Home funerals
The family cares for the person at home. Some states let the family file the paperwork; some give it to a funeral director.
What it is
In a home funeral the family keeps the person at home for a vigil or visitation before burial or cremation, and may do much of the care themselves.
The legal question is who may file the death certificate and get the permit for burial or cremation. Some states let a family member or other person in charge of the body do it. Others give those steps to a licensed funeral director.
Good to know
- Where a funeral director must handle the paperwork, you can still keep the vigil at home. Under the FTC Funeral Rule you may buy only the services you want from a funeral home.
- California's guide for families says that with home death care you are not required to embalm or refrigerate the body. Ask about your state's rules on timing and transport.
Home funerals by state
| State | Who files the paperwork? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alabama Board of Funeral Service. |
| Alaska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Mortuary Science. |
| Arizona | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arizona Department of Health Services, Funeral Services Licensing. |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services. |
| California | Family may file Families may handle home death care without a funeral establishment. |
| Colorado | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services. |
| Connecticut | Funeral director files A licensed funeral director or embalmer completes and files the death certificate. |
| Delaware | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Delaware Board of Funeral Services. |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the DC Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Florida | With conditions The funeral director files; without one, the physician or another person in attendance files. |
| Georgia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Hawaii Department of Health. |
| Idaho | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Idaho Board of Morticians. |
| Illinois | Funeral director files The funeral director who first takes custody files the death certificate. |
| Indiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service. |
| Iowa | Funeral director files The funeral director who first takes custody files the death certificate. |
| Kansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts. |
| Kentucky | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Louisiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Maine | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Maine Board of Funeral Services. |
| Maryland | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing. |
| Michigan | Funeral director files The funeral director who first takes custody reports the death. |
| Minnesota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Minnesota Department of Health, Mortuary Science Section. |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Missouri | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Montana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Montana Board of Funeral Service. |
| Nebraska | Funeral director files The funeral director and embalmer in charge of the funeral fills out the death certificate. |
| Nevada | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Nevada Funeral and Cemetery Services Board. |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Hampshire Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| New Jersey | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science. |
| New Mexico | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Mexico Board of Funeral Services. |
| New York | Funeral director files The burial or removal permit is issued to the funeral director or undertaker. |
| North Carolina | Family may file The funeral director or a person acting as funeral director files the death certificate. |
| North Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Ohio | Family may file The funeral director or another person in charge of the final disposition registers the death. |
| Oklahoma | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Oklahoma Funeral Board. |
| Oregon | Family may file A relative, friend or other person may act in place of a funeral service practitioner. |
| Pennsylvania | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| South Carolina | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service. |
| South Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service. |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Texas | Family may file The person in charge of burial or of moving the body files the death certificate. |
| Utah | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Funeral Service. |
| Vermont | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Funeral Service. |
| Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Washington | Family may file The person with the right to control disposition may file the report of death. |
| West Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. |
| Wisconsin | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board. |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wyoming State Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. |
Common questions
- Can we have a funeral at home without a funeral director?
- In several states the law lets the person in charge of the body file the death certificate and get the permit, so the family can act without a funeral director. In others a funeral director files. The table below shows what we confirmed for each state.
- Is embalming required for a home funeral?
- The FTC says embalming is not required by law in most cases. California's guide for families says home death care needs neither embalming nor refrigeration.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.