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Michigan​

Legal Requirements for Home Funerals

​Last Updated: June 2025

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Please consult a local professional in your area for complete information relevant to your situation, county/region regulations, and other needs.

For help local to the
 Michigan area - please see the NHFA Directory listing located here

Questions

  • My person died at a medical facility / other facility. Can I take the body home?
  • I'm providing after-death care at home.
    • How long can I keep the body at home after death?
    • Does my state require the body to be embalmed?
    • What methods of disposition are legal in my state?
    • ​What do I need to do to get a death certificate?​
    • What do I need to do to get a burial-transit permit?
    • Is there a wait period before I can receive a burial-transit permit?

Glossary of Terms

  • Burial-transit permit: A permit required to transport a body FROM the place of bodycare/vigil TO place of disposition (if death occurs someplace different from bodycare, then this is not needed). May be called a disposition permit. Also called a Removal Certificate.
  • Death certificate: ​Legal record of death.
  • Disposition: The manner in which human remains are finally handled (e.g. cremation, burial, composting, etc.).
  • Refrigeration at home: Refers to cooling, not commercial refrigeration used in funeral homes. For more information, see Body Care & Cooling.​​    

Review Our Sources

Read the original legal sources for your state here.
Original Legal Sources

I'm providing after-death care at home.

How long can I keep the body at home after death and under what conditions?​


What are the relevant statutes in my state?

Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2848 

(1) Except as otherwise provided in sections 2844 and 2845, a funeral director or person acting as a funeral director, who first assumes custody of a dead body, not later than 72 hours after death or the finding of a dead body and before final disposition of the body, shall obtain authorization for the final disposition. The authorization for final disposition of a dead body must be issued on a form prescribed by the state registrar and signed by the local registrar or the state registrar.

(4) A body may be moved from the place of death to be prepared for final disposition with the consent of the physician or county medical examiner who certifies the cause of death.


Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2841
(1) Death registration is required for each individual who dies in this state. If the place of death is unknown, but the body is found in this state, the death registration shall show this fact and shall be completed and filed in accordance with this section and section 2842. The place where the body is found shall be shown as the place of death.

(2) Except as otherwise provided under this part, an individual who discovers the body of an individual he or she knows or has reason to know is dead and fails to inform a law enforcement agency, a funeral home, or a 9-1-1 operator of the discovery is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. This subsection does not apply to an individual who knows or has reason to know that a law enforcement agency, a funeral home, or a 9-1-1 operator has been informed of the discovery of the body.

(3) A person who violates subsection (2) with the purpose of concealing the fact or cause of death of the individual is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
​
(4) A sentence imposed for a violation of this section may be imposed to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed for a conviction that arises out of the same transaction.


Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 52.204
It shall be unlawful for any funeral director, embalmer or other person to remove the body from the place where death occurred, or to prepare the body for burial or shipment, when such funeral director, embalmer or other person knows or upon reasonable investigation should know that death may have occurred in a manner as indicated in section 3, without first notifying the county medical examiner or his deputy and receiving permission to remove, prepare for burial or ship such body. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be imprisoned not exceeding 1 year, or fined not exceeding $500.00, or both.


Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 700.3206 
The handling, disposition, or disinterment of a body must be under the supervision of a person licensed to practice mortuary science in this state.


What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?

Coming soon.

Does my state require the body to be embalmed? Refrigerated?​


What are the relevant statutes in my state?

The following statute applies when there is a dispute about the disposition of human remains:
Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 700.3207 
(6) Before the court makes a decision under subsection (5), and if refrigeration is not reasonably available, the funeral establishment that has custody of the decedent’s body may embalm the decedent’s body.

MICH. ADMIN. CODE R 325.1
(1) The bodies of those who have died of diphtheria, meningococcic infections, plague, poliomyelitis, scarlet fever, or smallpox shall not be transported or accepted for transportation unless they have been prepared for shipment by being thoroughly embalmed and disinfected by arterial and cavity injection with an accepted embalming fluid. This preparation must be effected by an embalmer licensed with the state of Michigan.
(2) When bodies are transported under this rule, notice must be sent by the shipping embalmer to the health officer of the jurisdiction where the body is to be received, advising the date and time of arrival.
(3) Public funerals may be conducted, provided that prior permission is obtained from the local health officer. When permission is granted, persons in isolated areas may be released for the purpose of accompanying the body to a funeral home, church, or cemetery, provided that they do all of the following:
(a) Use a separate car or means of conveyance.
(b) Remain in a separate room or separate from the public and avoid proximity to others in attendance.
(c) Return to the area or isolation and remain there until premises are released from isolation and quarantine.


MICH. ADMIN. CODE R 325.2
Bodies dead from a cause not named in R 325.1 that will reach their destination within 48 hours from the time of death, or are addressed to the demonstrator of anatomy of a medical college or for other demonstration purposes, may be received for transportation when encased in a sound shipping case. If the body is not so addressed or cannot reach its destination within 48 hours it must be prepared for shipment as described in R 325.1. When dead bodies are shipped by common carrier, a burial-transit or disinterment permit shall be securely fastened upon the outside box, and a duplicate of the permit shall be supplied by the funeral director to the person escorting the body, or, if there is no escort, a duplicate of the permit shall be mailed to the receiving funeral director.

​

[Note: Embalming is not required in any state except by very specific conditions.]

What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?

Coming soon.

What methods of disposition are legal in my state?​


What are the relevant statutes in my state?

Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2803
(7) “Final disposition” means the burial, cremation, interment, or other legal disposition of a dead body or fetal remains.

What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?

Coming soon.

What do I need to do to get a death certificate?​


What are the relevant statutes in my state?

 Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2844
Referral of case to county medical examiner; determining and certifying cause of death; investigation; completing and signing medical certification; notice to funeral director; final disposition.
(1) When death occurs more than 10 days after the deceased was last seen by a physician, if the cause of death appears to be other than the illness or condition for which the deceased was being treated, or if the attending physician cannot accurately determine the cause of death, the case shall be referred to the county medical examiner for investigation to determine and certify the cause of death. If the county medical examiner determines that the case does not fall within his or her jurisdiction, the county medical examiner shall refer the case back to the deceased’s physician within 24 hours for completion of the medical certification.
(2) When an investigation is required under Act No. 181 of the Public Acts of 1953, as amended, being sections 52.201 to 52.216 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the county medical examiner shall determine the cause of death and shall complete and sign the medical certification within 48 hours after taking charge of the case.
(3) If the cause of death cannot be determined within 48 hours after death, the medical certification may be completed as provided by the department. The attending physician or county medical examiner shall give the funeral director in custody of the body notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition shall not be made until authorized by the attending physician or medical examiner.
Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2841
(1) Death registration is required for each individual who dies in this state. If the place of death is unknown, but the body is found in this state, the death registration shall show this fact and shall be completed and filed in accordance with this section and section 2842. The place where the body is found shall be shown as the place of death.
(2) Except as otherwise provided under this part, an individual who discovers the body of an individual he or she knows or has reason to know is dead and fails to inform a law enforcement agency, a funeral home, or a 9-1-1 operator of the discovery is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. This subsection does not apply to an individual who knows or has reason to know that a law enforcement agency, a funeral home, or a 9-1-1 operator has been informed of the discovery of the body.
(3) A person who violates subsection (2) with the purpose of concealing the fact or cause of death of the individual is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(4) A sentence imposed for a violation of this section may be imposed to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed for a conviction that arises out of the same transaction.


Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2843
(1) A funeral director who first assumes custody of a dead body, either personally or through his or her authorized agent, shall report the death. For purposes of this subsection, “dead body” includes, but is not limited to, the body of an infant who survived an attempted abortion as described in the born alive infant protection act and who later died. The funeral director or the authorized agent shall obtain the necessary personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified individual or source available and shall obtain medical certification as follows:
(a) If the death occurred outside an institution, the medical certification portion of the death record shall be completed and certified not later than 48 hours after death by the attending physician; or in the absence of the attending physician, by a physician acting as the attending physician’s authorized representative; or in the absence of an authorized representative, by the county medical examiner; or in the absence of the county medical examiner, by the county health officer or the deputy county medical examiner. If the death occurred in an institution, the medical certification shall be completed and signed not later than 48 hours after death by the attending physician; or in the absence of the attending physician, by a physician acting as the attending physician’s authorized representative; or in the absence of an authorized representative, by the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred, after reviewing pertinent records and making other investigation as considered necessary, or by a pathologist.
(b) A physician described in subdivision (a), who for himself or herself or as an agent or employee of another individual neglects or refuses to certify a death record properly presented to him or her for certification by a funeral director or who refuses or neglects to furnish information in his or her possession, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 60 days, or a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00, or both.
(2) A physician described in subsection (1)(a) shall provide the medical certification described in subsection (1)(a) within 48 hours after the death.
(3) A death record shall be certified by a funeral director who is licensed under article 18 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.1801 to 339.1812, or by an individual who holds a courtesy license under section 1806a of that act, MCL 339.1806a, and shall be filed with the local registrar of the district where the death occurred within 72 hours after the death.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the death of an infant who was born alive following an attempted abortion and was surrendered to an emergency service provider under the safe delivery of newborns law, sections 1 to 20 of chapter XII of the probate code of 1939,1939 PA 288, MCL 712.1 to 712.20, and then died shall be reported in the same manner as for any death. However, the deceased infant shall be listed as “Baby Doe” and no information that would directly identify the deceased infant or the deceased infant’s parents shall be reported, including, but not limited to, the following information:
(a) The name of the mother or father.
(b) The address of the mother or father.
(c) The name of the informant.
(d) The address of the informant.



What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?

Coming soon.

What do I need to do to get a burial-transit permit?
Is there a wait period before I can receive a burial-transit permit?


What are the relevant statutes in my state?

Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 333.2848 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in sections 2844 and 2845, a funeral director or person acting as a funeral director, who first assumes custody of a dead body, not later than 72 hours after death or the finding of a dead body and before final disposition of the body, shall obtain authorization for the final disposition. The authorization for final disposition of a dead body must be issued on a form prescribed by the state registrar and signed by the local registrar or the state registrar.
(2) Unless the mother has provided written consent for research on the dead fetus under section 2688, before final disposition of a dead fetus, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, the funeral director or person assuming responsibility for the final disposition of the fetus or fetal remains shall obtain from the parents, or parent if the mother is unmarried, an authorization for final disposition on a form prescribed and furnished or approved by the state registrar. The authorization may allow final disposition to be by a funeral director, the individual in charge of the institution where the fetus was delivered or miscarried, or an institution or agency authorized to accept donated bodies, fetuses, or fetal remains under this act. The parents, or parent if the mother is unmarried, may direct the final disposition to be interment or cremation as those terms are defined in section 2 of the cemetery regulation act, 1968 PA 251, MCL 456.522, or incineration. After final disposition, the funeral director, the individual in charge of the institution, or other person making the final disposition shall retain the permit for not less than 7 years. This section as amended by 2012 PA 499 does not require a religious service or ceremony as part of the final disposition of fetal remains.
(3) If final disposition is by cremation, the medical examiner of the county in which death occurred shall sign the authorization for final disposition.
(4) A body may be moved from the place of death to be prepared for final disposition with the consent of the physician or county medical examiner who certifies the cause of death.
(5) A permit for disposition issued under the law of another state that accompanies a dead body or dead fetus brought into this state is authorization for final disposition of the dead body or dead fetus in this state.

​

What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?

Coming soon.

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