audit under Florida Statute.

Pre-planning with The Beachwood Society is unique because we offer “Travel Protection” as an optional service to our clients. For an additional fee, you can travel out-of-state assured in the knowledge that if you were to pass away, our travel protection affiliate will locate a provider in that area to honor the pre-need that you have purchased.

The arrangement conference is when information is provided for your loved one’s death certificate, authorization forms are signed, and payment for our services is rendered. For the death certificate, you will want – among other things – the maiden name of your loved one’s mother; the maiden name of the surviving spouse, if applicable; your loved one’s Social Security number; and other vital statistics information. If you have an obituary prepared, it’s good to bring that and a photo if you choose. This is not an all-inclusive list; but these are vital elements that many people don’t anticipate.

Yes. Once a person’s identifying information is entered into the Electronic Death Reporting System (EDRS), the system automatically notifies the Social Security Administration. Questions about survivor benefits and other concerns can be addressed with the SSA Office by calling 800-772-1213.

While each person is different, we generally recommend between five and ten death certificates to settle a deceased individual’s affairs. If you ever need more, please contact us so we can order them for you.

Yes. In Florida, a person’s cause of death is considered confidential. Therefore, death certificates either come as “long form,” with the cause of death listed, or “short form,” where the cause of death is omitted. Entities requiring a long-form death certificate include any agency that will be dispensing some kind of death benefit to a designated beneficiary. Such agencies include: life insurance companies, pension overseers, and the Veterans Administration. Because cause of death is protected by Florida Statute, many businesses in Florida are not able to accept a long-form death certificate. Such agencies include the DMV, banks, title companies, credit card companies, etc. Your cremation provider will share these details with you.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide assistance to you or your family, if certain qualifications are met. To learn more about who can qualify for FEMA assistance, please visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

In Florida, the order of next-of-kin is as follows: Spouse; Adult children (biological and adopted); Adult grandchildren (biological and adopted); Parents of the deceased; Adult siblings, nieces and nephews; and finally aunts, uncles, and cousins. Kinship is a determinant in who can obtain a long-form death certificate as well. As of now, in Florida, only spouses, adult children, parents, and adult siblings of the deceased may get a long-form death certificate. Other individuals may, provided they can produce supporting documentation that they are either (a) the executor of the decedent’s estate and/or they are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Yes and no. As far as cremation is concerned, Power of Attorney ceases to be effective once a person has passed away. In other words, if you are the adult child and your widowed parent passes away, then all of your adult siblings will need to sign the cremation authorization, despite your PoA designation. If, however, you are the adult child and your widowed parent’s passing is imminent but has not yet occurred, then you may sign the cremation authorization on their behalf as Power of Attorney. By the same token, if you have PoA over your living parent’s affairs and their spouse passes away, then you may sign the cremation authorization on behalf of your living parent. Please be prepared to provide supporting documentation of your PoA status.

No. At this time, we do not offer pet cremation services. Please check with your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Cremation is defined as a method of disposition that serves as an alternative to traditional burial or entombment in a casket. The loved one is placed in a casket or other state-mandated container – often referred to as an alternative container – and is placed in the cremation chamber, where temperatures reach up to 1800 degrees. The remains are reduced to basic chemical compounds, ashes and mineral fragments. This part of the process takes approximately 3 – 5 hours. Following cremation, the cremated remains are then removed from the cremation chamber, cleared of all metal components, and processed into a fine particulate that resembles ash to ensure that no identifiable remains are present. This fine particulate is referred to as “cremated remains.”

Often the most affordable option, direct cremation involves cremation with no embalming, viewing or visitation. Families still have the opportunity to hold a memorial service at a later time.

State and federal regulations require a strict labeling system for identification throughout the cremation process. From the time a loved one enters our care, they are assigned a number that is engraved on a corresponding metal disk which follows the loved one throughout the entire cremation process. Each loved one is cremated individually, and our staff upholds the highest standards to ensure that families can rest easy in the knowledge that they have entrusted their loved one to The Beachwood Society.

An urn is a vessel used to store cremated remains. While we provide a temporary (cardboard) urn that is suitable for immediate storage, it is recommended that the family select a permanent urn for long-term storage, burial, shipping, or scattering.

Your loved one stays in a secure, climate-controlled environment on the crematory premises until cremation approval is received. We own and operate our own crematory, ensuring that your loved one never leaves our care.

In Florida, there is a mandatory waiting period of 48 hours after a person’s death before cremation can take place. During that time, we are collecting information and authorizations from the family, obtaining physician signatures, and securing cremation approval from the Medical Examiner. This process takes approximately five to seven business days, sometimes less. Barring any unforeseen events, your loved one’s ashes and death certificates should be ready in that timeframe.

Cremation is irreversible, and as such, many states require the approval of the local coroner or Medical Examiner before cremation can take place. In most instances, this does not mean that the loved one has to be taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office; the office must simply review medical records to ensure no questionable events have taken place in order to issue cremation approval.

Yes, there are laws concerning how to scatter ashes at sea, as well as some common-sense considerations. Scattering ashes in the ocean must be performed at least three nautical miles from shore. The EPA also requires notification of the scatter within 30 days of the occurrence. Notification can be done by simply filling out a form on the EPA website: https://burialatsea.epa.gov/Form Cremated remains can be scattered by themselves, or inside a container that is free of plastics and will dissolve quickly in a marine environment. Decomposable flowers and wreaths are also permitted.

It is best to scatter at sea on a calm day to prevent ashes from blowing into populated areas. You may use your own vessel, or secure the services of a charter company. Almost every port in Florida has a charter company that offers memorial scatterings. Ask your cremation provider if they recommend any local charters.

No. At this time, non-human ashes are not permitted to be scattered at sea.

No. The EPA, however, does require notification of the scatter within 30 days of the event. You can fill out the notification form by going to the EPA website: https://burialatsea.epa.gov/Form

Usually, yes. Please check with the charter company that you select and the appropriate military branch about scheduling military honors aboard a sea vessel.

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it. There are so many ways to personalize a person’s cremation. Keepsake items such as cremation jewelry, fingerprint captures, ashes made into glass art, and custom urns are just a few of the ways to commemorate a life well-lived. Your cremation provider will help you find the best options for you and your family.

While some religions and cemeteries (like Arlington National Cemetery) require that families keep all of the cremated remains intact for inurnment, ultimately it is the family’s decision whether or not they would like to split the ashes among several parties. With The Beachwood Society, you can be assured that your loved one’s ashes will be handled to your exact specifications, provided your requests are legal and possible.

Pacemakers and defibrillators are removed prior to the cremation process, as they present a hazard to both the crematory and the staff. Metal and other foreign objects are separated from the ashes following the cremation process and are recycled according to local, state, and federal laws.

In most instances, yes. For a minimum fee, you and several others can have some private time with your loved one in a calm atmosphere. Unless required, your loved one will not be embalmed. Typically, your loved one will be placed in the alternative container, draped with clean linens, and their features set to a peaceful expression. However, each loved one is different and, depending on the circumstances of their death, embalming and/or reconstruction may be required to ensure that they can be viewed. Ask your cremation provider about the specifics related to your loved one.

Yes. Domestically, all you need is the ashes, a copy of the death certificate, and the cremation certificate, all of which are supplied by your cremation provider. TSA recommends that travelers carry these items in their carry-on baggage, rather than their checked baggage to ensure that the package is not disturbed. Internationally, there may be additional paperwork and approvals needed to travel with ashes. The Beachwood Society is well-versed as to the requirements for many countries. Additional fees will apply for translations, apostilles, and other necessary documents.

Yes. The United States Postal Service is the only entity that can be used for shipment of ashes domestically. For an additional fee, we will package the urn carefully, assign a tracking number, and require a signature upon delivery. International shipping will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Honesty is always the best course. With very young children, every effort should be made to avoid alarming the child. Choosing your words is very important. Many parents and caregivers find some form of the following explanation helpful when answering the questions posed by young children:

“Grandma wanted to be cremated when she died. That means that instead of going into the ground in a casket, she will be put in a warm room and turned into soft ashes. After that, her ashes will be placed in a container that is called an urn that we can keep or put in a special place. The process is quiet and peaceful. It doesn’t hurt or scare Grandma because her spirit isn’t with her body anymore. Do you have any questions you would like to ask me about that?”

Older children will understand the concept better and probably want more detail. Even here, choosing your words is important. Validate your child’s curiosity and recognize that this is an opportunity to share thoughts about life, death and cremation.

In most instances, yes. In fact, witnessing cremation is part of many religious customs. Our state-of-the-art cremation facility allows families to be present when their loved one is placed in the cremation chamber. For a nominal fee, a few people may be present for this important rite. Witnessing the entire cremation, however, is not permitted.

Unlike traditional burial, cremation offers the flexibility of several methods of disposition. Families can keep their loved one’s ashes in a special place at home. Many families choose ground burial or inurnment in a columbarium. Scattering ashes is also very common. Your cremation provider will go over all of your options and help you decide what is best for your family.