Trupoint Memorials Answers
Our experts answer your questions about funerals, cremation, and other ways you can pay tribute to the lives of your loved ones.
Recent Answers
Is DNA Testing Possible After Cremation?
Cremation causes the family to bestow a huge amount of trust in the people who care for the deceased. It's their responsibility to see the deceased is properly cared for throughout the cremation process. They must also ensure the cremains they give to you are in fact those of your beloved deceased and not someone else. Many families are fearful of this, and since human error is real, DNA testing occurs by acquiring DNA from cremated ashes. DNA tests are also performed when people are killed in fires and their identities need to be confirmed. Can You Get DNA From Cremated Remains? Yes. DNA testing is often done on the bodies of the dead, even after they’ve been cremated. The immense heat of the cremation ovens breaks down the body's organic matter, leaving bone fragments and teeth behind as they don’t disintegrate during the cremation process. The actual ashes are thus useless as they won't contain DNA. But the bones and teeth could potentially hold some DNA viable for analysis. Fire can, however, damage DNA beyond recognition. How much you’re able to identify through DNA testing on burnt remains varies from situation to situation. How Long After Cremation is DNA Retrievable? A very long time, which is why DNA is such a valuable tool. Decades or more after a person dies, it is still possible to extract and test DNA. This doesn’t mean DNA lasts forever though. As the body decomposes or is exposed to the elements, less and less DNA is available for testing. Conclusion DNA testing is entirely up to the family and what will make them feel at ease. There are also many other interesting facts about cremation that may interest you.
Asked 9 days ago
What Happens to Precious Metals in the Body During Cremation?
Cremation is the process of converting a body to ashes and minerals fragments through combustion. The furnace used to cremate a body reaches temperatures of 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people have metals in their bodies due to medical procedures like titanium hips and knees, stainless steel bone screws, and even gold teeth. More often than not, the person is cremated with the implants still in their body. What Happens to Precious Metals During Cremation? During cremation, the furnace temperature may not be hot enough to melt all the metals in the body. For example: Gold: 1,947 degrees FahrenheitTitanium: 3,034 degrees FahrenheitSteel: 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit However, the gold used in tooth fillings is generally a dental gold alloy that doesn't survive the heat of a furnace. The gold fillings should be removed before cremation if they are to be preserved. Other metals such as in jewelry or coffin handles will also melt at 1,763 degrees Fahrenheit. Combined with the ash, it becomes granular and unrecognizable. It's recommended to remove any valuable jewelry from the body before cremation. The metals that withstand the cremation furnace heat are removed before the cremains are pulverized. What Can Be Done With Precious Metals After Cremation? Previously, it was common for crematorium staff to take the implants and remaining metals and store them until there was enough metal to bury them on the grounds of the crematorium. However, this has become less acceptable over the years. Environmentalists agree that burying the metals is not a good environmental practice. Now, crematoriums opt to recycle the metals instead. They send the metals to a recycling company where it's sold, and the proceeds are donated to a charity or returned to the crematorium. Conclusion People should be aware that they can choose to opt-out of the recycling program and ask to have the metals returned to them with the ashes.
Asked 4 months ago
Who Has to Sign the Cremation Authorization Certificate?
When a loved one passes away, there are, unfortunately, some time-sensitive tasks that need to be completed. Law-abiding funeral homes will require you to present a cremation authorization certificate before they proceed. The cremation authorization is one of the most important forms to be completed if cremation is to take place. In order to get approval, a medical professional needs to sign off on the death certificate. The cause of death needs to be determined and noted on the death certificate before cremation approval will be given. The person who signs the form is known as the authorization agent. Who Is Responsible for Authorizing Cremation? This list will help you determine who is authorized to arrange a cremation and could also be used to determine who has legal rights to cremated remains: A legal representative appointed by the deceasedThe deceased’s surviving spouseThe sole surviving child of the deceased or, if there is more than one child, all of the children collectivelyThe deceased’s surviving parentsThe deceased’s surviving siblingsThe deceased’s surviving grandparentsThe lineal descendants of the deceased’s grandparentsThe person appointed as the guardian of the deceased at the time of deathAny person willing to accept the right of disposition, including the licensed funeral director or personal representative of the estate, after confirming in writing that none of the individuals listed above could be located In Summary One of the key differences between burial and cremation is that cremation leaves no DNA behind. Cremation authorization is required to ensure no foul play was involved before the body was cremated. It may be a frustrating process, but the fact remains that people have tried to use cremation to eliminate evidence or DNA in the past.
Asked 4 months ago
Can Siblings Authorize Cremation as Next of Kin?
A cremation authorization form is one of the most important forms needed for a cremation to take place. It is one of the many legal affairs that need to be dealt with soon after death. If the deceased did not sign the form prior to their passing, authorization falls to the next of kin, who has the legal ability to authorize cremation, obtain a death certificate, and make other legal and medical decisions. Who is considered next of kin? A living spouseIf there is no living spouse, then all adult childrenIf there are no adult children, then all parentsIf there are no parents, then all siblingsIf there are no siblings, then all nieces and nephews Must All Siblings Be Involved? The simple answer is yes. The law states that all siblings of the deceased are considered equal and are required to reach the same decision regarding the deceased and the handling of the body. Once a final decision has been made, all siblings will sign a cremation authorization form, and the process will begin. Why Do All Siblings Have to Authorize Cremation? One sibling might object to the chosen cremation process, and the other sibling(s) can get into legal trouble if they are not involved in the arrangements. Requiring all siblings to sign the authorization form protects everyone, including the funeral home, from liability. If the family does not come to a unanimous agreement, they will be asked to approach their local judge to rectify the situation. The loved one's body is then left in the care of the crematorium until the matter is resolved. In Summary Dealing with death is not easy for any family and is best dealt with calmly with the deceased's wishes in mind. It is a time for families to bind tightly together and make a decision that sits comfortably with everyone.
Asked 4 months ago
What Size Urn Do You Need for Your Cat's Ashes?
Not many words of comfort can ease the pain of losing a pet cat. A pet departing from our lives is the hardest part of being their owner. Throughout their special time in our lives, they become more of a companion than just a pet. For this reason, it is incredibly difficult to part with them when it is their time or decide what to do with their bodies after their passing. A popular option is to have your beloved cat cremated. This enables you to keep their ashes with you in the form of your choice and allows your cat to continue on with you and be near you. How Much Ash Is Left After Cat Cremation? Like human ashes, many factors influence the volume of ashes after a pet’s cremation. That means the volume of ashes you’ll take home after cremating a pet will vary widely depending on their size. Most domesticated cats tend to be relatively small compared to other animals. Therefore, they usually leave behind only two or three cups of ashes. This will influence the size and type of urn you choose to house your cat's ashes. Selecting the Right Urn for Your Cat’s Ashes Before deciding what size pet urn to buy, you should also consider what the urn will be used for. If you want a small keepsake, you may not need to use all of your pet's ashes. Similarly, if you intend to use the ashes for scattering, you may not need a large urn to hold all of the ashes permanently. There is also a general rule when calculating the size of the urn you will need for your cat. Usually, you will require one cubic inch of space for every pound your pet weighs. For example, if your pet weighs 50 pounds, you would need an urn that is 50 cubic inches or larger to hold all of the ashes. In Summary Our feline companions are most dear to us. Although they may seem gone, we can still honor our pets with a beautiful urn that can remind us of them on a daily basis.
Asked 4 months ago
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