What Is a Home Funeral and Is It Legal in the United States?
By CRYSTAL BAI •
The short answer: A home funeral allows family members to care for their loved one's body at home after death — washing, dressing, and holding a vigil — before a final disposition such as burial or cremation. Home funerals are legal in most U.S. states, though regulations vary significantly.
What Is a Home Funeral?
A home funeral is the practice of keeping a deceased person's body at home — rather than transferring it immediately to a funeral home — so that family and close friends can participate in care and mourning rituals. It may include:
- Washing and dressing the body
- Laying out the body for a vigil at home
- Gathering family and friends for final goodbyes
- Transporting the body to a crematorium, cemetery, or burial site
Is a Home Funeral Legal?
Home funerals are legal in approximately 45 states. The remaining states require a licensed funeral director to be involved in the process. Key legal points:
- Death certificate: A physician, NP, or coroner must sign the death certificate — this is always required
- Disposition permit: Required before burial or cremation — families can often file this themselves in home-funeral-friendly states
- Transport: Rules vary — some states allow family transport of remains; others require a licensed vehicle
- Home burial: Legal in some states on private land, with local zoning restrictions
States Where Home Funerals Are Easiest
States with the fewest restrictions on family-directed funerals include:
- California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington
- Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire
- Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan
- Texas (with specific requirements)
How to Keep a Body at Home Safely
After death, the body can remain at home comfortably for 1–3 days with proper care:
- Dry ice: Placed beneath and around the body (under a sheet), dry ice slows decomposition significantly. Typically 25–50 lbs per day.
- Cooling blankets: Electric cooling blankets designed for home vigil use
- Cool room: Keep the room at 60°F or below if possible
- Avoid embalming: Not required for a 1–3 day home vigil; embalming is rarely required by law
Home Funeral Guides and Resources
- National Home Funeral Alliance (homefuneralalliance.org) — state-by-state legal guide and resource directory
- Funeral Consumers Alliance — consumer advocacy and legal information
- Caring Advocates — education and support for families pursuing home funerals
- Death doulas — many are trained in home funeral guidance and can support families through the process