Ask a Professional

Please contact us immediately at 650-343-1804 as soon as the death has occurred. Our caring staff is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year to assist you and ensure that every detail will be taken care of.

You have the right to use any funeral home. The firm that owns the cemetery where your loved one owns property cannot prevent you from using another firm.

The answer is no. However, most perpetual care cemeteries do require at least a concrete grave liner so that the weight of the grave doesn’t crush the casket and cause the grave to cave in. You do not have to purchase the outer burial container from the cemetery. It can be purchased from the cemetery, the funeral home you use, or some other provider of your choosing.

Embalming is not required by law. Embalming is a temporary form of sanitation and preservation of a deceased human body. Embalming can often enhance the appearance of a body and can enable the family of the deceased to have an extended time for viewing or an open casket service. Most states require embalming when remains are transported across state lines.

Much the same way as a traditional funeral. The body would be embalmed, bathed, dressed, have appropriate cosmetics applied, if necessary, and put in a casket that you either rent or purchase. Once the funeral service is over funeral home personnel transfer the body to an alternative container that is then taken to the crematory for the cremation process.

Yes. By purchasing a pre-arranged funeral plan you remove funds from your loved one’s estate and thereby “spend down” their assets. The government allows funds to be spent on pre-arranged funeral plans, providing that the plan is established as irrevocable, ensuring that the funds can only be used toward funeral expenses without the possibility of being cashed out.

The purpose of a service or gathering is to honor, memorialize and celebrate a loved one’s life in a way that is both comforting and meaningful. A funeral service gives family, friends and members of the community an opportunity to grieve and offer their support to the family of the deceased.

Our purpose is to provide families with helpful information and resources, enabling them to make knowledgeable and wise choices to meet their specific needs. We oversee the details for completing all necessary paperwork, obtaining the death certificate, and conducting funeral or memorial ceremonies.

In most states, family members may bury their own dead although regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death.

Most families recognize the importance of an open casket as an aid to the grief process. Viewing of the body allows the bereaved to recognize a loved one’s death and provides the opportunity to offer final respects to the deceased.

While it is true some metropolitan areas have limited available cemetery space, in most areas of the country, there is enough space set aside for the next 50 years without creating new cemeteries. In addition, land available for new cemeteries is more than adequate, especially with the increase in entombment and multi-level grave burial.

No. Talking about the mark up on caskets is really not the point. Most items – clothing, furniture, jewelry – are marked up as much or more than caskets. The real question is whether the funeral director is making an excessive profit, And that answer is “No.” Profits run around 12.5% before taxes – not excessive by any standard.

When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized.

Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, or city or a combination.

Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.

Usually, Funeral Directors will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veteran’s, retirements and any others.

Yes. Most families still choose traditional services with visitation and/or viewing of the deceased before the cremation process occurs.

Usually, a family choosing cremation has three options for disposition. In accordance with California law, cremated remains may be:

1) Permanently placed in a cemetery. Our client families are provided special offers for no-obligation temporary placement at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma.

2) Scattered on private lands in areas where no local prohibition exists and express written consent is given by the property owner or governing agency.

3) Kept in possession of a private residence providing that the location address is indicated on the Disposition Permit that is filed with the County Health Department.

Yes. You can plan in advance online. Click on our Estate Planning tab. You may also meet with one of our counselors. They will be pleased to share all of your options based on your needs and preferences.

The Social Security Administration may pay a lump sum death benefit of $255 to the surviving spouse, provided the deceased and his/her spouse were living together at the time of death. Further information regarding benefits that you or your family may be eligible for can be obtained by calling the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 or visiting their website at www.ssa.gov.

Each honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a burial in a VA national cemetery including the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government issue headstone or marker and a grave liner provided at the government’s expense. A burial flag and military honors can be available as well. In certain circumstances, other monetary reimbursements may also be available for eligible veterans. These may include a burial allowance of $300, a plot allowance of $150 and some transportation expenses. If the death is service connected, additional monies may be available. For other questions concerning additional benefits, you may call 800-827-1000 or you can visit their website at www.va.gov.

There are several options available to families that choose cremation as a final disposition. Many choose to have a funeral service with cremation following. Whether the service is before or after, in a church or funeral home, families have many of the same opportunities to celebrate, memorialize and honor the life of a loved one.