Who Possesses the Right to Make Cremation Decisions?

When one of your relatives die, it can take everyone by surprise and send a shock wave rippling throughout the family tree. And if the deceased did not plan his or her cremation in Shakopee, MN and did not stipulate who is supposed to handle this responsibility, there could be problems.   

The reason is that some family members might want things done one way and other family members might want things done another way. As you might imagine, there are lots of decisions that need to be made before a body disposition process can move forward. Preplanning and prepaying can eliminate a lot of potential contention amongst family members. 

Here’s how you can tell who gets to make the body disposition decision if the deceased neither preplanned nor selected who should take on the direct cremation planning responsibilities.  

Next of Kin 

If your deceased relative did not designate — through a living will or a last will and testament – someone to handle body disposition decisions, the way things works is that the nearest next of kin is granted this responsibility. If the next of kin cannot or will not take up the duty, then the person immediate below the next of kin in the family relationship hierarchy will be selected. The hierarchy includes, in order, spouse or partner, kids, mother and father, brothers and sisters, authorized guardians, grand kids, great-grand kids, nieces and nephews, and so forth.  

What Happens if Choice is Disputed? 

If the next of kin is, whether permanently or temporarily, unable to fulfill the duties associated with making cremation arrangements, it might be possible to dispute the selection of such a person. Of course, things will work out better if your family can come to an agreement amongst yourself rather than to pursue any legal action to intervene. But if your family can focus on what the deceased would have wanted, then it might be easier to come to a consensus without outside help.  

Direct Cremation 

Once the issue of who gets to plan the body disposition is sorted out, the person can focus on planning a direct cremation. Cremation is gaining popularity in America, and direct cremation is increasingly becoming a go-to option for those who want to cut costs while not sacrificing quality. Many people choose to followup a direct cremation with a personalized memorial service that gives family, friends and well-wishers the chance to celebrate the life of the deceased. Whether you want to hold it in a church, on a private property or anywhere else, you can use a memorial to get together in a more formal and celebratory setting.  

When the time comes for a Shakopee, MN cremation, Scott County Cremation has what you need. Get in touch with us at (952) 402-9000 or at 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN 55379 for a free consultation. Shouldering responsibility for a family member’s direct cremation is a serious undertaking, but we can help guide you or anyone else in your family through the process. Our professional staff have experience helping customers and are subject-matter experts. We’re here when you need us.