Is a Casket Required for Cremation to Take Place?

A casket is not required for a cremation to take place. In most states, all that is required is an alternative container which can be constructed of wood or fiberboard/cardboard, and is cremated along with the deceased.

Is Embalming Required for Cremation?

Absolutely not. Public health law states that any human remains held 24 hours beyond death, and not yet cremated or interred at a cemetery, shall be either embalmed, or kept under refrigeration. Most reputable funeral establishments and crematories have on-site refrigeration.

Can a Cremation Be Witnessed by the Family?

Yes, in most situations, the cremation provider will permit family members to be in attendance when the body is placed into the cremation chamber. A few religious groups include this as an integral part of their funeral practice.

Are There Any Religions That Do Not Approve of Cremation?

Most major religions accept cremation, except Islam and Orthodox Judaism. Most Christian denominations allow cremation. The Catholic Church approves cremation but encourages interment in a cemetery. Buddhists favor cremation, and Hindus consider it the orthodox method of disposition.

Can More than One Cremation Be Performed at Once?

No. It is both practically impossible and illegal. Most modern cremation chambers are not large enough to house more than one adult at a time.

What Usually Happens after the Cremation Is Finished?

After cremation, bone fragments and non-consumed metal items are collected and separated from the remains using inspection and magnets. Bone fragments are processed into a uniform size and sealed in a plastic bag, then placed in a container or urn chosen by the family.

What Do Cremated Remains Look Like?

Cremated remains are a powdery and granular mix in shades of gray to white. An average adult’s remains typically weigh between four to eight pounds.

Are All Cremated Remains Returned to the Family?

Yes, except for microscopic particles that cannot be retrieved, all cremated remains are returned to the family.

Are Urns Required to Collect the Cremated Remains?

No law requires an urn, but cremated remains must be kept in a container. A basic urn is included in the cremation package, with options available for upgrades.

What Options Are Available with the Cremated Remains?

In California, cremated remains may be kept at home, scattered at sea (500+ yards from shore), scattered on private property with permission, or interred in a cemetery. They can also be divided into keepsake urns or jewelry for memorialization.

How Can You Be Certain That All Remains Are Kept Separate, and You Receive the Correct Remains?

Reliable cremation providers have strict policies to ensure accuracy and prevent errors. It's your right to ask about the procedures used for identification, cremation, processing, and packaging of remains.

6 Best Pre-Need Funeral Planning Providers in Newport Beach & Costa Mesa

Oct 12

Written By lindsay farrington

Which providers are best for a pre-need funeral in Newport Beach? For families who want to choose and pay for arrangements in advance, six strong options are Farrington Mortuary & Cremation, Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park, Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary, O'Connor Mortuary, Neptune Society of Orange County and Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary. Each serves Newport Beach and neighboring Costa Mesa and offers advance planning.

The right choice depends on what you want to fund ahead of time: a simple cremation, a burial with cemetery property, or a service by the ocean. It also depends on how your money is protected. This guide explains how pre-need funding works under California rules, then compares each provider so you can ask the right questions before you sign anything.

Key Takeaways

A pre-need arrangement is a signed contract, often prepaid, not just a list of wishes. It locks in choices and can also lock in how the costs are covered.
In California, funeral establishments are licensed by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and prepaid funds are usually held in a preneed trust or paid through funeral insurance.
The Bureau's consumer guide says a canceled preneed trust contract is refunded with interest earned, and any fee kept by the establishment is capped at 10% of the original contract and can only come out of interest.
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you are entitled to a written, itemized general price list, whether you are planning in advance or at the time of need.
Compare guaranteed versus non-guaranteed items, transfer rights and who holds the money before you pay any provider.

What Is a Pre-Need Funeral? Newport Beach Families Ask This First

Recording your wishes and making a pre-need arrangement are two different steps. Writing down that you prefer cremation and a scattering at sea helps your family, but it does not reserve anything or cover any cost. A pre-need arrangement is an agreement with a licensed provider for specific goods and services, and it is often paid in full or in installments before it is needed.

Families we work with often ask, "If I pay now, where does my money go?" The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau lists several ways to prepay: life insurance, funeral insurance, funeral trusts, and bank-held trusts or savings accounts. Each works a little differently.

Preneed trust contracts

With a preneed trust, you sign a contract with a funeral establishment and your payments are deposited into its trust fund, where they are held until the time of service. According to the Bureau's consumer guide, if you cancel, you receive a refund that includes the interest earned, and the establishment may keep a fee of up to 10% of the original contract, taken only from the interest earned. The establishment is not required to pay any excess funds to your survivors, so ask how any surplus is handled.

Funeral insurance

Funeral or death insurance is bought through a funeral establishment, which is named as the beneficiary. The Bureau recommends asking to see in writing what the policy will be worth after one, five and ten years, and confirming which costs are guaranteed so your loved ones are not charged more if prices rise.

Your right to a price list

The FTC Funeral Rule applies whether you are arranging a funeral at the time of death or in advance. It gives you the right to a written, itemized general price list when you visit a funeral home, to price information by phone, and to buy only the goods and services you want rather than a fixed package. California also requires that a survivor handling arrangements be given a copy of any signed, paid preneed agreement the establishment holds, so tell a trusted person where your contract is.

The 6 Best Pre-Need Funeral Planning Providers in Newport Beach & Costa Mesa

Offers and terms change, so confirm current details directly with each provider.

1. Farrington Mortuary & Cremation

Farrington Mortuary & Cremation is a family-owned funeral home founded by Lindsay Farrington, known for a contemporary approach to funeral care. It serves families across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties, including Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (FD License 2365). Its administrative office at 1505 9th Street, Santa Monica, is open by appointment only.

Pre-planning starts with an online pre-arrangement form where you can record the services you want, burial or cremation, a casket or urn, and the personal touches that matter to you. The process also lets you plan financially to cover costs in advance, which eases the burden on loved ones. Farrington publishes itemized packages and pricing online, which makes pre-need comparisons easier: Basic Direct Cremation is $1,195, Cremation with Scattering of Ashes at Sea is $1,495 unwitnessed or $2,395 witnessed, Direct Burial is $2,595 (casket, cemetery fees and embalming not included), Cremation with Beach Memorial Service is $3,995, and full body burial at sea starts at $4,500. Families can ask the team how pre-payment would be handled for their chosen arrangement.

Best for: Coastal families who want transparent published prices and ocean-focused options such as sea scattering, beach memorials or burial at sea.

2. Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park

Located at 3500 Pacific View Drive in Corona del Mar, Pacific View is a Dignity Memorial location whose grounds overlook Newport Harbor and Catalina Island. The cemetery opened in 1958, and the property includes an on-site cremation option, a chapel seating 160 that is open to all faiths, and the Garden of Valor for veterans and public servants.

Pre-planning appointments can be held in person, at home or virtually, and a free planning guide is available on request. Cemetery choices range from lawn burial to private gardens, family estates and mausoleums. Contact them for current pricing and pre-need terms.

Best for: Newport Beach families who want funeral services and cemetery property planned together at one local memorial park.

3. Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary

Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive sits on 29 acres at 1625 Gisler Avenue in Costa Mesa and is also part of the Dignity Memorial network. It has an on-site crematory, a chapel seating up to 250, and what it describes as Orange County's only consecrated Jewish garden. Mt. Olive Cemetery was established in the 1960s to serve Jewish communities in Orange County and Long Beach.

Pre-planning can be arranged in person, at home or virtually. The location's page mentions payment options on trust-funded contracts, but its listed offer dates conflict, so confirm current terms directly.

Best for: Costa Mesa families, including Jewish families, who want burial or cremation and cemetery space on one campus.

4. O'Connor Mortuary

O'Connor Mortuary has been family-owned and operated since 1898. Its chapel and crematory are in Laguna Hills, and its Irvine Arrangement Center at 4010 Barranca Parkway (by appointment only) is a short drive from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

According to its planning FAQ, advance arrangements are funded through an independent funeral insurance policy that secures costs at today's prices, can be paid over set periods, and is transferable if you move. Advance Funeral Planners help you complete a Final Wishes Organizer in a complimentary consultation, and an Out of Area Protection Plan covers return transport if death occurs more than 75 miles from home.

Best for: Families who prefer a long-established, family-owned firm and an insurance-funded plan with transfer rights.

5. Neptune Society of Orange County

Neptune Society of Orange County operates at 758 W. 19th Street in Costa Mesa (FD#1305) and states that it has served families since 1973. It focuses on cremation and describes itself as a pre-paid cremation service.

Its website describes a pre-payment trust program that locks in the cost of cremation at current prices, with enrollment online, a down payment or payment in full, and 0% APR installment plans. It also offers scattering at sea. Contact them for current pricing and to ask how the trust is administered and what the cancellation terms are.

Best for: Costa Mesa and Newport Beach residents who want a simple, prepaid cremation plan arranged largely online.

6. Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary

Fairhaven, at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue in Santa Ana, was founded in 1911 and covers 73 acres. Its Historic Mausoleum, developed in 1916, was one of the first in Orange County, and the park includes a cremation garden and a Garden of Valor for veterans.

Pre-planning appointments are available in person, at home or virtually. The location's page mentions trust-funded contracts and CareCredit financing. Contact them for current pricing and terms.

Best for: Families with roots in central Orange County who value a historic memorial park with mausoleum options.

How to Choose a Pre-Need Provider

Match the plan to the disposition you want

If you know you want cremation, a cremation-focused plan may be simpler. If you want burial, you may also need cemetery property, which is a separate purchase from the funeral home's services. Families who love the coast often ask about sea scattering or burial at sea, so confirm the provider handles those arrangements.

Understand the funding method

Ask whether your money goes into a preneed trust or buys a funeral insurance policy. These have different cancellation terms, different rules on surplus funds and different protections if the business is sold.

Compare itemized prices, not package names

Request each provider's general price list and compare line items. Similar package names can hide very different services.

Think about portability

Many Newport Beach retirees split time between homes or may move closer to family. Ask what happens if you relocate or die while traveling.

Questions to Ask Before You Pay

Which items on this contract are price-guaranteed, and which could cost more later?
Is my money held in a trust or used to buy an insurance policy, and who holds it?
If I cancel, how much will I get back, and how is any fee calculated?
What happens to my contract if the business closes or is sold?
Can I transfer the plan to another provider if I move?
Are cemetery fees, opening and closing charges or permits excluded?
Who receives any money left over after services are provided?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a pre-need funeral in Newport Beach worth it?

For many families it is, because it settles decisions in advance and can protect against future price increases when the contract guarantees prices, but the value depends on the funding method, cancellation terms and which costs are actually covered.

Can I get my money back if I cancel a preneed trust in California?

According to the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau's consumer guide, a canceled preneed trust contract is refunded with interest earned, and the funeral establishment may keep up to 10% of the original contract, taken only from the interest earned; always read the cancellation clause in your own contract.

Who regulates pre-need funeral providers in California?

The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, licenses funeral establishments, crematories and privately owned cemeteries, and you can verify a license through the Bureau.

Does a pre-need plan cover cemetery costs?

Not always, since funeral home services and cemetery property are often separate purchases, so check whether plots, opening and closing fees and markers are included.

What should my family do when the time comes?

They should contact the provider named on your contract and bring a copy of it, and Farrington's guide on what to do when a death occurs walks through the first steps.

Plan Ahead With Farrington

Choosing your arrangements now is one of the kindest gifts you can give the people you love. If you live in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa and want to start, visit Farrington's pre-arrangements page to record your wishes online, or call (800) 674-3659 any time, day or night, to talk with our team about your options and how pre-payment would work for you.

lindsay farrington

6 Best Pre-Need Funeral Planning Providers in Newport Beach & Costa Mesa

Key Takeaways