New York is one of only a handful of states that restrict home funerals by requiring the involvement of a licensed funeral director in many aspects of final arrangements. Here is an overview of the rules that govern home funerals in New York.

You Must Use a Funeral Director in New York

By law, a licensed funeral director must oversee the final disposition of a body in New York. For example, local registrars will only issue a burial or removal permit to a “funeral director or undertaker.” (See New York Public Health Law § 4140 (2018).)

Who Makes Decisions About Body Disposition and Funeral Arrangements?

Although a funeral director must carry out disposition arrangements, New York law determines who has the right to make final decisions about a person’s body and funeral services. This right goes first to any person appointed by the deceased person in a written document, and after that to family members in an established order.

To learn the rules and the exact order of priority, see Making Funeral Arrangements in New York.

Must the Body Be Embalmed?

New York has no embalming requirements, but bodies must be buried or cremated “within a reasonable time after death.” (New York Public Health Law § 4200 (2018).)

Getting a Death Certificate

The funeral director must file the death certificate with the local registrar within 72 hours of the death and prior to burial or cremation. (See New York Public Health Law §§ 4140 and 4142 (2018).)

You will need certified copies of the death certificate to carry out certain tasks after the death, such as transferring the deceased person’s property to inheritors. The funeral director who files the death certificate should be able to order copies for you.

Getting a Permit to Transport the Body

After filing the death certificate, the funeral director will obtain the necessary permits for transporting the body, and for burial or cremation. In New York, the transport permit is called a “burial or removal permit.” (New York Public Health Law § 4140 (2018).)

Can You Bury a Body at Home?

Burial on private property in New York may be possible. In New York, all burials must be supervised by a licensed funeral director, so make sure you find a funeral director who is willing to help with your burial plans. Before conducting a home burial, be sure to check with the county or town clerk for any zoning laws or other ordinances you must follow.

New York law permits any person to dedicate land for use as a family cemetery, as long as it does not exceed three acres in size and is not located within 1,650 feet of a dwelling. This land must be registered with the county clerk. (See New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law § 1401 (2018).)

For more information about cemeteries in New York, see the New York State Division of Cemeteries FAQ.

What About Cremation?

You must arrange cremation through a funeral director, who will obtain the required permits. If the crematory does not have a licensed funeral director on its staff, you must arrange for a funeral director to be present to receive the body when it is delivered. (New York Public Health Law § 4145 (2018).)

For more information about cremation, including information on scattering ashes, see Burial and Cremation Laws in New York.

Learn More About Home Funerals

If you want to find out more about home funerals, you can begin by visiting the National Home Funeral Alliance website. The book Final Rights, by Joshua Slocum and Lisa Carlson, also offers extensive information on the subject.

For more information about final arrangements and documenting your final wishes in advance, see Nolo’s section on Getting Your Affairs in Order.