An immediate burial, also known as a direct burial, occurs when the remains of a deceased person are transported from the place of death to the place of burial directly after the time of passing. There typically is a short stop at a funeral home to take care of three basic tasks:

  • Obtain death certificate
  • Obtain burial certificate
  • Allow family time to purchase a burial plot, if not already done

Role of Funeral Home in an Immediate Burial

Despite the fact that a number of tasks associated with a traditional funeral are not undertaken in the case of immediate burial, a funeral home does play a role. The tasks that a funeral home plays in an immediate burial include:

  • Remove the body from the location of death to the funeral home
  • Obtain permits, as mentioned a moment ago
  • Transport body to the final resting place
  • Depending on the location of the final resting place, the funeral home may be involved in the burial or entombment of the deceased individual

Differences Between Traditional Funeral and Burial Versus Immediate Derivation

There are four primary differences between a traditional funeral and burial versus an immediate burial. These differences are:

  • No funeral ceremony with an immediate burial
  • No viewing or visitation event or ceremony
  • No graveside ceremony
  • No embalming or other preparation of a body

Costs of an Immediate Burial

One of the reasons an immediate burial is selected by some people involves the reduced cost associated with this type of final disposition. The basic costs associated with an immediate burial include:

  • Cemetery plot – $200 to $5,000
  • Opening and closing of a grave – $350 to $3,000
  • Simple burial container – $700 to $2,400

There are also incidental costs that include the transport of the remains from the point of death to the funeral home and then to the cemetery. The price range set forth here is dependent in part on the geographic section of the country where the death and burial occur. For example, these costs will be higher in urban areas in California when contrasted with rural parts of the state, and with other locations in the United States.

Costs Associated With a Traditional Funeral and Burial

The best way to understand the price differential is accomplished by understanding the various costs associated with a traditional funeral and burial.

  • Cemetery plot – $200 to $5,000
  • Opening and closing of a grave – $350 to $3,000
  • Full funeral package, including embalming and preparation – $2,000 to $9.000
  • Casket – $1,000 to $9,000

There is a slate of other costs associated with a traditional funeral and burial. These include separate expenses associated with a funeral service, flowers, and other elements that might be included in the memorial and burial processes.

Environment and an Immediate Burial

Individuals who are committed to “going green” oftentimes find the concept of an immediate burial appealing. The reality is that the chemicals used in the embalming process do have the potential of seeping into the soil and water following a burial. These chemicals are dangerous and are harmful to the environment. Because embalming is not legally required if a burial is immediate in California, the use of these chemicals can be avoided altogether.

Religion and Immediate Burial

There are some religious faiths that doctrinally utilized immediate burial. In other words, their religious practices and tenants call for the immediate burial of a deceased person. For example, there are religions that mandate burial before sunset the day after death. There are other burial timeframe formulations as well that necessitate an immediate interment. Examples of some religious practices that call for an immediate burial are some branches of the Jewish faith as well as the Islamic faith.

Memorializing a Deceased Loved One After an Immediate Burial

The mere fact that an immediate burial is selected doesn’t mean that you cannot arrange for an appropriate way to memorialize your deceased loved one. There are a number of ideas that you might want to consider following an immediate burial.

You might want to consider having a gathering of some sort following the immediate burial itself. This gathering can take the form of something as simple as bringing friends and family together at someone’s home. It can take the form of a meal. The setting and theme really can be anything that is appropriate to the situation and reflects the deceased loved one.

A memorial service at a later point in time is another option. This type of gathering need not be a complicated or expensive endeavor. It can be simple, akin to the immediate burial itself.