What Is a Cremation Certificate?

Most people have heard of death certificates, but many people may not be as familiar with a cremation certificate. If your loved one is having cremation services in Hallsville, TX., you will have both of these documents. Today we are going to explore what a cremation certificate is, how it differs from a death certificate, and when you may need it.

What is a Cremation Certificate?

In simple terms, a cremation certificate is simply stating that the deceased has been cremated. This document can also be called a certificate of disposition or a cremation permit. It will contain pertinent information about the deceased such as their name, date of cremation, as well as the contact information of the crematory. It will also include an identification number from the crematory as well as signatures from a certified or qualified crematory staff member.

Cremation Certificate vs Death Certificate

It is easy to get a cremation certificate and death certificate confused as they are both issued in relation to someone’s passing and resting place. However, these two documents are very different.

While a cremation certificate has details about the deceased and the cremation, a death certificate has details about the deceased and how they passed. This death certificate will be signed by a certified medical professional such as a doctor and record the time and cause of death along with information about the deceased such as their name, last address, social security number, etc.

The cremation certificate only has information relating to the deceased and that they were cremated. It will not list things like time or cause of death.

Although both certificates are necessary and should be held onto for future use, the death certificate is what you will need when dealing with agencies such as insurance, social security, credit cards and bank accounts, etc. The cremation certificate will just be needed if details about the cremation need to be known.

Obtaining a Cremation Certificate

If you are needing a cremation certificate for someone who has just passed, the crematory will typically help you and issue this for you. If you need additional documents for insurance or other purposes, the cremation provider should be able to help provide what you may need.

If you are looking for a cremation certificate for someone who has passed a while ago, this may be a little more challenging. This is due to the fact that cremation certificates are a fairy new concept meaning communities and individuals didn’t keep clear records.

How Long Should You Keep a Cremation Certificate?

There is no set time limit on how long you should keep a loved one’s cremation certificate. A good rule of thumb is to keep it for seven years. This ensures all accounts and affairs of the loved one have been handled appropriately. Of course you can keep this document longer or shorter depending on your individual needs and situation.

As providers of cremation services in Hallsville, TX., we understand all of the paperwork associated with this service can be confusing. If you need any further information, clarification or want to know more about our service options, let us know as we are always here to help.