Aquamation (Water Cremation) in Texas (2026): Legal Status, Providers & Costs

When a family in Texas starts asking about aquamation, it’s rarely because they’re trying to be trendy. It’s usually because they want a goodbye that feels calmer, gentler, and more aligned with the person they love. Sometimes the question comes after a death, when decisions have to happen quickly. Other times it comes during funeral planning, when someone is trying to spare their family the burden of guessing later.

Aquamation—often called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis—is a “lower-flame” alternative to traditional cremation. Instead of fire, the body is placed in a sealed chamber with water and an alkaline solution, and the process returns what families ultimately receive with cremation: bone fragments that are then dried and processed into what most people simply call “ashes.” The emotional appeal is easy to understand. Even when families are comfortable with cremation, many still want something that feels less like burning and more like a natural return.

But in Texas, the practical questions matter just as much as the emotional ones: Is aquamation legal? Can a funeral home actually arrange it? What does it cost? And what happens next—what do we do with the ashes? This guide walks through what’s known right now, what’s still changing, and how to plan in a way that feels steady and informed.

Why families are asking about aquamation now

Across the U.S., cremation has become a majority choice, which means more families are also exploring what comes after cremation: home memorials, shared keepsakes, jewelry, scattering, and water ceremonies. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% for 2025, compared with 31.6% for burial, and the long-term trend continues upward. As cremation becomes more common, interest in alternatives—especially options that feel more environmentally mindful—rises alongside it. The Cremation Association of North America also publishes annual industry statistics tracking how quickly cremation has grown and how family preferences keep evolving.

In that context, aquamation often shows up as part of a bigger conversation: not only “How do we handle the body?” but also “How do we create a memorial that fits our family—our home, our faith, our budget, and our emotions?” That’s where urns, keepsakes, and jewelry become less like “products” and more like tools for grief—objects that help the living carry what they need to carry.

Is aquamation legal in Texas in 2026?

This is the question families type into search bars—is aquamation legal in Texas—and it deserves a careful answer, because the legal landscape is still actively debated.

As of the most recent state guidance available online, the Texas Funeral Service Commission has stated an “absolute ban” on alkaline hydrolysis in Texas. That same document warns that entities operating in violation would face enforcement actions. For families, the takeaway is straightforward: even if you can find articles around the internet claiming otherwise, state-level guidance indicates alkaline hydrolysis Texas is not currently an available, in-state disposition option under Texas funeral regulatory oversight.

At the same time, the topic is clearly on lawmakers’ radar. A bill introduced in the 2025–2026 session—Texas SB1327—proposes amending statutory definitions to include alkaline hydrolysis within “cremation” and to direct rulemaking that would allow it. Legislative proposals do not guarantee legalization, but they do signal momentum. If you’re reading this while planning ahead, the most practical advice is to treat legality and availability as something you confirm directly with a licensed Texas funeral home at the time you need services, because the answer can change as statutes and rules evolve.

If you want a broader, state-by-state snapshot while you consider out-of-state options, Nolo maintains an overview of alkaline hydrolysis legality that can help families understand how varied the rules can be across the U.S.

If it’s not available in Texas, what do “providers” mean in practice?

When families search for aquamation providers Texas or water cremation providers Texas, what they’re often really looking for is a funeral home that can coordinate the process—even if the actual facility is out of state. In states where aquamation is legal and operating, the equipment is expensive and typically centralized, so even families living in those states sometimes use a provider network rather than a facility down the street.

In Texas, if alkaline hydrolysis is not permitted in-state, a funeral home may still be able to discuss alternatives that match the values behind your choice: low-flame green cremation planning, minimal-transport direct cremation, or meaningful memorialization that focuses less on the method and more on what your family needs afterward. Funeral.com’s guide on green cremation and alkaline hydrolysis can help you understand how aquamation works and what families typically receive back, so you can ask clearer questions when you speak to a funeral director.

If your heart is set on aquamation specifically, ask a funeral home these questions in plain language: Do you arrange alkaline hydrolysis through an out-of-state partner? What is the total timeline from transfer to return of remains? What transport permits and authorizations are required? What is the full, itemized price—does it include refrigeration, transportation, filing, and the container used for the process? A good provider won’t rush you through those details, because the details are what prevent surprises later.

How much does aquamation cost in Texas?

Families also search for aquamation cost Texas and alkaline hydrolysis cost Texas, hoping for a simple number. The honest answer is that aquamation pricing depends on (1) legal availability, (2) whether transport is involved, and (3) what’s bundled into the arrangement.

Nationally, aquamation is often priced similarly to cremation or slightly higher, especially where facilities are limited. One industry-facing overview notes that average water cremation pricing tends to fall in a broad band, roughly from the low thousands into the mid-thousands depending on provider and location (Cremation Green). If out-of-state transport is required, the total can rise quickly because transportation, permits, and timing logistics become part of the package.

For comparison, the National Funeral Directors Association lists a 2023 median cost of $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation (and $8,300 for burial with viewing). Those medians aren’t what every family pays, but they help explain why cost becomes part of the decision for so many people. If you’re trying to build a realistic budget in everyday language, Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost breaks down common fees and what actually changes the total.

It also helps to remember that disposition cost and memorialization cost are two different layers. A family may choose a simpler arrangement and then invest in a meaningful urn, a shared keepsake, or cremation jewelry that carries the story forward.

What you receive back after aquamation

One quiet worry families carry is whether aquamation changes what they can do afterward. In practice, families still receive remains suitable for an urn, a scattering ceremony, or keepsakes. The terminology can be confusing—some providers call them cremated remains or processed remains—but for most planning purposes, you can think of it as “ashes” in the everyday sense.

This is where questions like what to do with ashes stop being abstract and become immediate. Some families want a single memorial that stays in one home. Others want something shared, because siblings live in different cities or because grandparents need their own way of holding the loss. That’s where the “right” choice isn’t one choice—it’s often a blended plan.

Urns, keepsakes, and jewelry: turning “ashes” into a plan

After disposition, most families face a second decision that can feel surprisingly emotional: choosing a container. It’s not just practical. An urn often becomes the first tangible object that represents “where they are now,” especially if your family is keeping ashes at home.

If you’re starting from scratch, browsing a curated collection can help you learn what’s available before you’re trying to decide. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes spans classic styles and modern designs, and it pairs well with the plain-language guide on how to choose a cremation urn, which explains sizing, materials, and placement considerations without making you feel like you’re studying for an exam during grief.

For families who want to share remains among several people, keepsake urns can make the plan feel fair and emotionally workable. A keepsake urn isn’t “less than”—it’s a way to honor the reality that love lives in multiple places. You can explore keepsake urns and small cremation urns when you’re building a shared arrangement, or when you want to keep a portion at home and plan a scattering or cemetery placement later.

And for people who want closeness without a visible display, cremation jewelry often becomes the bridge between the day of the service and the months after. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation jewelry includes pieces designed to hold a small portion of remains, and the collection of cremation necklaces is a helpful starting point if you’re looking for something wearable and discreet. If you’re unsure how it works in real life—how it’s filled, sealed, and worn—Funeral.com’s guide Cremation Jewelry 101 answers the practical questions families often feel awkward asking out loud.

Keeping ashes at home in Texas: what families worry about (and what actually helps)

Keeping ashes at home is common, but “common” doesn’t always feel “simple” when you’re the one doing it. Families worry about safety, spills, kids and pets, and even how visitors will react. Those worries are normal. What helps is a plan that fits your household, not an idealized version of what grief “should” look like.

Some families place an urn in a stable, quiet spot—high enough to avoid curious hands, low enough that it doesn’t feel like the person has been put away. Others create a small remembrance space: a framed photo, a candle, a letter, a stone from a favorite place. If you want a step-by-step guide to doing this in a way that feels respectful and steady, read Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally.

For many families, a blended approach brings the most peace: a primary urn at home, plus a few keepsakes for siblings, plus a future ceremony when the timing is right. Grief doesn’t always follow the calendar, and your memorial plan doesn’t have to either.

Pet urns and pet memorials: the same questions, the same love

Texas families ask about aquamation for humans, and they also ask about cremation options for pets—because the grief is real either way. After a pet is cremated, families often want something that feels like their companion: warm, familiar, present. That might mean a classic urn, a small heart keepsake, or something more personalized and sculptural.

If you’re choosing a memorial for a companion animal, Funeral.com’s collection of pet urns for ashes includes a range of materials and styles. Families who want something more representational often gravitate toward pet figurine cremation urns, while those who want to share a small portion among family members may prefer pet keepsake cremation urns. The language is different—pet cremation urns, pet urns, pet urns for ashes—but the need underneath is the same: a safe place for love to land.

Water burial, scattering, and “what to do with ashes” when the ocean is part of the story

Aquamation’s “water” language sometimes leads families to ask about water burial next—especially in Texas, where the Gulf Coast holds deep meaning for many people. Water ceremonies can be profoundly healing, but they come with rules that are worth knowing before you’re standing on a boat with your heart in your throat.

For U.S. ocean waters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the federal burial-at-sea framework, including the “three nautical miles” requirement and the 30-day reporting expectation. Funeral.com’s guide Water Burial Planning translates those rules into plain steps, so you can focus on the meaning of the moment rather than the anxiety of getting it wrong.

Many families also combine a water ceremony with a home keepsake: a portion remains with family, and another portion is released later. If relatives disagree—some want to keep the ashes close, others want scattering—this kind of blended plan can protect relationships as well as memories.

Planning steps that make decisions easier (even when you’re exhausted)

Whether you’re pursuing aquamation, traditional cremation, or another option, the hardest part is often decision fatigue. You don’t need to do everything at once. You just need the next right step.

Start by naming what matters most: values, budget, timeline, and memorial needs. Then ask for itemized pricing so you can compare apples to apples. If aquamation isn’t available in Texas at the moment you need it, you can still honor the intention behind the choice: simplicity, environmental care, and a thoughtful plan for what happens to the remains afterward.

And when you reach the “urn and ashes” step—when you’re deciding between a single memorial or shared keepsakes—let the plan match the family. Explore cremation urns, small cremation urns, and keepsake urns as tools for a real-life memorial—not a perfect one. If wearable remembrance feels right, cremation necklaces can be a gentle way to carry closeness into everyday life.