Arranging a funeral or cremation in Nevada
It is no easy task to arrange a funeral or cremation. It can be overwhelming knowing where to start. That is why we compiled this guide to help get you started. Take a few minutes to read through our Nevada funeral and cremation planning guide, and hopefully, it will help you save some money, time, and stress in arranging your funeral services.
Direct Cremation Service $895 Call (702) 323-4558
How do you choose which funeral home or cremation provider is right for your needs?
This is a very important question and is central to everything else coming together smoothly. Traditionally many families choose their funeral home based on recommendations from family and friends.
This is not always the case these days for a number of reasons. There are around 95 funeral homes in Nevada, so you need to focus on both your local area and what your personal requirements are.
Deciding what you need from your funeral director can help you select who can best match your needs.
How do I find a funeral home or cremation provider in Nevada?
You are already at the right place to begin locating a funeral home or cremation provider. Visit our Funeral Homes and Cremation Providers in Nevada directory to locate a funeral service provider near you.
The State Board licenses all funeral establishments in Nevada. A license should be clearly displayed in the funeral home with the name of the licensed funeral director.
Do you want a burial or cremation?
This decision will underpin many of the other decisions you need to make. Choosing between burial or cremation is an entirely personal choice. If the deceased had expressed a preference, this is straightforward, but if not, you may need to read a little more about burial or cremation before you decide.
The cremation rate in Nevada is around 70%, which makes it one of the top five states with the highest cremation rate. Consequently, there are many funeral homes or cremation societies offering cremation at very competitive prices.
You may authorize your own cremation prior to your death in Nevada.
If you are electing for a burial, you will require additional funeral merchandise such as a casket, vault liner, and cemetery plot. This is why burial is more expensive than cremation in Nevada, as it is in all states.
Home burial is permitted in Nevada, but you do need to notify the health division of Human Services and a cemetery deed must be drawn up.
What is the cost of a funeral or cremation in Nevada?
This may be an important question you are seeking to answer. As price-conscious consumers these days, we all turn to the Internet to help answer our queries about how much something costs.
Unfortunately, not all funeral homes choose to publish funeral prices on their websites or advertising literature, so it can be difficult to find out prices without phoning the funeral home. A direct cremation can be conducted in Vegas, NV, for $695.
If costs are a concern and you are looking for the best value cremation service in Nevada, then visit DFS Memorials and find your nearest provider who offers a basic, affordable cremation.
To learn more about cremation services, the cremation process, secure ID tracking, cremation regulations, and laws, visit our Ultimate Guide to Cremation.
What are my options for sending or purchasing funeral flowers in Nevada?
Funeral flowers are an integral part of funerals. They help to brighten up a somber event and are a means by which we share our feelings of passion, love, and empathy.
Traditionally the deceased’s family will arrange any casket spray, but other relatives or friends may choose to add their own floral arrangements, standing sprays, and wreaths. Your funeral director may be able to offer you floral services but do ensure their price is competitive. It is an ancillary service that you will be charged for, and you may find it can cost more than purchasing directly yourself.
Is embalming required in Nevada?
No, embalming is not required by law in Nevada for the first 72 hours (unless by order of the Board of Health). Some funeral homes may uphold a policy that requires embalming if the deceased is to be stored on-site. Refrigeration must be available for bodies stored over 24 hours.
What are my options for purchasing a casket or alternative container?
A casket is not required by Nevada law for burial, but a rigid combustible alternative container is required for cremation. This alternative container can be a rigid cardboard or plywood box.
You have the right to purchase a casket from a third-party casket seller, and your funeral home must accept it without adding a surcharge. This can make a significant saving on your overall funeral costs.
Typically, a standard casket from a funeral home can cost around $3,000, whereas you can purchase a standard casket from a retailer or online for as little as $995. Most retailers can also offer next-day delivery.
Visit our Guide to Buying a Casket to learn more.
What are burial and cemetery plot requirements in Nevada?
There is no law that states you have to have a burial vault, although many cemeteries in Nevada will have regulations stipulating that a burial vault must be used.
The purpose of the vault is to assist the cemetery with maintaining the integrity of the ground and preventing subsidence. It can help prevent the leakage of embalming chemicals into the water table, but it has no additional preservative qualities.
In the main, it is just another additional expense that the cemetery can charge. You should also check regulations about erecting a headstone, as cemeteries carefully regulate these.
Natural Burial or a Green Funeral in Nevada
There is one natural burial cemetery serving Nevada. Eastside Memorial Park in Minden, south of Carson City. As much of Nevada is desert, this does not make a natural earth burial as accessible in the State. However, human composting (Natural Organic Reduction) has been legalized in Nevada in May 2023.
Visit our article about Human Composting to learn more about this new alternative sustainable death care process.
Can I pre-plan a funeral or cremation? How does Nevada state law govern preneed plans?
Yes, you can preplan a funeral or cremation in Nevada – this is generally referred to as a “preneed” contract. In Nevada, a preneed funeral contract can only be sold by an agent with a valid certificate of authority to sell preneed.
All funds are held in trust. Only the net purchase price of the preneed contract must be refunded if the contract is cancelled.
What are the laws for scattering ashes in Nevada?
Nevada law allows for ashes to be scattered on any private property with the property owner’s permission. In addition, you can scatter ashes by air, over a public waterway, or in a Memorial Garden.
If you wish to scatter cremated remains in a state park in Nevada, you should obtain a permit from the park ordinance. You must scatter ashes at least 100 yards from any road, trail, body of water, or developed facility.
Aerial ash scattering over the Sierra Nevada Mountains can start at around $225 but can cost up to $850 for an aerial scattering over the Grand Canyon.
What help is available with funeral expenses in Nevada?
There is a $255 lump-sum death benefit payable from Social Security for a surviving spouse if qualifying. There are certain benefits for veterans, and you should contact your local VA.
There are two state-run veterans’ cemeteries in Nevada, one in Fernley and one in Boulder City. A veteran, spouse, and certain dependents are entitled to a free cemetery plot and marker.
Nevada has an indigent burial assistance program that is managed at the county level. For those on very low income and without income, the local county will cover the costs of a direct cremation.
You need to contact your local county Social Services department to find out about applying for assistance with funeral costs.
Are whole-body donations permitted in Nevada?
Yes, you may donate your body to medical research in Nevada. The following Nevada institutions offer an anatomical bequest program:
- Medical Education & Research Institute of Nevada (MERIN)
- The University of Nevada School of Medicine
You need to contact the institution and determine their donor acceptance criteria. Do note that not all donors are accepted at death, and you may not have much control over the time frame in which the donated remains are cremated and returned.
Check out our Guide to Donation a Body to Science to learn more.
What do you do if your loved one dies away from Nevada?
If your loved one has passed away outside of Nevada and you wish to return him/her home for a burial, you will need the services of a funeral home at the place of death and your local receiving funeral home.
It is advisable to employ the services of a funeral professional who has experience with mortuary shipping.
There are significant ancillary costs for shipping remains, so you need to consider this; it can amount to around $4,000 before any other funeral costs. The other option is to have a direct cremation performed at the place of death and have the cremated remains shipped back.
If you do travel regularly for work, pleasure, sport, visiting family, or snow-birding, you may wish to consider our great value Travel Protection Plan. This plan costs just $450 for an individual for lifetime protection against the costly expense of returning a body home if a death occurs 75 miles (or further) from your residence. It also provides global coverage. Domestic funeral shipping can cost from $3,000, and International repatriation can start at around $6,900.
Visit our article on Travel Protection: Your Guide to Affordable Funeral Shipping, or click on the link below to enroll today.
If you do travel regularly for work, pleasure, sport, visiting family, or snow-birding, you may wish to consider our great value Travel Protection Plan. This plan costs just $450 for an individual for lifetime protection against the costly expense of returning a body home if a death occurs 75 miles (or further) from your residence. It also provides global coverage. Domestic funeral shipping can cost from $3,000, and International repatriation can start at around $6,900.
Where do I get a copy of a death certificate from in Nevada?
You can obtain certified copies of the death certificate from the Nevada Office of Vital Records. You can obtain copies in person or by mail to:
Office of Vital Records
4150 Technology Way, Suite 104
Carson City, Nevada 89706
If you wish to order online or by credit card, you need to do this via the VitalChek Network:
http://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records/nevada/nevada-vital-records
Copies of death certificates are charged at $20.00 each.
What should you do if you have a complaint about funeral or cremation services or products you have purchased?
In the main, funeral directors are committed to delivering excellent service, but sometimes things do go wrong. If you have a complaint about services rendered by a funeral home in Nevada, try and resolve it with the funeral director. If your complaint is not resolved, you may lodge a formal complaint with the State Board of Funeral Directors, Embalmers & Operators of Cemeteries and Crematories, who will investigate.
State Board of Funeral Directors, Embalmers & Operators of Cemeteries and Crematories, 4894 Lone Mountain Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130.
For support with consumer matters, you can also contact the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Nevada (FCAN) at P.O. Box 8413, Reno, NV 89507. FCAN is a non-profit organization, established in 1966, dedicated to helping consumers in Nevada access economical yet dignified funeral and memorial services. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Nevada serves Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and surrounding areas.
Resources:
