Frequently Asked Questions

Does the price you are quoted include everything or are there add-on fees that you need to be aware of? At Manhattan Online Cremation we offer a guarantee of no hidden fees. The price we quote is the price you pay. No surprises.

To arrange a cremation, the person or persons who are legal next of kin must consent to the cremation by signing an authorization form. Our staff will then complete the death certificate with the provided vital statistics information. We will obtain the cremation permit and any certified copies of the death certificate that you may need.

After all the properly executed online documents are received by our office, the actual cremation can be scheduled.

If your loved one has passed at home, under hospice care, or at a nursing or care facility, simply call us. We are here to support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will arrange for your loved ones’ retrieval typically two hours after your call.

If your loved one has passed away at a hospital in the middle of the night, you can set your mind at ease as the hospital will be able to keep your loved one in safe, refrigerated care for the night. You can therefore contact us at 9AM the following morning.

No. When someone dies under hospice care, do not call 911. Call the hospice and let them know that they have passed. Hospice will guide you through their next steps. You can then decide if you want to call us right away or spend time at home with your loved one.

Keep in mind that from the time you notify us to the time we arrive at your residence may take approximately 2 hours.

Unless someone is appointed, in writing, as an Authorized Agent, per New York State law, the responsibility of the Right of Disposition takes place in the following order:

• Person designated in a written instrument
• Spouse
• Domestic Partner
• Any Child of 18 or older (no child has priority over other children)
• Any parent (neither parent has priority over the other parent)
• Any siblings over 18 (no sibling has priority over any other siblings)
• An authorized guardian
• Any grandchild
• Any great-grandchild
• Any niece or nephew
• Close friend or other relative who is reasonably familiar with the decedents wishes

(It is important to know that power of attorney ends upon death.)

No. We have found that many families prefer to make arrangements from the comfort of their own homes. Full arrangements should be completed online, and all paperwork can be handled remotely. Our cremation specialists are also available to assist you by phone.

Manhattan Online Cremation is solely an online cremation arrangement company. However, should you wish to make an in person cremation arrangement, please call our parent company, Crestwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services at 212-245-7575. Our cremation specialists will be pleased to assist you and discuss details.

Yes. We offer services to bid farewell to your loved one at our elegantly appointed Midtown Manhattan private visitation rooms. You can choose to have a gathering with an option to view your loved one or not. If it is your preference, we can have your loved one washed and dressed for your final goodbye.

You and your guests will be able to spend some time with your loved one and share special memories in peace and comfort.

Our cremations are performed at the Rosehill Crematory in Linden, New Jersey. New York State law prohibits cremation providers and funeral homes to own and operate a crematory.

Some crematories require pacemaker removal, but the crematory we engage does not. Our crematory does, however, require notice of a pacemaker being present.

Yes. In some cases, the circumstances leading up to death did not allow the deceased to practice their usual self-care. You may request your loved one be washed and cleaned, groomed or shaved, and have their hair shampooed and conditioned. It is a personal choice, and we are here to accommodate these requests.

Embalming is not necessary for a simple direct cremation. However, as explained under Cremation Options, if you choose a Final Goodbye at our facility (Open casket gathering, with viewing), basic preparation, complete personal care of the deceased including washing the body, care of hair and nails, topical disinfection (no embalming), and presenting deceased for viewing are included. If the deceased has been autopsied, an additional care charge applies.

The casket or container holding the body is placed in the cremation chamber (also called a retort). After approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The residues of ash and bone fragments that remain are known as cremated remains. These cremated remains are carefully removed from the cremation chamber, and any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner.

The cremated remains are then processed down into uniform particles. These ashes are packaged by the crematory and are placed into a temporary plastic receptacle. The entire process takes approximately 3 hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labelling system ensures correct identification.

When the ashes are ready, we return to the crematory to retrieve the cremated remains and return them to our Manhattan facility. We will notify you upon their arrival and coordinate the best way to facilitate them into your care.

Yes, to both. Attending or witnessing cremation is an important part of some cultural traditions. Regardless of your beliefs or background, all families are welcome to schedule a Witnessed Cremation.

Our partner crematory allows witnessed cremations and allows for short farewell gatherings. If you wish to accompany your loved one to Rosehill Crematory, they allow one person to intimately witness the cremation. You are also given the option to press the button that starts the cremation process (or opt for the staff to press it) and have a truly personal farewell. If a larger party wishes to witness the cremation, they are welcome to the room at the observation deck where there is a view of the retort.

Rosehill Crematory offers 15 minutes to peacefully say your goodbyes and express any final words. We understand that you may want to witness a cremation but prefer to meet at a crematory closer to where you reside. We have access with local crematories in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to fulfill your farewell needs.

Since all crematories have different pricing structures, please call us for further information and we will assist you.

Our goal is to complete the cremation as quickly as possible; however, the process is dependent on several different agencies and the doctor who is responsible for signing the death certificate.

For 90% of the families we serve, it can take approximately 4-5 business days for the process to be completed and ashes returned to us. As soon as the ashes are returned to our Manhattan facility, we will notify you of their arrival.

Following this, you can make the decision to pick them up in person, choose to have us ship them to you by USPS, or, if you are located in Manhattan, have them hand delivered to you.

Manhattan Online Cremation takes a series of measures to ensure that the ashes you receive are your loved one. Our 10-Step Cremation with Confidence Guarantee provides the peace of mind you deserve. Once your loved one is placed into the care of our partner crematory, proper care of your loved one is further ensured.

The Rosehill Crematory has a strict ID system in place that ensures there is no confusion with any loved one’s identity. The retort chamber at the crematory only accommodates one person at a time, further assuring the identity of the ashes and never co-mingling cremated remains.

As the ashes are packaged, they are carefully labeled in accordance with the strict crematory system and designated a unique official Certificate of Cremation.

You have several options for what you can do with your loved ones’ cremated remains. You can keep the cremated remains in your possession at your home, scatter them where it is allowed, bury them in a cemetery, or place them in a niche within a columbarium.

Portions of the cremated remains may be kept as a remembrance either in a mini-sized urn or keepsake jewelry. If a family decides to keep the cremated remains at home, it is recommended that the remains be placed in an urn as a more permanent storage option.

Cremated remains are returned to us in a plastic temporary container so many families select either an urn that is suitable for scattering the ashes or an urn that is aesthetically pleasing to keep at home. There is a limited selection of urns online for you to choose from or contact us for our full catalogue of urns.

We maintain a large selection of urns at our Manhattan location in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. We will be pleased to assist you in choosing the best urn that meets your needs.

Cremated remains can be shipped or taken on an aircraft for domestic travel or international flights to foreign countries. Inquire with us so that we can assist you with explaining the consulate regulations that each country has in place.

Yes. We have beautifully furnished private rooms that can comfortably accommodate groups of 25 people, up to groups of 100.

We also specialize in arranging meaningful, creative Celebration of Life Memorial Services. Our rooms are all equipped with high-quality music systems to play your personal playlists for the service. Our flat screen monitors are perfect for playing memorial tribute slideshows that we can create for you. A podium, microphone and professional audio system are always available for doing eulogies.

We act as event planners to work with all families in tying together the details of your desired memorial service. From ordering elegant floral arrangements, memorial cards, slideshows, musicians and other creative ideas, we will be at your disposal to support your needs.

We suggest ordering one death certificate for every financial account the person held or shared. This includes banks, mortgages, trusts, credit cards, brokerage accounts, and insurance policies. Each entity may ask for an “official certified copy” of the death certificate and most do not return them.

In New York City, the cost of each certified copy is $15. Our online guide Reasons you need Death Certificates will assist you in making that decision. Should you need additional certified copies of the death certificate after the initial order you place with us, you can order them here.

Only the attending physician, hospice team, or medical examiner can determine the cause of death, not the funeral home.

Social Security will be alerted of the death once the funeral director files the death certificate. If you have concerns, or want to discuss possible benefits, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Yes. We will be happy to assist you with placing an obituary in the New York Times. In addition, we can post an obituary to our website on your behalf.

Children grieve just as adults do. Any child old enough to form a relationship will experience some form of grief when a relationship is severed. Adults may not always recognize the signs of a grieving child. Children’s grief often manifests as a change in behavioral patterns, which adults often misunderstand and dismiss as common misbehavior such as “moodiness,” “crankiness,” “acting out,” or being “withdrawn.”

When a death occurs, children need to be surrounded by feelings of warmth, acceptance, and understanding.

Children, just as adults, benefit from support and being heard. This may be a tall order to expect of the adults who are experiencing and working through their own grief. Caring adults can guide children through this time when the child is experiencing feelings for which they have no words and thus cannot identify. In a very real way, this time can be a growth experience for the child, teaching them about love and relationships.

The first task is to create an atmosphere in which the child’s thoughts, fears, and wishes are acknowledged and validated. This means that they may be allowed to participate in any of the arrangements, ceremonies, and gatherings with which they are comfortable. Careful guidance is vital during this step. At a level equal to the child’s development, explain what will be happening and why. This may require child-specific methods and terminology. Allowing a child to express themselves during this time is important. For example, a child may not be able to speak at a grandparent’s funeral, they but would benefit greatly from another opportunity to be included, such as, an opportunity to draw a picture that would be placed in the casket or displayed at the service.

Be aware that children may tire easily or become distracted and may need to leave a service or gathering before the adults are ready. Many families provide an unrelated attendant to care for the children in this event. The key is to allow participation at the level they desire and are comfortable with, not to force it. Forced participation can be harmful. Children instinctively have a good sense of how involved they wish to be. They should be listened to carefully.