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Home funerals, conducted by family members without a funeral director, are legal in many regions. Laws vary, but typically one family member is responsible for obtaining documentation before proceeding. Advocacy groups offer tips and support for caring for the deceased at home. Home funerals are less expensive and more intimate than conventional funerals. Research laws and contact public health departments or home funeral organizations for assistance.
A home funeral is a funeral conducted privately by family members, without the assistance of a licensed funeral director. In many regions of the world, home funerals are perfectly legal, although family members may have to go through a number of administrative steps to ensure that the funeral complies with regional laws. People interested in arranging a home funeral should do their research beforehand, to ensure that the funeral runs smoothly at the time of death.
Home funeral laws are quite varied, although in some regions the law has been simplified in response to agitation from activists who have sought to make home funerals as simple as possible. Typically, a single family member is designated as responsible, and he or she is responsible for obtaining the death certificate for the deceased and then applying for a permit of disposition. Once this documentation is filled out, the home funeral can proceed.
The care of the deceased is considered very important in some cultures and religious groups and many regional laws recognize this. Sometimes people are surprised to learn that it’s entirely legal to keep a body at home until it’s time for a funeral, and that bodies can be transported in private vehicles to cemeteries, crematoria, and other final destination locations. Many funeral directors have made a conscious effort to obfuscate the laws surrounding home funerals, as they don’t want to miss out on potential profits, and in response, some advocacy organizations have sprung up to educate people about home funerals.
Typically, a deceased who is cared for at home is buried, cremated, or otherwise disposed of within a few days. Advocacy organizations offer tips on caring for bodies at the time of death and through burial, ranging from diapering the bodies to catching any liquids that may be released in the early stages of decomposition to learning how to dress the bodies easily. Some advocacy organizations also offer support groups, with members who will travel to each other’s homes to help care for the dead.
Home funerals are much less expensive than conventional funerals and many people feel they are more intimate; Also, dead bodies aren’t inherently dangerous or unhealthy, so a home funeral doesn’t pose a health risk except under certain circumstances. Caring for the deceased at home can allow family and friends to say goodbye in a more personalized setting. Home funerals can be celebrated with the body present, or after arrangement, and can take place at home, in a church or in a rented common room.
If you are interested in holding a funeral at home, you should do some research on the laws in your area. Your best resource for information is the public health department, who can brief you on any relevant laws and assist you in arranging the paperwork and other materials you’ll need. You may also want to look into a home funeral organization who can provide you with additional information and support.
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