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Legal Requirements for Home Funerals
Last Updated: October 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.
For help local to the Washington area - please see the NHFA Directory listing located here
For help local to the Washington area - please see the NHFA Directory listing located here
Questions
- 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?
- Are there any circumstances under which I would be required to wait before final disposition?
- 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.
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?
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 68.50.110
Except in cases of dissection provided for in RCW 68.50.100, and where human remains are rightfully carried through or removed from the state for the purpose of burial elsewhere, human remains lying within this state, and the remains of any dissected body, after dissection, must be decently buried, undergo cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction within a reasonable time after death.
Except in cases of dissection provided for in RCW 68.50.100, and where human remains are rightfully carried through or removed from the state for the purpose of burial elsewhere, human remains lying within this state, and the remains of any dissected body, after dissection, must be decently buried, undergo cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction within a reasonable time after death.
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?
What are the relevant statutes in my state?
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 18.39.215
(1)(a) No licensed embalmer shall embalm human remains without first having obtained authorization
from the individual or individuals that have the right to control the disposition under RCW 68.50.160.
(b) The funeral director or embalmer shall inform the family member or representative of the deceased
that embalming is not required by state law, except that embalming is required under certain conditions
as determined by rule by the state board of health.
(2)(a) Any licensee authorized to dispose of human remains shall refrigerate or embalm the human
remains upon receipt of the human remains. However, subsection (1) of this section and RCW
68.50.108 shall be complied with before human remains are embalmed. Upon written authorization of
the proper state or local authority, the provisions of this subsection may be waived for a specified
period of time.
(b) Violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
(1)(a) No licensed embalmer shall embalm human remains without first having obtained authorization
from the individual or individuals that have the right to control the disposition under RCW 68.50.160.
(b) The funeral director or embalmer shall inform the family member or representative of the deceased
that embalming is not required by state law, except that embalming is required under certain conditions
as determined by rule by the state board of health.
(2)(a) Any licensee authorized to dispose of human remains shall refrigerate or embalm the human
remains upon receipt of the human remains. However, subsection (1) of this section and RCW
68.50.108 shall be complied with before human remains are embalmed. Upon written authorization of
the proper state or local authority, the provisions of this subsection may be waived for a specified
period of time.
(b) Violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
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?
Washington law mentions burial, cremation, entombment, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction,
donation to science, and removal from the state.
donation to science, and removal from the state.
What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?
Coming soon.
Are there any circumstances under which I would be required to wait before final disposition?
What are the relevant statutes in my state?
There are no statutes or regulations that address this question.
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?
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 70.58A.200
(1)(a) Reports of death and fetal death must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “death” includes “fetal death” as defined in RCW 70.58A.010.
(2) A complete report of death must be filed with the local registrar in the local health jurisdiction
where the death occurred for each death that occurs in this state. Except for circumstances covered by
subsection (7) of this section, the report must be filed within five calendar days after the death or
finding of human remains and prior to final disposition of the human remains as required by this
section.
(a) If the place of death is unknown and the human remains are found in state prior to final disposition,
the death must be filed in state and the place where the human remains were found is the place of
death.
(b) When death occurs in a moving conveyance within or outside the United States and the human
remains are first removed from the conveyance in state, the death must be filed in state and the place of
death is the place where the remains were removed from the moving conveyance.
(c) In all other cases, the place where death is pronounced is the place where death occurred.
(d) An approximate date of death may be used if date of death is unknown. If the date cannot be
determined by approximation, the date of death must be the date the human remains were found.
(3) If the death occurred with medical attendance, a funeral director, funeral establishment, or person
having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall:
(a) Obtain and enter personal data on the report of death about the decedent from the person best
qualified to provide the information;
(b) Provide the report of death to the medical certifier within two calendar days after the death or
finding of human remains;
(c) File the completed report of death with the local registrar; and
(d) Obtain a burial-transit permit prior to the disposition of the human remains as required in RCW
70.58A.210.
(4) The medical certifier shall:
(a) Attest to the cause, date, and time of death; and
(b) Return the report of death to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right
to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 within two calendar days.
(5) The report of death may be completed by another individual qualified to be a medical certifier as
defined in RCW 70.58A.010 who has access to the medical history of the decedent when:
(a) The medical certifier is absent or unable to attest to the cause, date, and time of death; or
(b) The death occurred due to natural causes, and the medical certifier gives approval.
(6) If the death occurred without medical attendance, the funeral director, funeral establishment, or
person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall
provide the report of death to the coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer as allowed by (a) of
this subsection.
(a) If the death occurred due to natural causes, the coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer
shall determine whether to certify the report of death. If the coroner, medical examiner, or local health
officer decides to certify the report of death, the person certifying the report shall:
(i) Attest to the manner, cause, and date of death without holding an inquest or performing an autopsy
or postmortem, based on statements of relatives, persons in attendance during the last sickness, persons
present at the time of death, or other persons having adequate knowledge of the facts;
(ii) Note that there was no medical attendance at the time of death; and
(iii) Return the report of death to the funeral home within two calendar days.
(b) If the death appears to be the result of unlawful or unnatural causes, the coroner or medical
examiner shall:
(i) Attest to the cause, place, and date of death;
(ii) Note that there was no medical attendance at the time of death;
(iii) Note when the cause of death is pending investigation; and
(iv) Return the report of death to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right
to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 within two calendar days.
(7) When there is no funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the
disposition of human remains under chapter 68.50 RCW, the coroner, medical examiner, or local health
officer shall file the completed report of death with the local registrar as required by subsection (2) of
this section.
(8) When a coroner or medical examiner determines that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to
indicate that an individual has died in the county or in waters contiguous to the county, and that it is
unlikely that the body will be recovered, the coroner or medical examiner shall file a report of death,
including the cause, place, and date of death, to the extent possible.
(9) The coroner or medical examiner in a county in which a decedent was last known to be alive may
file a report of death with the local registrar when the county in which the presumed death occurred
cannot be determined with certainty. The coroner or medical examiner shall file a report of death,
including the cause, place, and date of death, to the extent possible.
(10) The coroner or medical examiner having jurisdiction may release information contained in a report
of death according to RCW 68.50.300.
(11) The local registrar shall:
(a) Review filed reports of death to ensure completion in accordance with this chapter;
(b) Request missing information or corrections;
(c) Ensure issuance of the burial-transit permit as required under RCW 70.58A.210;
(d) Register a report of death with the department if it has been completed and submitted in accordance
with this section.
(12) A medical certifier, coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer shall submit an affidavit of
correction to the state registrar to amend the report of death within five calendar days of receipt of an
autopsy result or other information that completes or amends the cause of death from that originally
filed with the department.
(13) The department may require a medical certifier, coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer
to provide additional or clarifying information to properly code and classify cause of death.
(1)(a) Reports of death and fetal death must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “death” includes “fetal death” as defined in RCW 70.58A.010.
(2) A complete report of death must be filed with the local registrar in the local health jurisdiction
where the death occurred for each death that occurs in this state. Except for circumstances covered by
subsection (7) of this section, the report must be filed within five calendar days after the death or
finding of human remains and prior to final disposition of the human remains as required by this
section.
(a) If the place of death is unknown and the human remains are found in state prior to final disposition,
the death must be filed in state and the place where the human remains were found is the place of
death.
(b) When death occurs in a moving conveyance within or outside the United States and the human
remains are first removed from the conveyance in state, the death must be filed in state and the place of
death is the place where the remains were removed from the moving conveyance.
(c) In all other cases, the place where death is pronounced is the place where death occurred.
(d) An approximate date of death may be used if date of death is unknown. If the date cannot be
determined by approximation, the date of death must be the date the human remains were found.
(3) If the death occurred with medical attendance, a funeral director, funeral establishment, or person
having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall:
(a) Obtain and enter personal data on the report of death about the decedent from the person best
qualified to provide the information;
(b) Provide the report of death to the medical certifier within two calendar days after the death or
finding of human remains;
(c) File the completed report of death with the local registrar; and
(d) Obtain a burial-transit permit prior to the disposition of the human remains as required in RCW
70.58A.210.
(4) The medical certifier shall:
(a) Attest to the cause, date, and time of death; and
(b) Return the report of death to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right
to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 within two calendar days.
(5) The report of death may be completed by another individual qualified to be a medical certifier as
defined in RCW 70.58A.010 who has access to the medical history of the decedent when:
(a) The medical certifier is absent or unable to attest to the cause, date, and time of death; or
(b) The death occurred due to natural causes, and the medical certifier gives approval.
(6) If the death occurred without medical attendance, the funeral director, funeral establishment, or
person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall
provide the report of death to the coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer as allowed by (a) of
this subsection.
(a) If the death occurred due to natural causes, the coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer
shall determine whether to certify the report of death. If the coroner, medical examiner, or local health
officer decides to certify the report of death, the person certifying the report shall:
(i) Attest to the manner, cause, and date of death without holding an inquest or performing an autopsy
or postmortem, based on statements of relatives, persons in attendance during the last sickness, persons
present at the time of death, or other persons having adequate knowledge of the facts;
(ii) Note that there was no medical attendance at the time of death; and
(iii) Return the report of death to the funeral home within two calendar days.
(b) If the death appears to be the result of unlawful or unnatural causes, the coroner or medical
examiner shall:
(i) Attest to the cause, place, and date of death;
(ii) Note that there was no medical attendance at the time of death;
(iii) Note when the cause of death is pending investigation; and
(iv) Return the report of death to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right
to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 within two calendar days.
(7) When there is no funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the
disposition of human remains under chapter 68.50 RCW, the coroner, medical examiner, or local health
officer shall file the completed report of death with the local registrar as required by subsection (2) of
this section.
(8) When a coroner or medical examiner determines that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to
indicate that an individual has died in the county or in waters contiguous to the county, and that it is
unlikely that the body will be recovered, the coroner or medical examiner shall file a report of death,
including the cause, place, and date of death, to the extent possible.
(9) The coroner or medical examiner in a county in which a decedent was last known to be alive may
file a report of death with the local registrar when the county in which the presumed death occurred
cannot be determined with certainty. The coroner or medical examiner shall file a report of death,
including the cause, place, and date of death, to the extent possible.
(10) The coroner or medical examiner having jurisdiction may release information contained in a report
of death according to RCW 68.50.300.
(11) The local registrar shall:
(a) Review filed reports of death to ensure completion in accordance with this chapter;
(b) Request missing information or corrections;
(c) Ensure issuance of the burial-transit permit as required under RCW 70.58A.210;
(d) Register a report of death with the department if it has been completed and submitted in accordance
with this section.
(12) A medical certifier, coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer shall submit an affidavit of
correction to the state registrar to amend the report of death within five calendar days of receipt of an
autopsy result or other information that completes or amends the cause of death from that originally
filed with the department.
(13) The department may require a medical certifier, coroner, medical examiner, or local health officer
to provide additional or clarifying information to properly code and classify cause of death.
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?
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 70.58A.210
(1)(a) Reports of death and fetal death must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “death” includes “fetal death” as defined in RCW 70.58A.010.
(2) If a report of death is completed and filed in accordance with this chapter, the local registrar shall
issue a burial-transit permit or disinterment permit to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or
person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160.
(3) A person may not provide for final disposition of human remains until the following have occurred:
(a) The report of death has been registered in accordance with RCW 70.58A.200; and
(b) The funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of
the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 has obtained a burial-transit permit authorizing final
disposition.
(4) A funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the
human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall:
(a) Deliver the burial-transit permit to the person in charge of the funeral establishment licensed under
chapter 18.39 RCW, crematory with a permit or endorsement under RCW 68.05.175, or cemetery
authority as defined in RCW 68.04.190 before interring the human remains; or
(b) Attach the burial-transit permit to the container holding the human remains when shipped by a
transportation company.
(5) Final disposition of human remains must be completed in accordance with chapter 68.50 RCW.
(6) A person in charge of a funeral establishment licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW or cemetery
authority as defined in RCW 68.04.190:
(a) May not allow the final disposition of human remains unless accompanied by a burial-transit permit;
(b) Shall indicate on the burial-transit permit the date and type of final disposition;
(c) Shall return all completed and signed or electronically approved burial-transit permits to the local
registrar for the county in which the death occurred within ten days of final disposition;
(d) Shall keep a record of all human remains disposed of on the premises, including the:
(i) Name of the deceased individual;
(ii) Place of death;
(iii) Date of disposition; and
(iv) Name and address of the funeral director, funeral establishment, or other person having the right to
control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160.
(7) When there is no person in charge of the place of final disposition, the funeral director, funeral
establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW
68.50.160 shall write across the face of the permit the words “no person in charge.”
(8) A funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the
human remains under RCW 68.50.160 must obtain a disinterment permit from the local registrar to
disinter human remains or a burial-transit permit from the local registrar to reinter human remains.
(9) A person may not bring into or transport within this state; inter, deposit in a vault, grave, or tomb;
or cremate or otherwise dispose of the human remains of any person whose death occurred outside the
state, unless the human remains are accompanied by a burial-transit permit or other document issued in
accordance with the laws in force where the death occurred. A burial-transit permit is not required for
the spreading of cremated remains in accordance with the laws regulating the scattering of cremated
remains in state, federal, and international lands or water.
(10) A funeral director or funeral establishment licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW, or a funeral
establishment licensed in Oregon or Idaho, may remove human remains from the local health
jurisdiction where the death occurred to another local health jurisdiction or Oregon or Idaho without
having obtained a burial-transit permit if the funeral director or funeral establishment:
(a) Has been issued a certificate of removal registration by the director of the department of licensing;
and
(b) Initiates a report of death with the local registrar where the death occurred.
(1)(a) Reports of death and fetal death must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “death” includes “fetal death” as defined in RCW 70.58A.010.
(2) If a report of death is completed and filed in accordance with this chapter, the local registrar shall
issue a burial-transit permit or disinterment permit to the funeral director, funeral establishment, or
person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160.
(3) A person may not provide for final disposition of human remains until the following have occurred:
(a) The report of death has been registered in accordance with RCW 70.58A.200; and
(b) The funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of
the human remains under RCW 68.50.160 has obtained a burial-transit permit authorizing final
disposition.
(4) A funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the
human remains under RCW 68.50.160 shall:
(a) Deliver the burial-transit permit to the person in charge of the funeral establishment licensed under
chapter 18.39 RCW, crematory with a permit or endorsement under RCW 68.05.175, or cemetery
authority as defined in RCW 68.04.190 before interring the human remains; or
(b) Attach the burial-transit permit to the container holding the human remains when shipped by a
transportation company.
(5) Final disposition of human remains must be completed in accordance with chapter 68.50 RCW.
(6) A person in charge of a funeral establishment licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW or cemetery
authority as defined in RCW 68.04.190:
(a) May not allow the final disposition of human remains unless accompanied by a burial-transit permit;
(b) Shall indicate on the burial-transit permit the date and type of final disposition;
(c) Shall return all completed and signed or electronically approved burial-transit permits to the local
registrar for the county in which the death occurred within ten days of final disposition;
(d) Shall keep a record of all human remains disposed of on the premises, including the:
(i) Name of the deceased individual;
(ii) Place of death;
(iii) Date of disposition; and
(iv) Name and address of the funeral director, funeral establishment, or other person having the right to
control the disposition of the human remains under RCW 68.50.160.
(7) When there is no person in charge of the place of final disposition, the funeral director, funeral
establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains under RCW
68.50.160 shall write across the face of the permit the words “no person in charge.”
(8) A funeral director, funeral establishment, or person having the right to control the disposition of the
human remains under RCW 68.50.160 must obtain a disinterment permit from the local registrar to
disinter human remains or a burial-transit permit from the local registrar to reinter human remains.
(9) A person may not bring into or transport within this state; inter, deposit in a vault, grave, or tomb;
or cremate or otherwise dispose of the human remains of any person whose death occurred outside the
state, unless the human remains are accompanied by a burial-transit permit or other document issued in
accordance with the laws in force where the death occurred. A burial-transit permit is not required for
the spreading of cremated remains in accordance with the laws regulating the scattering of cremated
remains in state, federal, and international lands or water.
(10) A funeral director or funeral establishment licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW, or a funeral
establishment licensed in Oregon or Idaho, may remove human remains from the local health
jurisdiction where the death occurred to another local health jurisdiction or Oregon or Idaho without
having obtained a burial-transit permit if the funeral director or funeral establishment:
(a) Has been issued a certificate of removal registration by the director of the department of licensing;
and
(b) Initiates a report of death with the local registrar where the death occurred.
What are the experiences reported by others who have done this in my state?
Coming soon.
Questions? Feedback?
Do you have questions about this information or want to offer feedback? Email us.
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