Frequently Asked Qusestions
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’re facing the loss of a loved one, questions are natural. At Lasting Tributes, we believe that clear information brings comfort and confidence during a difficult time. Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about funeral services, cremation options, natural burial, planning ahead, and what to expect throughout the process. If you need additional guidance, our caring team is always here to help.
Ceremonies & Arrangments
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When a loved one dies, first contact the appropriate medical authority: a hospice provider, doctor, or, if death occurs at home without hospice care, local emergency services. Once the death is pronounced, contact Lasting Tributes. Our trained staff will guide you through every step — from immediate transportation into our care, necessary paperwork, and planning a meaningful ceremony.
We will support you in honoring your loved one in a way that reflects their life and values with compassion and dignity.
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Yes. Choosing cremation does not mean foregoing a ceremony. Families may select from several meaningful options depending on their preferences, traditions, and needs. This may include cremation with the choice to have formal gatherings or to hold a casual ceremony, memorial, reception, or celebration of life. The gathering may take place at a funeral home or another location of your choosing. Food and refreshments may be included or omitted based on your preferences, offering flexibility and simplicity so families can honor their loved one in a way that feels most meaningful to them.
Families may also choose cremation with a visitation or viewing with the deceased present in a ceremonial cremation casket, followed by a ceremony or celebration of life. After the ceremony, cremation takes place. This option allows family and friends to gather for a more traditional visitation experience while still selecting cremation as the final disposition, providing an opportunity for viewing, remembrance, and shared closure.
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We offer guidance for all kinds of ceremonies, including:
- Traditional funeral ceremonies with viewing and gathering
- Celebrations of life
- Graveside ceremonies
- Ceremonies held before or after cremation
- Personalized cultural or religious ceremonies
- Tribute ceremonies at homes, parks, community venues, or places of special significance
Our goal is to ensure your ceremony reflects your family’s wishes and honors the life lived.
Cremation Options & Processes
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No. A rigid alternative container constructed from wood, cardboard, or other approved materials is required for cremation. These containers provide safe, respectful care and are cremated along with your loved one.
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After the cremation process, the cremated remains will be respectfully returned to you in an urn or container of your choosing. We offer a variety of urns, keepsakes, and options for permanent placement or memorialization.
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Lasting Tributes can assist families with several meaningful options for placement of cremated remains, including:
- Burial in a cemetery, in a family plot or cremation space
- Placement in a columbarium, offering a permanent and dignified memorial location
- Scattering, in accordance with local regulations and family wishes
- Private Atlantic scattering, for families who wish to honor their loved one with a meaningful ocean committal
We will guide you through the necessary permissions, planning, and coordination for each option to ensure every choice is handled with care, respect, and in accordance with local regulations.
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At Lasting Tributes, your loved one never leaves our care. The oversight, dignity, and accurate identification of your loved one are our highest priorities. From the moment your loved one is placed in our care, strict identification and tracking procedures are followed throughout every step of the process.
All required licensing and crematory regulations are carefully adhered to, and our crematory staff follows established laws and professional standards at all times. Your loved one is assigned a unique identification disk that remains with them throughout the cremation process and is returned with the cremated remains to your family.
In addition to the identification disk, we utilize documentation from the place of death and, when provided, a photograph from the family to further ensure accurate identification. Our entire staff follows detailed Standard Operating Procedures with multiple layers of verification. For families who wish, we also offer the option of an in-person identification viewing for added reassurance.
These safeguards are in place to provide you with complete confidence that your loved one is cared for with the utmost respect and that the cremated remains you receive are unquestionably those of your loved one.
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The timing varies based on state regulations, crematorium scheduling, and death certificate processing. Generally, families may expect the process to take several days to a few weeks. Our staff will keep you informed every step of the way.
Natural & Green Burial
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Natural burial is an environmentally mindful option that emphasizes simplicity, sustainability, and returning the body to the earth with minimal environmental impact. Woodlawn Memorial Park in Easton, MD, and Bestgate Memorial Park in Annapolis, MD are the only natural burial cemeteries in the state of Maryland that are owned by a licensed funeral establishment and overseen by Lasting Tributes.
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Costs for natural burial depend on the choices made — burial ground, type of biodegradable container, and cemetery requirements. Often it can be more affordable than a traditional burial (which involves vaults and embalming) but may vary based on your selections and location.
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Yes. Families may hold meaningful ceremonies in conjunction with a natural burial, whether at the graveside, a nearby gathering place, or another venue. We can help plan and coordinate these with respect to your cultural and personal wishes.
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Yes. Cremated remains may be placed in a natural burial setting when a biodegradable urn is used, in accordance with cemetery guidelines and environmental standards. Lasting Tributes can guide you in selecting an appropriate biodegradable urn and coordinating placement to ensure all requirements are met.
Practical & Legal Questions
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Lasting Tributes will prepare and file the necessary information with the appropriate state authorities to obtain certified death certificates on your behalf. Once issued, we can assist you in ordering the number of copies you may need for legal, financial, and estate-related matters. We will also advise you on how many copies are typically recommended based on your circumstances.
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In Maryland, the timeframe for receiving certified copies of a death certificate can vary depending on the county of death, processing by the Division of Vital Records, and whether any additional information is required. In most cases, certified copies are available within several weeks after the death is registered. Lasting Tributes will guide you through the process and keep you informed of the expected timeline based on your specific circumstances.
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Lasting Tributes proudly serves families throughout (your region), offering compassionate care for all arrangements. We will assist with transportation, planning, and coordination regardless of location within our service area.
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Yes — if you prefer not to come to our facilities yourself, we can:
- Arrange respectful delivery within our service area
- Allow an authorized representative to receive the remains
- Ship the remains via Priority Mail Express with required signature
We strive to make the return of cremated remains as convenient and dignified as possible.
Planning & Support
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No. While families are always welcome to meet with us in person, Lasting Tributes offers flexible arrangement options to meet your needs and comfort level. Arrangements can be completed remotely through online or Zoom meetings, by phone, and with documents securely completed via DocuSign or similar electronic signature platforms. Our goal is to make the arrangement process as convenient and supportive as possible during this time.
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Absolutely. Preplanning allows you to thoughtfully make arrangements ahead of time, relieving your family of stress and ensuring that your wishes are carried out precisely. Our compassionate planners can guide you through options for ceremonies, burial or cremation choices, and memorialization.