Burial and Cremation Laws in New York

Each state has laws affecting what happens to a body after death. For example, most states have unique rules about embalming, burial or cremation, scattering ashes, and how to get a death certificate. Here are some answers to common questions about post-death matters in New York.

• How do I get a death certificate in New York?
• Who can order a death certificate in New York?
• Who completes a death certificate in New York?
• Is embalming required in New York?
• In New York, is a casket necessary for burial or cremation?
• In New York, do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home?
• Where can bodies be buried in New York?
• Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation in New York?

How do I get a death certificate in New York?

If you're in charge of wrapping up the deceased person's affairs, you'll need multiple official copies to carry out your job. For example, you'll need to submit a certified copy of the death certificate each time you claim property or benefits that belonged to the deceased person, including life insurance proceeds, Social Security benefits, payable-on-death accounts, veterans benefits, and many others.

In New York, a funeral director must complete the death certificate and file it with the local registrar within 72 hours after the death. (New York Public Health Law § § 4140 and 4142.) The easiest way to get copies of a death certificate is to ask funeral director to order them for you at the time of the death. If you're the executor of the estate, you'll probably need at least 10 certified copies.

If you need to order copies of a death certificate later, visit the New York State Department of Health. From there, you can order a death certificate online, by phone, or using a downloadable mail-in order form. You must provide an acceptable form of identification, such as a government-issued photo ID. Each certified copy of a New York death certificate costs $30 when you're using the mail-in option. When ordering online or by phone, the fee is $45 per copy, plus a processing fee.

Who can order a death certificate in New York?

In New York, certified copies of a death certificate may be issued only to the following individuals or agencies:

• the deceased person's spouse, sibling, child, or parent
• those who have:
  • a documented lawful right or claim
  • a documented medical need, or
  • a New York court order.

For more details, see the New York State Department of Health.

Who completes the death certificate in New York?

The funeral director contacts the next of kin to get personal and demographic information about the deceased person. The funeral director also sends the death certificate to the attending physician to certify the cause of death. If the death was caused by other means than natural causes, the case is referred to the coroner or medical examiner to complete the medical certification. (New York Public Health Law § 4142.)

Is embalming required in New York?

Embalming is a process in which blood is drained from the body and replaced with fluids that delay disintegration. Though embalming is still a fairly common procedure, it is rarely necessary, because refrigeration serves the same purpose.

In New York, there are no state rules or regulations requiring embalming.

In New York, is a casket necessary for burial or cremation?

A casket is often the single greatest expense incurred after a death. The average cost of a casket is more than $2,000, and the price can run into the $10,000-$20,000 range for more elaborate designs and expensive materials. Whether due to the cost or for other reasons, some people prefer to forgo a casket altogether.

Burial. No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container.

Cremation. No law requires a casket for cremation. On the contrary, federal law requires a funeral home or crematory to inform you that you may use an alternative container, and to make such containers available to you. An alternative container may be made of unfinished wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.

In New York, do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home?

No. In fact, federal law requires funeral homes to accept caskets that have been purchased from another source, such as an online retailer. You may also build your own casket, if you prefer.

Where can bodies be buried in New York?

A burial permit is necessary before a body can be buried. (New York Public Health Law § 4142.) Most bodies are buried in established cemeteries, but burial on private property may be possible in New York. (See the New York State Division of Cemeteries FAQ.) Before conducting a home burial, check with the town or county clerk and local health department for any rules you must follow. If you do bury a body on private land, you should draw a map of the property showing the burial ground and file it with the property deed so the location will be clear to others in the future.

New York law also allows any individual to make a grant of land, by deed or at death, to be used as a family cemetery. The parcel may be as large as three acres and must be located a certain distance from a dwelling. For more information, see New York NPC Law § 1401(c) and contact your county clerk's office.

Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation in New York?

In New York, there are no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter ashes. Ashes may be stored in a crypt, niche, grave, or container at home. If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many options. Generally, use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious to others.

Scattering ashes in an established scattering garden. Many cemeteries provide gardens for scattering ashes. If you're interested, ask the cemetery for more information.

Scattering ashes on private land. You are allowed to scatter ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone else's private land, it's wise to get permission from the landowner.

Scattering ashes on public land. You may wish to check both city and county regulations and zoning rules before scattering ashes on local public land, such as in a city park. However, many people simply proceed without investigating the rules, letting their best judgment be their guide.

Scattering ashes on federal land. Officially, you should request permission before scattering ashes on federal land. As with local or state land, however, you will probably encounter no resistance if you conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes well away from trails, roads, facilities, developed areas, campsites, and waterways. You can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites for some national parks. For more information, begin your search at the website of the National Park Service.

Scattering ashes at sea. The federal Clean Water Act requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land. If the container will not easily decompose, you must dispose of it separately. The EPA does not permit scattering at beaches or in wading pools by the sea. Finally, you must notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering ashes at sea.

The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you may be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the waterway.

For more information, including the contact information for the EPA representative in New York, see the EPA's page on Burial at Sea.

Scattering ashes by air. While there are no state laws on the matter, federal aviation laws prohibit dropping anything that might harm people or property. The U.S. government does not consider cremains to be hazardous material, so all should be well so long as you remove the ashes from their container before scattering.

Learn more

To learn about the federal rule on funerals, which protects consumers in all states, visit the FTC's Funeral Rule page.

For more information about funeral laws in New York, see New York Home Funeral Laws.

To find out more about funerals and other final arrangements, see Nolo's section on Getting Your Affairs in Order.

Get It Together, by Melanie Cullen (Nolo), helps you gather and organize the essential details of your life for yourself and your family.