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Can I bury a body on my property?
There are no laws that prohibit home burial, but you must check local zoning laws before establishing a home cemetery or burying on private land. It is also legally required to use a funeral director, even if you are burying on private land. Embalming is only required if a person died of a contagious disease.
Can a burial take place on private land?
Although most burials take place in purpose-built cemeteries or churchyards, there is no law against burial on private land. In addition, future owners may prevent access to relatives who wish to pay their respects at the burial site.
Can you be buried without a casket or vault?
A person can be directly interred in the earth, in a shroud, or in a vault without a casket. There is no state law that dictates what a casket must be made of, either. Many of our Simple Pine Box caskets, though intended for natural burial, are enclosed in concrete vaults in conventional cemeteries.
Where are natural burials allowed?
You can be naturally buried in any designated green burial cemetery. Check our directory to locate your nearest green burial sites. Many states also allow natural burial on your own land. There are ordnances to check with local zoning, and guidelines for grave plots.
What is a private burial?
A private funeral, as the name implies, is a small, quiet service only for close friends and family. While a traditional funeral is usually held in a funeral home, local venue, or religious space, a private service is typically at a family member’s home. The guest list isn’t open to all who wish to mourn.
Can you cremate a person yourself?
Although you cannot cremate a body on your own property without breaking the law, there are other options for a home burial which don’t involve the expenses of a funeral home. In most states, families are allowed to bury their loved ones on their own land, particularly in rural areas.
Are natural burials expensive?
Natural burials cost an average of $2,000 to $3,000 including a burial plot, interment fees and a shroud or environmentally friendly casket, according to Sehee. A traditional funeral can cost much more.
Is it illegal to have a natural burial?
While no state laws explicitly prevent green burial — generally defined as burials that happen in eco-friendly containers and without embalming — cemetery operators all over the country say outdated state and local laws have made it difficult for green burial to gain a foothold.