A family can be ready for the big decisions and still feel caught off guard by the smaller ones. Not because they’re unimportant, but because grief turns ordinary questions into loaded ones: “Are we choosing the right thing?” “Will this feel like them?” “Will we regret this later?” For New Yorkers looking for aquamation, those questions often arrive alongside a practical hurdle: availability depends on what New York law recognizes and what nearby facilities can actually provide.
In recent years, more families have been choosing cremation in general, and that shift is part of why you’re hearing about alternatives like aquamation. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025, with long-term projections continuing upward. The NFDA statistics page also highlights median cost figures and broader planning trends that explain why families want clearer, more flexible options. Meanwhile, the Cremation Association of North America tracks how cremation rates have grown over time, noting that as rates exceed 60%, growth naturally begins to slow. For many families, those numbers don’t make the decision for you, but they do explain why your questions are becoming more common and why more funeral homes are building processes around them. CANA’s annual stats report summary is a useful snapshot if you want a quick, data-based view of the trend.
What aquamation is, in plain language, and what you receive back
Aquamation is often described as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis. Instead of using flame, it uses a water-based solution, controlled heat, and time to break down soft tissue. What families receive back is still the mineral portion of the bones, processed into the familiar “ashes” texture you’d expect after cremation. The end result is why aquamation can fit into many of the same memorial plans as traditional cremation: you can place the remains in an urn, keep them at home, scatter them in a meaningful place (where permitted), or divide them among loved ones.
You’ll see different terms online: aquamation, water cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, flameless cremation, even “bio cremation.” The terminology can sound like marketing because sometimes it is. The clearest way to stay grounded is to ask one direct question: “Is this alkaline hydrolysis, and where will it physically take place?” CANA notes that when a provider is out of state, families can either work directly with that facility or have a local funeral home arrange the transfer and return of the remains. That “where it happens” detail matters for New York families in 2026. CANA’s alkaline hydrolysis resource lays out that cross-state reality in straightforward terms.
Is aquamation legal in New York in 2026?
This is the part where it helps to separate what families want from what New York currently authorizes. As of the most recent version of New York’s Public Health Law, “cremation” is defined specifically as incineration. You can see that definition directly in New York Public Health Law § 4201. The same section also defines “disposition” to include burial, cremation, natural organic reduction, and embalming, but it does not list alkaline hydrolysis as an authorized method. The State Senate’s Title I index for that Public Health Law section lists only §§ 4200–4203 under “Disposition,” and it does not include a separate section recognizing alkaline hydrolysis as a disposition method. You can view that Title I listing here.
What this means in practice is that aquamation may not be performed as a standard, in-state human disposition method under New York’s current statutory definition of cremation. However, New York families may still be able to choose aquamation by arranging for the procedure to take place in a nearby state where it is permitted, with a New York funeral director coordinating the legal paperwork and transportation. That coordination piece is not optional in many cases. The New York Department of State explains that a New York licensed and registered funeral director affiliated with a registered funeral firm supervises arrangements, the death certificate filing, the cremation permit, and transportation to the crematory. Even when aquamation occurs out of state, you should expect a similar level of oversight and documentation to keep everything lawful and orderly.
How New York families access aquamation anyway
When aquamation isn’t available as an in-state option, families typically choose one of two paths. The first is to work with a provider that explicitly serves New York residents but performs aquamation in a neighboring state. The second is to work with a local funeral home you trust and have them arrange transport to a facility that offers alkaline hydrolysis elsewhere.
For example, Inpeace describes its aquamation service as serving New York and New Jersey families while transporting the person into their care to an aquamation facility in Connecticut, and it publishes an all-in price for its direct aquamation package. On its aquamation page, Inpeace lists “Inpeace Direct Water Cremation” at $4,295 and notes that it includes transport from NY and NJ to its Connecticut facility, permits, and a certified death certificate. Inpeace’s aquamation page shows those details, including the stated price and what’s included.
Connecticut is a common destination in the region because it has operating capacity. Local reporting has described The Green Cremation as Connecticut’s facility offering the service. Turn to 10 notes that Connecticut has a facility offering aquamation, and The Green Cremation’s own site describes its mission and service focus around alkaline hydrolysis. The Green Cremation is one example families may encounter when researching regional options.
You may also see dedicated facilities in the broader Northeast that position themselves as water-cremation specialists. Leaf & Water describes itself as a dedicated water cremation facility in the Northeast and uses “water cremation” and “aquamation” language directly on its site. Leaf & Water is one more place families may find when searching for an out-of-state option with a defined process.
If your family is further north or already has ties to New England, Vermont has also seen providers begin offering water cremation. For instance, Minor Funeral Home in Milton, Vermont describes offering water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) as an eco-focused option. Minor Funeral Home’s water cremation page is an example of how some funeral homes present this service once it’s permitted and operational in their state.
The questions to ask before you sign anything
You don’t need to become an expert, but you do deserve clear answers. Before you commit, it helps to confirm where the aquamation will physically take place and in what state, since that single detail often explains the paperwork and timeline. You’ll also want to know who the licensed funeral director is who will be responsible for permits, transportation, and coordination, and whether the provider is quoting a true all-in price or a starting figure that will later be itemized. Ask what is included in the quoted price—transport, permits, death certificates, return shipping, and whether an urn is included—so you can compare providers fairly. Finally, confirm how the remains will be returned (pickup, delivery, or shipping), what packaging is used, and the typical turnaround time from transfer into care to the return of the remains, because those practical expectations matter when a family is grieving and trying to plan even the next few days.
Typical costs in and around New York, and what changes the price
Families often ask, how much does cremation cost, because they’re trying to stay steady: emotionally and financially. NFDA’s statistics highlight median cost figures and how pricing varies by service level. NFDA’s statistics page includes median cost figures for a funeral with burial versus a funeral with cremation, which can help you see the broader landscape before you compare specific quotes. Aquamation pricing, when accessed out of state, is typically influenced by the same big drivers as cremation plus one more: distance.
In the New York region, your total will usually depend on transportation (especially if crossing state lines), the type of arrangement (direct disposition versus full service), and what is included (death certificates, urn, delivery). Inpeace’s published $4,295 package is one clear example of an all-in quote designed for NY/NJ families that includes transport to Connecticut. Their aquamation page spells out what is included. Other providers may quote a base price and then itemize transfer fees, facility fees, and return logistics. The most meaningful comparison is not “cheap versus expensive,” but “what is actually included and who is responsible for each step.”
If you want a grounded way to compare cremation-related pricing across methods, Funeral.com’s practical guides can help you build a fair checklist. The article How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? walks through what changes totals in real life, and Average Cost of Cremation and an Urn helps families plan for the urn decision without feeling blindsided later.
What happens after aquamation: urns, keepsakes, and the “now we decide” moment
For many families, the hardest part isn’t choosing aquamation. It’s what comes after, when the remains are returned and you realize there is no single “right” next step. That’s where choosing an urn becomes less about shopping and more about matching your plan: Are you keeping ashes at home? Planning a cemetery placement? Sharing among siblings? Creating something wearable? The remains returned after aquamation can be handled similarly to those from flame cremation, so the same practical guidance applies.
If you’re looking for a starting point, Funeral.com’s complete guide to cremation urns is designed for families who want clarity without pressure. If your plan is to choose one primary container for the full remains, you can begin by browsing cremation urns for ashes. If you already know you’ll be sharing the remains among a few loved ones, it helps to look specifically at options made for that purpose, including small cremation urns and keepsake urns, which are sized and designed for keeping a portion rather than the whole.
One quiet source of stress is the word “small.” Families sometimes buy a “small urn” thinking it means “a smaller adult urn,” then discover it’s intended for sharing. Funeral.com’s article What “Small Urn” Usually Refers To explains the categories in plain language, and Keepsake Urns Explained helps families plan the moment of filling without turning it into a new hardship.
Cremation jewelry and “carrying them with you” without carrying everything
For some people, the most comforting option isn’t a larger urn on a shelf. It’s something close, especially when grief shows up at unexpected times. That’s why cremation jewelry keeps becoming part of modern funeral planning. A tiny portion can be sealed into a pendant, charm, or bracelet, while the rest stays in a primary urn or is shared among family members.
If you’re considering it, start with education before you buy. Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry 101 covers what to expect and how filling works, and the cremation jewelry guide walks through materials, sealing, and daily-wear considerations. When you’re ready to browse, you can explore cremation jewelry collections, including cremation necklaces designed specifically to hold a small amount of remains.
If the one you lost was a pet: water cremation, pet urns, and keeping love visible
Many New Yorkers first hear the word aquamation through pet aftercare. Pet aquamation services are more widely discussed, and in some cases offered, because veterinary settings have long used alkaline hydrolysis for certain needs. Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine describes “HydroCremation” as alkaline hydrolysis and notes environmental advantages such as lower energy use. Cornell’s HydroCremation page is a helpful, plainspoken explanation of the process in a veterinary context.
If you’re planning for a pet, you’ll also find providers in the New York area describing aquamation for pets directly. NY Pets Cremation is one example of a provider that explains pet aquamation and what families can expect. And if what you want most is a lasting tribute at home, Funeral.com’s collections for pet urns can help you find a shape that matches your pet’s personality and your family’s style, without rushing you. Many families start with pet cremation urns for classic, enduring designs, or choose something more personal and visual from pet figurine cremation urns. If your family wants to share the remains—one keepsake for each person, or a small portion for a memorial spot at home—pet keepsake cremation urns are made for that purpose and can be a gentler way to honor different grieving styles while still staying connected.
Keeping ashes at home, and the calm way to make it feel normal again
Whether the remains come from flame cremation or aquamation, many families choose keeping ashes at home for a while, sometimes permanently. It’s not strange. It’s often a way of giving yourself time before making a final decision. What matters most is that you choose a container that closes securely, feels stable in your space, and fits what you’re actually doing day to day.
If you need reassurance and practical boundaries, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: What’s Normal, What’s Not speaks directly to the real-life questions families ask, including how to handle visitors, children, pets, and your own changing feelings over time.
Water burial, scattering, and what to do with ashes when “somewhere meaningful” is the plan
For families choosing aquamation because it feels gentler or more nature-aligned, the next question is often what to do with ashes. Sometimes that means a lake cabin, a shoreline, or a boat ride that feels like the person you loved. Sometimes it means a formal water burial with a biodegradable urn designed to dissolve.
If you’re planning an ocean ceremony in U.S. waters, it’s important to understand what rules apply. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that burial at sea has specific restrictions, including how close to shore remains may be placed and what materials are allowed. EPA burial-at-sea guidance is the best starting point for the legal framework and reporting expectations. For a family-friendly explanation of how a ceremony actually works, Funeral.com’s articles Water Burial vs. Scattering at Sea and Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns help you translate regulations into a plan you can carry out with confidence. If a biodegradable option fits your family’s values, you can also browse biodegradable and eco-friendly urns for ashes designed for water or earth placement.
A gentle way to decide: match the method, the law, and the story you want to tell
For New York families in 2026, aquamation can be both a values-based choice and a logistics-based one. The values part is personal: you may want something less flame-centered, or something that feels quieter. The logistics part is real: New York’s statutory definition of cremation as incineration means many families will access aquamation through out-of-state facilities, coordinated by a licensed funeral director. New York Public Health Law § 4201 and the Title I listing are the clearest place to see what the law currently recognizes, while resources like New York’s crematory FAQ explain how supervised arrangements typically work.
And after the method is chosen, the memorial choices are still yours. Whether you’re selecting cremation urns for ashes, deciding between small cremation urns and keepsake urns, choosing pet cremation urns, or exploring cremation necklaces, you don’t have to decide everything at once. The kindest plans are often the ones that leave room for time.
