My Google-fu failed me, so I’m hoping maybe one of the Teeming Millions might know the answer.
My inlaws have pre-paid cremation arrangements in Florida. We’re trying out best to get them to move close to use in Maryland, since they need assistance and they have no one else. But when they die, would we have to ship their bodies back to FL for cremation or is there some sort of agreement among the companies who do this?
My father had a cremation contract with a company that had contracts with mortuaries all over the country, so he would be covered pretty much anywhere he happened to die. But that’s going to depend on who your inlaws actually contracted with, and the terms of the contract.
Contact their Florida cremation services provider and ask them directly. You may get lucky.
The one I purchased at a small-town Missouri funeral home is. I made sure of that when I signed up for it, as if I die anywhere near Salem, Missouri, I have royally fucked up.
The funeral industry these days is dominated by a few big companies that have bought up most of the old independent funeral homes. This sucks for consumer choice, but it makes it far more likely that there’s at least some overlap between where they signed up, and funeral homes in your area.
If they’ve bought a plot of land, though, that might be different. I think that’s usually separate from the cremation and memorial service contracts, and is tied to a specific piece of land. However, such plots can usually be sold back to the cemetery owners, so you get the money back, and can buy something closer to you.
Source: I had an old friend who used to work in the industry, and we talked about this sort of thing.
‘Ask about our lay-away plan!’
No plot. They want their cremains spread in a specific national park. I think that’s illegal, not that it would be easy to get caught…
You can get a special use permit to scatter ashes at some national parks. For example, at Glacier National Park near me, you can do it, but only in the undeveloped areas of the park. Check with the specific national park to find out if it’s possible to do it there. Of course, you could do it without anyone noticing, but you risk getting caught and prosecuted.
And in my area, at least, the old names have been retained. So just because the funeral home may have an “independent-sounding” name doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s locally owned. Which, in this case, may be a good thing.
Just as follow-up, I found out their plan is thru a national company, so it won’t be an issue. And I looked up the particular park they mentioned and got all the details. So when the time comes, we’re ready.
Sadly, the time will be fairly soon, as they’re in their 90s.