Someone you love has passed, and you're probably wondering what happens next. How long does cremation take? What are my options?

The cremation process involves several steps that typically span 7 to 10 business days from start to finish, though the actual cremation itself only takes a few hours. 

This timeline helps put your mind at ease during a difficult time. At After, we walk families through each step with clear communication, so you're never left wondering what's happening or when you'll receive your loved one's cremated remains.

In this article, we'll cover:

• The complete step-by-step cremation time frame
• Common factors that can delay the process
• How pre-planning affects timing
• How long does it take to get remains back after cremation
• How After streamlines everything for faster, easier arrangements

Not sure about what happens during a cremation? Our team is here to guide you through your options with transparency, care, and zero pressure. You can call us 24/7 at 1-844-717-5170.

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Step-by-Step: How Cremation Works from Start to Finish

The cremation process follows a specific sequence that protects both families and ensures legal compliance. Here's your complete cremation checklist with realistic timeframes:

Legal Pronouncement and Transfer

Timeline: Same day

A medical professional must legally pronounce the death before anything can begin. This may be a hospice nurse, hospital staff, police officer, or medical examiner.

After the pronouncement, you sign a release form to authorize After to transport your loved one. Once you sign the release, After arranges transport within a few hours. Our staff arrives in a discreet van and handles every step with care and respect.

Completion of Death Certificate

Timeline: 1-3 business days

The attending physician or medical examiner completes the death certificate. Officials require this document before they can issue cremation permits. Delays often happen if the doctor is unavailable or if the cause of death needs review. Weekend or holiday deaths usually take longer to process.

Permits and Authorization

Timeline: 1 to 3 business days

Multiple authorizations must go through before a cremation:

• Cremation permit from local authorities
• Signed cremation authorization from the legal next-of-kin
• Medical examiner clearance (if required)

After submits all permit applications on your behalf. We need your cremation authorization signature before we can proceed. You sign this form electronically to speed up the process.

Refrigeration Period

Timeline: Varies by state (24-48 hours minimum)

Most states require a mandatory waiting period before cremation can occur. During this time, your loved one rests in a climate-controlled environment.

Some states allow cremation immediately after permits, while others require 24-48 hours. This gives families time to change their minds if needed.

The Cremation Itself

Timeline: 2-4 hours

The cremation takes place in a chamber heated to 1,400–1,800°F. The crematory team places the decedent in a cremation container inside the chamber. After a few hours, only bone fragments and metal items remain. The team collects, cools, and processes these remains for the next steps.

How Long Does It Take to Cremate a Body?

Several factors influence how long cremation takes:

• Body size and composition affect how long cremation takes. Larger individuals or those with medical implants may need more processing time.
  
• Cremation speed also depends on equipment. Modern crematories with newer machines often finish faster than older facilities.
  
• Crematory schedules can cause delays. Busy periods or equipment maintenance may push cremation back by a day or two.

Additional processing time adds another 1-2 hours:

• Cooling period: Personnel allow 30-60 minutes of cooling time for safety reasons.
• Metal removal: The staff separates pacemakers, jewelry, and surgical implants using magnets.
• Processing: They then process bone fragments into fine cremated remains.

Total time in the crematory: 3-5 hours from start to finish.

When cremation may take longer:

• Medical devices requiring removal
• Larger cremation containers
• Crematory equipment maintenance
• High volume during busy periods

What Can Affect the Length of the Cremation Process?

Several factors affect how long cremation takes, including paperwork, holidays, and provider availability.

Legal Paperwork Requirements

Waiting on physician signatures is the most common delay. Death certificate processing typically takes 1 to 3 days depending on the medical practitioner’s availability.

Mismatched next-of-kin documentation can create significant delays. We must resolve confusion about who has legal authority to authorize cremation before proceeding.

Delays Due to Holidays or Weekends

Government offices close during holidays and weekends, which stops all permit processing. A Friday passing might not see permits filed until the following Tuesday.

Plan for extra time around:

• Christmas and New Year's week
• Memorial Day weekend
• Thanksgiving week
• Any federal holidays

Deaths Under Investigation

If authorities investigate the cause of death, cremation cannot proceed until they give clearance. This delay can add several days or even weeks to the timeline.

Medical examiners may require additional tests or autopsies before releasing the body for cremation.

State-Mandated Waiting Periods

Different states have different rules:

• California: 24-hour minimum wait
• Texas: No mandatory wait after permits
• Colorado: 24-hour wait period
• Nevada: 24-hour minimum

Provider Availability and Scheduling

Crematory scheduling affects timing. Some providers only cremate on certain days, while others operate daily. During busy periods (winter months, post-holidays), crematories may have longer wait times due to higher volume.

Pre-Planned vs. At-Need Cremation

Pre-planned cremations move faster because the paperwork is already complete and payment arrangements are in place. At-need arrangements require completing all documentation after the passing, which naturally takes longer.

Can Pre-Planning Cremation Change the Timeline?

Pre-planning can shorten the cremation timeline by several days. When you plan ahead, you can complete many required steps before the passing. This reduces delays and eases stress during a difficult time.

Providers like After let families complete forms, authorizations, and payment online. You can handle cremation consent, service preferences, and payment in advance. Everything is ready when the time comes. No searching for documents or chasing signatures.

Some steps still take the same amount of time, even with planning. These include completing the death certificate, the state-required waiting period, and the cremation itself.

Pre-planned cremations typically take 5 to 10 days from passing to delivery. At-need cremations usually take 7 to 10 days.

To pre-plan, you’ll need to provide:

• Full legal name and date of birth of the person
• Place, date, and time of death (if known or anticipated)
• Legal next-of-kin details (name and contact info)
• Approximate weight and any medical devices (e.g., pacemakers)
• Social Security number (required for filing paperwork)
• Primary care physician or hospice contact (if applicable)
• Preferred method for returning remains (delivery, pickup, or shipping)
• Number of certified death certificates needed
• Signature on the cremation authorization form
• Completion of a vital statistics worksheet (used to generate the death certificate and permits)

Consider pre-registering if you expect your loved one to pass within six months. This reduces paperwork and stress when the time comes.

When Will You Receive Cremated Remains Following the Cremation?

Most families receive their loved one’s remains within 5 to 10 business days after filing the permits, not after the date of passing. Paperwork takes a few days, so the timing starts once they approve the permits.

After secures the permits, schedules the cremation, and delivers the remains once everything is complete.

Here’s what a typical timeline might look like:

• Days 1 to 3: We gather the necessary paperwork, including permits and authorization forms.
• Days 4 to 6: We schedule and complete the cremation. 
• Days 7 to 10: We deliver the processed cremated remains to the family.

Several factors can affect this timeline. Some states process permits faster than others. Provider responsiveness also plays a role. At After, we prioritize efficient communication and fast turnaround

Crematory scheduling and volume may also add a day or two, especially during busy periods.

Families can receive remains in one of three ways after cremation is complete:

• Local delivery: We hand-deliver remains within 2 to 4 business days in supported areas.
• Shipping: We use USPS Priority Mail Express, which typically arrives within 2 to 3 business days.
• Pickup: If preferred, you can collect remains from our facility as soon as they’re ready.

Every arrangement includes a simple scattering urn at no extra charge. You can explore keepsake urns and other options at After's memorial and urn shop online.

Cremation vs Burial: Which Is Faster?

If timing matters, cremation is usually faster than burial. Cremation does not require embalming, which saves 1 to 2 days immediately.

It also avoids cemetery scheduling and burial plot coordination. Unlike burial, cremation isn’t delayed by weather or vendor availability.

Traditional burial often takes 7 to 14 days. That includes 2 to 3 days for embalming, 3 to 7 days for funeral planning, and time to coordinate with the cemetery.

Cremation removes these delays. At After, the full process of transport, paperwork, cremation, and delivery takes 7 to 10 days.

Pre-registered or pre-paid arrangements often move even faster. Families often choose cremation for both speed and flexibility. You can hold a memorial service later, on your own schedule.

This helps when loved ones need time to travel or when arrangements fall near a holiday. Pre-planning reduces stress, paperwork, and delays, no matter which option you choose. Cremation also gives you more flexibility, even without pre-planning.

How After Streamlines the Cremation Process

Our process is fast, simple, and stress-free, so you spend less time on logistics and more time focusing on what matters. You can make all arrangements 100% online, without ever visiting a funeral home. Start when you're ready, from the comfort of home.

Our base cremation package includes everything you need:

• Prompt transportation and transfer into our care
• A secure cremation container
• All necessary permits and paperwork
• A basic scattering urn
• Death certificate ordering and tracking

From your first call, your dedicated Care Specialist walks you through every step. You’ll know exactly what to expect and when.

We move quickly to submit permit applications on your behalf and work directly with state offices to prevent delays. Once cremation is complete, we return remains by your chosen method: local hand delivery, USPS shipping, or pickup with no hidden fees.

Most families receive cremated remains within 10 to 14 days of contacting us, often faster if paperwork is pre-filled or pre-approved.

After Is Here When You're Ready

We answer every question you have, like “How long does cremation take?” and “When can you expect to receive the cremated remains?”

We offer the same caring support and clear pricing whether you need help now or want to plan ahead.

For immediate needs, our team is available 24/7 at 1-844-717-5170. We'll guide you through each step and keep you informed throughout the entire process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does Cremation Take From Start To Finish?

Cremation takes 7 to 10 days from start to finish. This includes paperwork, permits, the waiting period, the cremation itself, and delivery of remains. Pre-planned cremations often move 2 to 3 days faster because families complete forms in advance.

How Long Does It Take To Get Ashes Back After Cremation?

It takes 7 to 10 business days to receive ashes after cremation once someone has filed the permits. Most families receive remains within two weeks of starting arrangements. We offer local delivery, USPS shipping, or in-person pickup depending on your location.

Does Cremation Happen Immediately After Death?

Cremation does not happen immediately after death. Most states require a 24 to 48-hour waiting period. Doctors must complete the death certificate, and then permit approvals are necessary before cremation can begin. The earliest cremation typically occurs 2 to 3 days after passing.

Is It Possible To Speed Up The Cremation Process?

It is possible to speed up parts of the cremation process, but legal steps still take time. Pre-planning helps most by completing paperwork in advance. Sometimes it isn’t possible to rush the waiting periods, death certificate processing, and medical reviews.

What Happens To the Decedent Before Cremation?

Before cremation, the decedent stays in a climate-controlled, secure space. This waiting period allows time to complete paperwork and secure permits. We provide simple, respectful care without embalming or unnecessary procedures.

Does Every Crematory Follow The Same Process?

Every crematory follows the same basic legal process, but details vary by provider. Licensed crematories must meet state safety and identification standards. After works only with licensed professionals who follow strict ID protocols and treat every person with care.

Who Can Authorize Cremation If the Next Of Kin Is Unavailable?

If the next of kin is unavailable, cremation follows a legal order of authorization. The order begins with the spouse, then adult children, parents, and siblings.

If no family is available, a court-appointed representative or public administrator may authorize cremation. After’s Care Specialists help guide families through these situations.