FAQ's

What you do first depends on where the death occurs. If your loved one passes away at home and is not under hospice care, call 911. Law enforcement and/or the Medical Examiner may need to respond before the funeral home can bring your loved one into our care.

If your loved one is under hospice care, call the hospice provider first. Hospice will make the necessary pronouncement and contact us when appropriate. If the death occurs at a hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or other healthcare facility, simply let the staff know that you have chosen Lotus Funeral Services. They can contact us directly. You do not have to have all the answers when you call us. We will help you understand what happens next.

Your loved one is brought into our care and treated with respect. We do not move forward with embalming, cremation, or other final disposition procedures until the appropriate authorizations have been completed. Families have time to discuss their options and make informed decisions. Our job is to explain what comes next and help you make the choices that are right for your family — not rush you through them.

No. At Lotus, we do not believe families should feel pressured into purchasing things they do not need or want. We will explain what is required, what is optional, and the choices available to you. You can make decisions based on what you are comfortable with and what matters most to your family. Our General Price List is available so you can review our pricing and ask questions before making decisions. 

We believe families should understand what is happening and what comes next. We will explain who your contact is, what we are waiting for, what the next steps are, and when you should expect to hear from us. If you have a question, please ask. We want you to feel comfortable contacting us when you need clarification about your loved one's arrangements.

Choosing cremation does not mean giving up the opportunity to gather, remember, or say goodbye. Some families choose direct cremation. Others choose cremation along with a viewing, visitation, memorial service, celebration of life, church service, graveside gathering, or another ceremony that is meaningful to them. Cremated remains may be kept by the family, placed in an urn, buried in a cemetery, placed in an appropriate memorial location, or handled in another lawful way chosen by the family. We will explain the possibilities so you can choose what fits your family. 

We recommend calling before coming in so we can make sure someone is available to give you our full attention. Our staff may be assisting another family, attending a service, or working outside the funeral home. An appointment helps us reserve time specifically for you.

After a death, you also do not have to rush immediately to the funeral home. Call us first, and we will walk you through what needs to happen.

The way prepaid funeral funds are held depends on the type of preneed arrangement. Funds may be placed into an appropriate trust or used to fund an insurance-based arrangement in accordance with applicable requirements. Before you purchase a plan, we will explain how that particular arrangement is funded, what is guaranteed, what is not guaranteed, and any transfer or cancellation provisions that apply. We want you to understand where your money goes before you sign anything.

There is no single timeline that works for every family. Timing can depend on authorizations, required paperwork, clergy availability, cemetery or venue scheduling, family travel, merchandise, and the type of service being planned. We will help coordinate the details and give you a realistic idea of timing without making you feel rushed into decisions.

You are welcome to contact Lotus. Depending on the type of arrangement and its terms, an existing pre-arrangement may be transferable. We can review your paperwork with you at no cost and explain what options may be available. There is no obligation to make a change. Our goal is to help you understand what you already have before you decide what you want to do.

Absolutely. Planning ahead is not only about paying for services. It is an opportunity to plan your legacy and put your wishes into words. You can document preferences for burial or cremation, services, music, readings, merchandise, memorial details, and other choices that matter to you. Having those wishes written down can also give your family direction later, so they are not left trying to guess what you would have wanted.

The person legally authorized to make funeral and disposition decisions depends on the circumstances and applicable Florida law. The order of priority can involve a surviving spouse, adult children, parents, or other relatives, depending on the situation and any applicable documents. Family situations are not always simple, especially when several relatives share the same level of relationship or when legal documents are involved. Lotus can explain what documentation we require for our services. Questions about legal rights or disputes should be discussed with a qualified attorney. Information provided by Lotus is not legal advice.

Before cremated remains are released, we verify that the person receiving them is authorized to do so. Identification may be required. We will contact the family when the cremated remains are ready and arrange a convenient time for pickup. In some circumstances, delivery may also be available. Please ask us about the options available to your family.

We understand that an unexpected death can bring unexpected expenses. Because Lotus is independently owned, we are able to listen to an individual family's circumstances and review certain situations personally rather than treating every family exactly the same. We cannot promise that every request can be accommodated, but we will listen, explain the choices available, and discuss what may be possible . 

There may be resources available depending on a family's circumstances. Lotus works closely with Coping with Colors, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help families facing final-expense hardships. An assistance application is being developed for families who may qualify.

Lotus also accepts CareCredit as a payment option. Please contact us so we can discuss the options that may be available to you. At Lotus, people come first.