What Is Direct Cremation? A Guide for California Families

What Is Direct Cremation?

Direct cremation is the industry term for a basic cremation service with no additional funeral services, such as embalming or a viewing. Direct cremation is generally the most affordable option for consumers. Other common terms for direct cremation include:

• Simple cremation
• Basic cremation
• Low cost cremation

The reason you’ve seen the term direct cremation as you’ve been evaluating cremation services is that all US funeral providers, including funeral homes and cremation service providers, must include a separate price for direct cremation on their price lists per federal regulations. Price lists, which every provider must provide to consumers who inquire about services, are known as General Price Lists, or GPLs.

Direct cremation must only include the following:

• Removal of the deceased
• Transportation to the crematory
• Basic service fee
• Necessary authorizations
• Cremation itself   

Also, the service provider must provide information about “alternative containers,” the container used to hold the body during cremation.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented these requirements as part of the Funeral Rule enacted in 1984. The Funeral Rule was designed to ensure transparency and give consumers the ability to compare services and costs without hidden fees or misleading bundles, plus know about their low cost options for services. It was enacted after years of complaints about deceptive practices and price opacity in the funeral industry.

Benefits of Direct Cremation

Direct cremation offers numerous benefits compared to other funeral and memorial service options. Importantly, while the cost effectiveness and affordability of direct cremation is a key reason for its increasing popularity, cost is not the only reason families select direct cremation. 

The benefits of direct cremation include the following:

Less Expensive / More Cost-Effective:

• The median cost of direct cremation in the US is $2,024, while traditional funerals on average cost between $8,300 (NFDA) and $10,856 (Passare study), not including cemetery expenses, such as a plot and burial fees
• Money saved by selecting direct cremation allows families instead plan and hold a service   

More Flexibility Than Traditional Funerals:

• Families can plan a memorial service on their own timeline, not within 48–72 hours
• Provides emotional and logistical “breathing room”
• Memorials and celebrations of life that follow direct cremation offer more personalized services focused on the deceased loved one
• Families can still hold “traditional” memorial services that include many elements of funerals

Simplified, Streamlined Process:

• No need for embalming, casket selection, public viewing, or formal funeral planning

Environmental Benefits:

• Uses less land and materials than burials
• Avoids embalming chemicals
• Modern cremation equipment emits fewer pollutants through air cleaning technologies

When Direct Cremation May Not Be the Right Choice

While direct cremation offers affordability and simplicity, it may not be the right choice for families seeking a more traditional or communal grieving experience. For some, the absence of a viewing, wake, or structured memorial service immediately after death can feel emotionally incomplete – or simply not align with their cultural values. Certain religions prohibit or discourage cremation in general.  

Traditional ceremonial elements can offer meaningful closure and support, especially for cultures or faiths where traditional funeral rituals play a central role in honoring the deceased. While direct cremation can be followed by a traditional memorial service that incorporates elements of funerals, it is not always the right choice.  

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), in 2024 about 28% of funeral services in California involved traditional burial funerals.

Who Provides Direct Cremation Services in California?

Virtually all licensed “funeral establishments” in California offer direct cremation services. These include:

• Funeral homes
• National cremation companies with local offices
• Simple cremation service providers
• Cemeteries that also operate a funeral establishment

Beware of Misleading Cremation Pricing and Hidden Fees

Direct cremation is the simplest, most affordable option for families in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas and service providers are required to list their price for direct cremation on their price lists, so it should be straight-forward to calculate how much these services will actually cost, right? 

Unfortunately not.   

As is too often the case, advertised prices for all inclusive direct cremation services are not the actual final prices charged by cremation service providers, especially when those prices seem too good to be true.  As many grieving families have discovered, prices that seem to good to be true often are. We unfortunately see this every day at Opal Cremation.

Service providers in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas advertise that their direct cremation packages are “all inclusive” and state a fixed price for the direct cremation package. For example, you may see “all inclusive” direct cremation services advertised for $795 or $1,295 or $2,100.

There are a few reasons for the wide range of prices for direct cremation services, which can be confusing for people deciding what service provider is right for their deceased loved one.  These include:

• Some providers, such as traditional funeral homes, typically charge more for direct cremation services
• Cremation providers often add on additional fees and surcharges
• There’s no standard definition of an “all inclusive” package – services that families will need, such as a death certificate and a permit for the cremation, are often not included in the advertised fixed price  

Let’s review these issues one by one. 

The first reason is that some providers, such as traditional funeral homes, generally charge more for direct cremation than cremation specialty providers – about $2,000 to $2,500 on average. 

The second reason for the wide range of pricing is that, while providers are required to include (and exclude) specific services on their GPLs for direct cremation, providers can add additional fees and surcharges on top of the advertised fixed price. At Opal, we’ve found that this is one of the most confusing and frustrating issues that consumers deal with when evaluating cremation services and providers.   

Example Online Ads for Cremation Packages in Southern California

For example, you may come across an online ad for an “all inclusive” direct cremation package for $895. However, after speaking with a funeral director at that provider, the final price ends up being $1,300 or more.

How is this possible?

Many families discover too late that these low-cost packages come with hidden fees for services like transportation, paperwork, or returning the ashes.

For example, a funeral home may state that transportation of the deceased to the crematory is included in its all inclusive package. But, 

• If the deceased is located more than 20 miles from the crematory, the family will incur an additional fee of $4 per mile farther than that
• If the loved one passed away at home or at a “board and care” facility, an additional fee of $200 will be added to the package price

A funeral home may state that the cremation process is included in the fixed price. But,

• If the deceased weighs more than 200 pounds, an additional surcharge of $2 per pound over the maximum amount will be charged
• If a pacemaker must be removed, an additional fee of $150 will be charged

These hidden fees can add hundreds of dollars to the original “all inclusive” price. 

The following is a screenshot of a portion of a price list (the GPL) from a funeral home in Southern California. As you can see, this provider charges significant additional fees for transportation and weight of the deceased.

A third reason for the range of pricing is that there is no one definition for what is included in an “all inclusive” direct cremation package in California. While all families will need a death certificate, a permit that approves the cremation process, and a state fee, these services are often not included in the package price. 

Next, we will review the issue of additional fees and charges in detail.

All Inclusive Direct Cremation Packages in California: Additional Costs and Comparing Apples to Apples

The table below provides a list of some of the most common additional fees and surcharges involving direct cremation services.

Opal’s all inclusive cremation package is truly all inclusive. We do not charge additional fees for these items.

Opal Research into the Cremation Pricing Practices of California Funeral Homes

We founded Opal Cremation in part to address consumer frustrations with hidden fees and unexpected charges and their clear demand for a simple, transparent and truly all-inclusive direct cremation service package in California.  

In 2022-23, Opal conducted an extensive review of the actual total cost of “all inclusive” direct cremation packages in Los Angeles and Orange counties¹. We reviewed the price lists (GPLs) of licensed funeral providers to calculate the actual total price a typical purchaser will pay for simple, no frills cremation services. To create an “apples to apples” comparison, we created 

The results of our research were eye opening, to say the least. When we adjusted each service provider’s “all inclusive” package to include the services that all customers would need, the actual cost of the average direct cremation service was about $225 more than the advertised price – and some were $400 more. 

Our adjustment did not take into account the extra hidden fees and upcharges discussed in the previous section, including transportation fees, weight surcharges, pacemaker removal, and others. If a family incurs any of these additional fees, the total actual cost of direct cremation services could be between $500 and $1,000 higher than the advertised price. 

It’s essential that each family evaluating their direct cremation options understand that the lowest advertised price rarely reflects the final bill. Take time to review what’s included—and not included—in each provider’s package. 

Most funeral homes include a plastic temporary urn with their direct cremation package. Opal’s service package includes a handmade rosewood urn.

There is no standard all inclusive direct cremation package in California, which can make it challenging – and frustrating – for families to estimate the actual price they’ll pay for services. We’ve created a pricing and fees worksheet to calculate the actual cost of a service provider’s direct cremation services. You can download the worksheet here.

Opal Customer Review

“From the moment I called Opal Cremation until I received my mom’s ashes, I was kept informed about the process and its progress with professionalism and thoughtfulness. Everything happened as it was explained to me, no surprises, no worries, no hiccups.”

— Brian L, Torrance, CA

Step-by-Step: How Direct Cremation Works

Direct cremation offers families an affordable, flexible service option that involves several steps, as listed below.  

1. Contact a licensed cremation provider like Opal Cremation
2. Arrange authorization and complete initial documentation
3. Transfer of the deceased to the crematory
4. Complete death certificate and other forms and filings
5. Cremation process takes 2–3 hours

Ashes returned in a basic or chosen urn, by delivery or pickup

From the time a family selects a cremation service provider, the process typically takes up to two weeks. Most service providers offer a “rush” option, typically for an additional fee, if the family is planning a service several days after death. 

Legal Requirements in California

In California, there are several legal requirements associated with direct cremation. They include:

• Mandatory waiting period of 48 hours
• Completion of several forms and filings
• Completion of a Disposition Permit with details about the cremated remains

We’ll explain these requirements one by one.

Mandatory Waiting Period

In California, the mandatory waiting period before a cremation can take place is at least 24 hours after the time of death (source: Cal. Health & Safety Code § 7055(a)).

This is not usually an issue for Opal’s families, since it typically takes at least two days to secure a doctor’s competition of the death certificate. Also, it usually takes 2 – 4 days for families to decide on the memorials services they would like and complete the paperwork also required for cremation services.

Forms and Filings

All states have requirements related to legal documents and forms that must be completed prior to direct cremation. California requires several, including:

• Certified death certificate
• Cremation Authorization form
• Declaration for Disposition of Cremated Remains

These forms are completed by the deceased’s next of kin or authorized agent with the funeral director.

Disposition Permit

No matter what type of farewell you plan—whether it’s a cremation with an urn to be kept at home, traditional burial, or scattering ceremony—California law requires a permit for the final disposition of remains. 

This requirement is outlined in California Health and Safety Code § 103050.

“Disposition of human remains shall not be made until a permit for disposition has been obtained from the local registrar of births and deaths.”

— Cal. Health & Safety Code § 103050

In this context, “disposition” refers to the legal method by which human remains are handled after death, including cremation, burial, scattering, or scientific donation.

In California, these permits are issued by local registrars, typically the county department of public health or vital records office. In most cases, a funeral provider will obtain this permit on the family’s behalf as part of their services. As of this writing, the fee for a disposition permit is $12.

Examples of Permitted Dispositions:

• Cremation with the ashes stored at home
• Traditional cemetery burial
• Scattering ashes in the ocean
• Donating the body to medical research

If your plans include a scattering ceremony, such as one held during a memorial or celebration of life, it’s important that the permit specify the method and location of the scattering. For example, a sea scattering permit must list the type (“at sea”) and the general area where it will take place (e.g., “off the coast of Orange County”).

Note the “1/4” marked on the permit—this indicates that only one-quarter of the ashes will be scattered in that particular location. Under California law, each separate portion of cremated remains must have its own valid disposition permit. So if the ashes are divided, an additional permit is needed for every separate scattering or storage arrangement.

If the family doesn’t scatter the ashes right away—for example, they plan a ceremony several months later—they must ask the original funeral provider to update or reissue the permit to reflect the new date or location. While the state’s permit fee remains $12, funeral homes may or may not charge an administrative fee for this update.

Opal Cremation provides these services free of charge, regardless of when a family decides to organize a scattering ceremony in the future.

What Happens After Cremation?

One of the most compelling benefits of direct cremation is the flexibility it provides to families when it comes to planning and holding a memorial for a deceased loved one. With direct cremation, a family can plan and hold a memorial, such as a celebration of life, on their own timeline, whether that be weeks or months after the person passed away.

Compared to traditional funerals, which often must be planned within 48 to 72 hours after death, families often benefit from the “emotional breathing room” that direct cremation provides. We often hear this from the families we’ve served. 

Families are increasingly arranging these personalized, celebratory memorials on their own. And there are virtually an unlimited number of ways that families can celebrate their loved one. Here are some ideas for memorial planning after the cremation process is completed based on the families we’ve served – and celebrations of life we’ve organized for our own families:

• A two-hour ash scattering service on a boat off the coast of Southern California attended by 20 family members and friends, followed by a luncheon at a local restaurant
• A backyard celebration of life centered around a memorial garden created in honor of the deceased loved one
• A gathering at your loved one’s favorite park or outdoor space with music where attendees can share their favorite stories and memories about him or her

How Opal Can Help

Our team is here to make a difficult time easier. With upfront all inclusive pricing, no hidden fees, experienced care professionals, and flexible memorial options, we’re California’s trusted source for simple, affordable cremation and planning for celebrations of life.

Contact Us to learn more or start arrangements today. Call us at 888-963-2299 or send us a message and we’ll get back to you immediately.