Do you need a funeral home to transport a body to another state?

In most cases a funeral home handles it, and airlines generally accept remains only from a known shipper such as a funeral home. Some states allow families to transport a body themselves with the proper permits, while others require a licensed funeral director.

Does a body have to be embalmed to cross state lines?

Not always. Embalming or a sealed container may be required by the airline or by the destination's rules, depending on the route and timing. Ask the funeral home what applies, and remember the FTC Funeral Rule requires them to tell you when embalming is not legally required.

Can I fly with cremated remains?

Yes, in most cases. The TSA allows cremated remains in carry-on bags if the container can be X-rayed, and officers will not open it. Check your airline's rules before flying.

Is it cheaper to cremate before transporting?

Usually yes. Shipping cremated remains or carrying them on a flight avoids air cargo fees, special containers and preparation charges. If burial is planned, the remains can still be buried at the destination.

Which state's death certificate is used?

The death certificate is filed in the state where the death occurred, regardless of where the person lived or will be buried.

Transporting a Body Across State Lines

To transport a body across state lines, a licensed funeral home normally handles the move, either by hearse or by shipping the remains as air cargo, and a burial-transit permit is typically required before the body leaves the state where the death occurred. The usual arrangement involves two funeral homes, one where the death happened and one at the destination, coordinating paperwork and timing. Cremated remains are much simpler to move and can often be carried by a family member.

This guide covers the paperwork, the transport options, and how to keep costs in check.

Why transport is needed

Common situations include:

A death while traveling or on vacation
A death in a hospital or care facility in another state
A family plot or hometown cemetery far from where the person lived
Burial in a VA national cemetery in another state
A religious requirement to bury in a particular community

The paperwork

Exact requirements vary by state, so the funeral home at the place of death usually manages them. Typical documents:

Death certificate. It must be filed in the state where the death occurred, even if the person lived elsewhere. See how to get a death certificate.
Burial-transit permit. Issued by the local registrar once the death certificate is filed. It authorizes moving the body and often travels with it. The receiving state may also need it to issue its own burial permit.
Medical examiner release. If the medical examiner or coroner was involved, the body cannot be moved until it is released.
Embalming or preparation records, if required by the carrier or the destination.

For a death in another country, additional rules apply, including documents from the US embassy or consulate and the foreign government. A funeral home experienced in international repatriation is usually needed.

Transport options

By ground (hearse or transfer vehicle)

For shorter distances, often within a few hundred miles, the funeral home drives the body in a hearse or removal van. Ground transport is usually priced per mile plus a base fee. It is simple, avoids airline rules, and lets the receiving funeral home schedule the arrival precisely.

By air

For longer distances, remains are shipped as air cargo, not as checked baggage. Airlines accept human remains only from a known shipper, which in practice is usually a funeral home. Key points:

The body is placed in a casket or an air tray (a combination unit made for shipping) that meets the airline's packaging rules.
Embalming or a sealed container may be required by the airline or by the destination's rules, especially for longer trips. Refrigeration may be an option in some cases. Ask the funeral home what applies to your route.
The receiving funeral home picks up the remains at the destination airport cargo terminal.
Family members usually cannot accompany the remains as cargo, but they can book themselves on the same flight.

Families transporting a body themselves

Some states allow families to transport a body without a funeral director, as part of a home funeral, provided they obtain the required permits. Other states require a licensed funeral director to be involved. Rules differ widely, so check with the vital records office or state funeral board before considering this.

Using two funeral homes

The most common and often least expensive approach is to use:

A sending funeral home near the place of death, which picks up the body, completes the death certificate and permits, prepares the body for transport, and arranges shipping.
A receiving funeral home near the destination, which meets the remains and handles the visitation, service and burial.

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must list prices for "forwarding remains to another funeral home" and "receiving remains from another funeral home" on their General Price List. Those packages are designed for exactly this situation. You do not need to buy a full funeral from the sending home. See what is a General Price List.

A practical tip: contact the receiving funeral home first, the one in the town where the funeral will be held. They often have relationships with funeral homes elsewhere and can coordinate the sending side.

What it costs

Costs vary a lot by distance, airline, and what preparation is required. Expect charges from:

The sending funeral home (forwarding remains package, which may include transfer, basic services and preparation)
Airline cargo fees or per-mile ground transport fees
Container costs, such as an air tray or shipping case
The receiving funeral home (receiving remains package, plus any service and burial costs)
Permit and death certificate fees set by the state

Ask each provider for an itemized quote and compare the line items. If the person had travel insurance or a membership in a repatriation plan, check whether it covers transport.

Moving cremated remains instead

Cremating near the place of death and bringing the remains home is often far simpler and less expensive. Then:

Carrying on a flight. The TSA allows cremated remains in carry-on bags, but the container must be able to pass through the X-ray machine. TSA officers will not open the container, even if the family asks, so a container that cannot be screened may not be allowed through. Temporary plastic or wood containers usually screen well. Check the airline's own rules too.
Shipping by mail. Within the US, cremated remains can be shipped through the Postal Service using Priority Mail Express, with specific packaging and labeling requirements described in USPS Publication 139.
Burial elsewhere. The cemetery at the destination will usually ask for a copy of the death certificate and the cremation certificate.

See direct cremation explained and how much does cremation cost. You can find providers on our cremation services and crematories pages.

Checklist for families

Call the funeral home at the destination first and ask them to coordinate.
Confirm whether a medical examiner release is needed.
Ask both funeral homes for their forwarding and receiving prices from the General Price List.
Ask about embalming requirements for your route, and whether alternatives are possible.
Confirm the flight or arrival time with the receiving funeral home.
Keep copies of the death certificate and burial-transit permit.
If the person was a veteran, ask about VA transportation benefits for burial in a national cemetery. See veterans burial benefits.