Why Would A Cremation Be Delayed?

You have enough on your mind when a loved one passes away. You don't want to have to deal with any logistical issues relating to their cremation, but these can happen—and can even result in a delay to the cremation. This can be distressing, and in most cases, is avoidable. But what can cause delays to a cremation?

Administrative Delays

In most cases, delays are caused by administrative issues. This can happen when the necessary authorizations are not provided within the required timeframe. For example, there might be a delay with the death certificate, particularly if a medical examiner needed to investigate the circumstances of the death. This can result in a delay to the cremation permit being issued, which means that the cremation will need to be rescheduled.

Next of Kin

When scheduling a cremation, you need to be sure that you're authorized to do so. When you're the next of kin, you might assume that you automatically have this authorization, but it's not always so straightforward. Some states (or cities) will have different requirements, and it might be that any surviving children will need to give consent. Your chosen cremation services provider will inform you of these requirements, so it's essential to remember that these requirements must be fulfilled before the cremation can take place.

Pollution Control

While these administrative issues can be avoided, there are some (rare) circumstances that might be out of your hands. Large cities actually put a cap on the number of cremations that can be performed during a set period, and this is to manage air pollution. Los Angeles actually lifted this cap to cover the backlog of cremations due to COVID-19. You will be told if these restrictions affect you in any way, and a new date can then be determined. Remember that this is unlikely, but it's important to be aware of these restrictions. What should you do if your cremation date has to be changed for any reason?

Dealing With a Delay

Delays can be an issue when you have arranged a funeral or memorial service to precede the cremation. In these cases, talk to your chosen funeral home and cremation provider. It will generally be possible for the funeral or memorial service to take place as scheduled, with the cremation to follow at the earliest possible opportunity. This means that there will be a delay between the funeral and being presented with your loved one's ashes, but it shouldn't be too disruptive to the process.

A delay to cremation is regrettable, so should be avoided when it's in your power to do so. But when a delay happens, it's important to be aware that you might need a contingency plan. Consult with a company like Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel to learn more.