re: Least expensive method to bury someone

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My ex wife and the mother of my daughter is in intensive care and conceivably could pass away. She put me as the emergency contact. She doesn't have any immediate family left to take care of things. So my question is what do I do if the hospital tells me she passed away. Basically what I'm asking is what is the least expensive way to handle it while maintaining some dignity. I'm thinking cremation and a small service in an extended family member's home. Does that sound correct?

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Do what you can. Remember that it is for your daughter, not your ex.

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What happens if he does nothing?

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Usually there are laws for abandoned, unclaimed or rejected bodies. Same as indigents. Coroner will be directed to have them buried in a proper manner and send the bills to the administrator of estate or court clerk to try to get them paid.

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Shovels cost like $60

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Not at Harbor Freight

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She's still in the apartment due to the eviction moratorium in L.A.

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What a place

You are doing the right thing by helping your daughter through this if your ex passes away. I hope the callousness of some posters doesn't offend you.

I have seen this scenario play out several times, it seems the cremation, followed by a service at a church or funeral home, is the right balance between inexpensive and respectful. I hope this works out for you and your daughter.

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Basically what I'm asking is what is the least expensive way to handle it while maintaining some dignity. I'm thinking cremation and a small service in an extended family member's home. Does that sound correct?

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My wife died three years ago. She wanted cremation. It cost $495 and included one official death certificate. I bought nine more at $8 a piece if I remember right. So all in for under $600. I'm sure costs have risen post Covid though. I also didn't need that many certificates. When I settled her estate everybody took a copy except the life insurance policy.

We had a "celebration of life" party at a restaurant that included our closest friends and family. I picked up the bill for all. Around $1k for that. It was a great time of just hanging out with those closest to us. Laughing over cocktails just remembering the joy she gave us.

She had access to a family tomb in NO but she didn't want that. She didn't want the whole burial thing. It made her mother upset but she and I discussed it before she passed and that is what she wanted. I bought an LSU purple urn from Amazon and it sits on a shelf. She said to spend the typical funeral costs on a fun trip and spread her somewhere nice.

Bottom line is, if you can get her wishes including y'alls daughter, and not worry about traditional customs and what other people would do/wish.

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I'm thinking cremation

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yep

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a small service in an extended family member's home.

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if you'd like

My in laws are the type that wouldn't do a funeral.

When my brother-in-law passed, they contacted a local funeral home and just laid it out...no funeral or viewing wanted.

They simply picked up the body, had it cremated and the family picked the ashes up.

The idea was to have a small family gathering (which did not happen) and have a private memorial service.

The last legal thing is the burial or cremation permit, so if the body is cremated, there is no specific law telling you what you have to do with the ashes.

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Obviously do the right thing for your daughter, but sounds to me this guys on the hook here not you?

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mil died a few years back, cancer, she became incorrigible and ornery the couple of years of her life, no friends or close family nearby(she was Japanese and barely spoke English,) we got her a place in assisted living, just under $5k/mo. out of my pocket, she wouldn't stay there so my daughter took her in, she died in her sleep one Saturday night, we called a funeral home to come get her, cremate her, and bring the ashes back, I believe I paid $5-600 for that, the wife has slowly been putting her ashes all over the world the last couple of years