California State Law
As stated in the Consumers Guide to Funeral & Cemetery Purchases:
Home Death Care
The use of a funeral establishment and funeral director is not required by law when preparing a body for disposition. You can arrange for your body, or that of a loved one, to be cared for and prepared for disposition by family and friends at home. If you choose home death care, you must:
(NOTE: Human remains may be kept at home without embalming or refrigeration until disposition. Generally, decomposition will proceed more rapidly without refrigeration or embalming.)
Embalming: "The law does not require embalming." http://www.cfb.ca.gov/consumer/funeral.shtml#legal
What is embalming?
Embalming is almost never required by law. It is a practice that began during the US Civil War that involves puncturing internal organs, draining the body of fluids and injecting a formaldehyde-based fluid, along with other chemicals and dyes, to provide for temporary preservation of the body. It exposes embalmers to chemicals that are known carcinogens. Refrigeration is an alternative to embalming. This includes the use of dry-ice and other refrigerants such as techni-ice. These are simple to use and may be as effective as embalming.
Full Circle of Living & Dying is an educational consulting group and is in no way considered a funeral establishment. All contributions received by Full Circle of Living & Dying are for requested consulting services and private or public education.
As stated in the Consumers Guide to Funeral & Cemetery Purchases:
Home Death Care
The use of a funeral establishment and funeral director is not required by law when preparing a body for disposition. You can arrange for your body, or that of a loved one, to be cared for and prepared for disposition by family and friends at home. If you choose home death care, you must:
- 1. File a properly completed Certificate of Death, signed by the attending physician or coroner, with the local registrar of births and deaths.
- 2. Obtain a Permit for Disposition from the local registrar of births and deaths.
- 3. Provide a casket or other suitable container.
- 4. Make arrangements directly with the cemetery or crematory.
(NOTE: Human remains may be kept at home without embalming or refrigeration until disposition. Generally, decomposition will proceed more rapidly without refrigeration or embalming.)
Embalming: "The law does not require embalming." http://www.cfb.ca.gov/consumer/funeral.shtml#legal
What is embalming?
Embalming is almost never required by law. It is a practice that began during the US Civil War that involves puncturing internal organs, draining the body of fluids and injecting a formaldehyde-based fluid, along with other chemicals and dyes, to provide for temporary preservation of the body. It exposes embalmers to chemicals that are known carcinogens. Refrigeration is an alternative to embalming. This includes the use of dry-ice and other refrigerants such as techni-ice. These are simple to use and may be as effective as embalming.
Full Circle of Living & Dying is an educational consulting group and is in no way considered a funeral establishment. All contributions received by Full Circle of Living & Dying are for requested consulting services and private or public education.
