Direct cremation is the simplest and usually the least expensive option. The body is cremated once a certified death certificate has been obtained and all legal requirements have been met, without embalming, a viewing, or a ceremony beforehand. The ashes are returned to the family.
Families often hold a memorial gathering later — at a home, a church, a park, or anywhere meaningful — on their own schedule and at little cost.
Typical price: $1,000 – $3,000. This is often one-fifth the cost of a traditional funeral.