The legal requirements for home funerals in your state
Laws relevant to community deathcare are handled on the state level in the United States. This Quick Guide outlines the legal requirements for home funerals in each US state and the District of Columbia, so that individuals, families, and communities can be better informed to care for their dead. Click to navigate to your state for more info.
How did we get this info? The National Home Funeral Alliance first reached out to volunteers on the ground to share their knowledge and experiences. We then passed our initial research on to law students taking Professor Tanya Marsh’s Funeral Law class at Wake Forest Law, who are in the process of researching relevant statutes as a pro-bono project.
We are deeply appreciative of the community labor at every level that made this project possible, and we want to especially thank Wake Forest Law Students Kaylee Tillett and Emily Stiles for their leadership on this project in 2023-24. This research project will continue in 2024-25.
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.
Here are the questions we try to answer for each state.
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?
Do I need a permit to transport the body to its final disposition?
How long do I have to wait before the body can be cremated?
My person died at home from a contagious disease. Do I need to report this?
What do I need to do to get a death certificate?
Glossary of Terms
Burial-transit permit.
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.
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