FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why do I have to use a Funeral Home?  Why can’t South Georgia Crematory do the cremation directly for me?
  Licensed Funeral Directors are caring, trained professionals that live in your community.  They have the staff, expertise and the equipment to help you and your family with the final arrangements of your loved one.  If you need help in locating a funeral director in your area, click here.
• Can the family witness the cremation?
  Yes, all we ask is that an appointment be made with your Funeral Director and our staff to accommodate your request.
• As a licensed Funeral Director, why do I have to
  provide a local business license?
  South Georgia Crematory can only do business with Funeral Homes, not individual Funeral Directors.  A copy of the business license validates that you are doing business as a Funeral Home.
• Why do you require an insurance certificate from the Funeral Home?
  If an issue arises due in part to the paperwork required from the Funeral Home, South Georgia Crematory will be insured by your policy.
  Since South Georgia Crematory does not perform removals, it will be your vehicle and driver in our building making the delivery.  Your insurance policy will protect us both.
• What if I don’t have any insurance?  Not enough insurance?
  South Georgia Crematory will perform the cremation but there will be an additional charge.
• Why do I need to complete a Master Contract?  Why so much paperwork?
  The Master Contract is just that, it is the main contract written by attorneys’ and insurance companies that protects everyone.  It has the standard cremation language and is long.  In order to minimize the day-to-day paperwork, we separated the “boilerplate” items from the unique case information.  The Master Contract will only need to be completed once.  From that point on, only the Case Contract Sheet and the Authorization for Cremation are required. (This way we save a lot of trees too.)
• Why do I need to complete a Request for Credit if I am paying at the time of service?  I don’t want an account.
  A Credit account is not required to use South Georgia Crematory, but the Request for Credit needs to be signed so we know that credit was offered and that payment terms were presented to you.
  Many of the payment terms are on the credit application.  The State of Georgia requires that this information be provided to you in writing.  This is our way of complying with the law.
• What is the Authorization for Cremation form?
  This is the form that needs to be signed by the family of the deceased.  It complies with all the laws in Georgia. By having this signed properly, both the Funeral Home and South Georgia Crematory are protected.  This Authorization is referred to as Exhibit “A” in the Master Agreement.
  A copy (not the original) of the Authorization Form is required prior to cremation.
• What is the Cremation Case Sheet?
  This is the supplement to the Master Contract. All of the information on the top of this form is required by the State of Georgia and must be provided with each body.
  The lower portion of the form is a record of the chain of custody.   It will be completed at each stage of the process; from receiving to delivery.