Frequent Questions

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
• Military Discharge Papers
• Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
• Specific information on the deceased:
• Full legal name
• Address
• Marital status
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth (city and state)
• Educational history (number of years of schooling)
• Armed Forces service dates and serial number
• Occupation or profession
• Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
• Next of kin and other survivors

The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased. He fulfills the role of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer.

The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director:

Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home

Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology

Consulting with family to make arrangements for the funeral service

Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms

Obtaining copies of the death certificate

Arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other places of final disposition

Creates and publishes the obituary

Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and special fraternal or military services

Directs and manages the funeral service and the funeral procession

Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

A traditional funeral involves a number of services which add to the total cost. Besides a non-declinable basic services fee, other charges may include removal/transfer of the body to the funeral home; embalming; other preparation of the body; use of facilities and staff for viewing; use of facilities and staff for the funeral ceremony; use of a hearse, service car, or van; a basic memorial printed package; metal casket, a vault or grave liner, and purchase of a cemetery plot.

If your loved one was under hospice care, the first call should be to the hospice nurse. The nurse will come to the home, handle the necessary paperwork, and contact the funeral home when they are ready for us to bring your loved one into our care.

If your loved one is not under hospice care, you should call 911. Paramedics and the coroner will respond and guide you through the next steps. Once they have completed their process, you may contact the funeral home and we will take it from there.

No matter the situation, you do not have to have everything figured out before calling us. We are available 24 hours a day to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

If a loved one passes away out of state, we can still help coordinate everything and bring them into our care.

Depending on the distance, we may send our own transport team to bring your loved one home. If the location is too far for immediate ground transportation, we will work with a trusted local funeral home in that area to assist with the transfer and, if needed, embalming while transportation arrangements are made.

We will compare both ground and air transportation options and work closely with your family to find the most practical and economical solution. Our goal is to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible during an already difficult time.

No matter where the death occurs, we can guide you through the process step by step and handle the necessary coordination on your behalf.

Yes. Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond when a death occurs.

No matter the time of day or night, our staff is on call and ready to assist your family. Once the necessary authorities or hospice personnel have completed their process, we can bring your loved one into our care.

We understand that a death can happen unexpectedly, and families often have questions about what to do next. When you call us, we will guide you through each step and help make the process as smooth and comforting as possible.

Our direct cremation service includes the basic services of the funeral director and staff, transportation of your loved one into our care, the cremation process, and an alternative cremation container.

The price does not typically include cash advance items such as:

• Death certificates 

• Permits 

• Newspaper obituary fees 

If you have questions about what is included, cremation timelines, or additional options, we are always happy to explain everything clearly with no pressure or obligation.

In most cases, embalming is not required by law.

Whether embalming is recommended often depends on the type of service your family chooses, the timing of the arrangements, and whether there will be a public viewing or visitation.

For example:

• Embalming is typically recommended for an open-casket visitation or viewing. 

• It may also be required in certain situations involving extended delays or out of state transportation. 

• If a family chooses direct cremation or immediate burial without a public viewing, embalming is usually not necessary. out-of-state

Preneed funeral insurance is a policy specifically designed to help cover funeral expenses and allow arrangements to be planned in advance.

Unlike traditional life insurance, preneed funeral insurance is tied directly to your funeral arrangements. In many cases, the funeral home services and merchandise are locked in at today’s prices, helping protect your family from future cost increases.

At Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, we help families customize a plan based on their wishes and budget. Many plans offer affordable monthly payments, and coverage can often begin immediately if health qualifications are met.

Yes. Moore Funeral Home & Cremation Services accepts preneed transfers from other funeral homes.

If you already have a preneed funeral policy or contract elsewhere and would prefer to use our funeral home, we can help review your policy and explain the transfer process. In many cases, the transfer can be completed with just a few simple forms.

There is no obligation to stay with the funeral home where a policy was originally purchased. Families move, preferences change, and circumstances evolve over time.

We are happy to answer questions, review existing policies at no cost, and help you understand what benefits and funds may transfer.

Yes. Many families choose to preplan their funeral arrangements without paying upfront.

Some people choose to simple document their wishes, and payment is not simplydue until the services are rendered.

Preplanning is not all-or-nothing. Even taking small steps ahead of time can ease stress and provide clarity for your loved ones in the future.

Yes. There are several lodging options available for out-of-town visitors.

Local options include:

• The Groovy Nomad 

• Days Inn Trenton 

• A variety of Airbnb and vacation rental properties throughout Dade County 

For families needing additional hotel options, Chattanooga is located approximately 20 minutes away and offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, and accommodations.

There is no law that requires a funeral or burial to take place within a certain number of days after a death. The timing often depends on family preferences, travel arrangements, and cemetery scheduling. 

In many cases, services are held within a few days, but families may also choose to wait longer if loved ones are traveling, if additional planning time is needed, or if there are special circumstances.

For cremation, Georgia does require a waiting period of at least 24 hours after death before cremation can take place, and additional paperwork and authorizations are usually required.