It often starts with a simple question that doesnât feel simple at all: âWeâre handling this ourselvesâhow do we get permission to bury, cremate, or transport our person?â In the middle of grief, paperwork can feel like a second language. Yet one document quietly determines what can happen next: the burial-transit permit, sometimes also called a disposition permit, removal permit, or burial permit depending on where you live.
A burial-transit (disposition) permit is the legal âgreen lightâ that allows final dispositionâburial, cremation, or transport of the deceased. The wording changes by state and even by county, but the function is remarkably similar: the permit is proof that the death has been properly documented and that the next step is authorized. The Legal Information Institute explains that a burial transit permit is required under state law for transfer to the place of burial or disposition, and that it generally cannot be issued until the death certificate is completed.
Most families never see this permit because a funeral home typically obtains it. But when you plan a home funeral, use a direct disposition provider for only part of the process, or choose to file without funeral director involvement where it is allowed, you may become the one coordinating the steps. The good news is that you donât need to be an expertâwhat you need is a clear map of the typical workflow and the right questions to ask your local office.
The document that unlocks the next steps
Families sometimes assume the death certificate is the only âofficialâ piece of paper that matters. In reality, the permit is what allows the body to be buried, cremated, or moved. Thatâs why families often experience it as a bottleneck: you canât schedule a cremation, confirm cemetery timing, or arrange a transport until the permit is issued. This is also why, even when families are choosing a simple goodbye, the administrative steps can feel surprisingly formal.
If you want a practical, plain-language overview of how these documents fit together, Funeral.comâs guide on what documents families actually need after a death can help you separate whatâs essential now from what can wait. And if youâre still in the first day or two, the checklist in what to do when someone dies in the first 48 hours helps families anchor themselves when everything feels urgent.
Because cremation is now the most common choice in the United States, more families are encountering permit terminology for the first time. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025. The Cremation Association of North America also tracks cremation statistics using data collected from state and provincial vital statistics departments, underscoring how widespread cremation has become and why âcremation permit requirementsâ is now a common search from families who never expected to navigate this paperwork.
The typical workflow: medical certification, death registration, then the permit
Across most of the U.S., the sequence looks like this: medical certification of death happens first, then death registration, and then the permit is issued. If you only remember one thing, remember this: the permit usually cannot be created out of thin air. It depends on information that comes from the death certificate process.
Step one is medical certification. Depending on circumstances, a physician, medical examiner, or coroner certifies the cause of death. If the death is under medical examiner jurisdictionâunexpected deaths, many unattended deaths, accidents, certain falls, or cases that require investigationâthis can extend the timeline because certification and release can take longer. This isnât anyone âholding things upâ on purpose; itâs how the system ensures accuracy and safety.
Step two is death registration. The death certificate is completed and filed with the appropriate local registrar or vital records authority. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention handbook for funeral directors notes that the certificate must be filed with the registration official where the death occurred within the time limit set by state law, and prior to removal from the state or other disposition.
Step three is the permit. Once the death certificate is sufficiently complete and filed or presented (language varies), the registrar issues a permit authorizing disposition and, in many cases, transport. Some states combine the âtransitâ and âburialâ functions into one form; others separate them. Either way, families can think of it as the same gate opening: the permit proves that final disposition is authorized.
What changes when youâre handling arrangements without a paid funeral director
When a funeral home is involved, they usually act as the coordinator who gathers information, submits forms, and picks up the permit. When you are doing this yourself, you become the coordinatorâsometimes called âthe person acting as funeral directorâ in statutes and training materials. For example, the Texas Department of State Health Services describes that the funeral director, or person acting as such, obtains a burial-transit permit from the local registrar, and that the registrar should not issue the permit until a death certificate has been presented complete as far as possible.
This is where families can feel intimidated: it sounds like you need special status. But in many states, families are legally permitted to care for their own dead and manage paperwork with the right guidance. At the same time, a small number of states restrict family-led care and require a licensed funeral director for certain steps. The Funeral Consumers Alliance maintains a consumer-focused overview of states that restrict caring for your own dead (updated 2024), which is a helpful reality check before you invest hours in a plan that your state wonât allow.
If you are pursuing a home-based goodbye, Funeral.comâs guide to home funerals and family-led care is a compassionate companion for the practical parts: cooling and timing, what families can safely do at home, and when bringing in a professional for transport or cremation can reduce stress without taking away the familyâs role. Families often discover they donât have to choose âall DIYâ or âall funeral home.â Many choose a blend.
How to get a burial-transit permit: what to ask your local office
If your goal is how to get burial transit permit paperwork done as smoothly as possible, your best ally is your local registrar or vital records officeâsometimes housed in a county health department, sometimes in a city clerkâs office, sometimes within a state vital records system. When you call, lead with clarity. You donât need to justify why youâre not using a funeral director. You can simply say: âIâm the person responsible for final arrangements. I need guidance on the death registration process and the permit required for disposition and transport.â
Then ask a few focused questions. You donât need a long script; you need the right points of confirmation. Here are the questions that most often prevent delays:
- Who is allowed to request the permit in this jurisdiction if there is no funeral director involved?
- What is the exact name of the permit here (burial-transit, disposition, removal, burial permit), and is it separate from the death certificate filing?
- What documents or information do you need from me to start the burial permit application?
- Will you issue the permit only after the death is registered, or can it be issued once the certificate is presented âcomplete as far as possibleâ?
- If we are transporting the body to a crematory or cemetery, does the permit need to physically accompany the remains?
That last question matters because families frequently discover that a cemetery, crematory, or airline wonât accept remains without the right permit in hand. Funeral.comâs guide on how to transport human remains explains that transport often requires a certified death certificate and a burial-transit permit (sometimes called a disposition permit), and that requirements can shift when crossing state lines.
You may also want to ask about fees and turnarounds, but frame it realistically: âWhat is typical processing time right now?â Some offices can issue permits quickly once the certificate is complete; others have staffing backlogs. If the death is under medical examiner jurisdiction, ask whether the office needs a coroner/ME clearance before the permit can be issued.
What youâll likely need before you call
When families feel stuck, itâs often because one piece of information is missing. You donât need every detail, but it helps to be ready with what the registrar will ask for. In many places, the permit is tied to the details that appear on the death certificate: the decedentâs full legal name, date and place of death, and the planned disposition location. It may also ask for the receiving cemetery/crematory details and the person responsible for disposition.
This is where families benefit from ordering certified copies of the death certificate thoughtfully. While the permit itself is not the same thing as certified copies, the administrative workflow is connected, and ordering too few copies can create later stress with banks, insurance, and legal tasks. Funeral.comâs death certificate guide walks through why you may need multiple certified copies and how families typically decide how many to request.
If the registrar tells you they canât proceed yet, ask the gentle follow-up: âIs the hold because medical certification isnât complete, because the death certificate hasnât been filed, or because a specific authorization is missing?â That question turns a vague ânot yetâ into a clear next step.
Understanding âdisposition permit human remainsâ language
Families often search disposition permit human remains because the terminology is blunt. It can feel clinical, even cold, especially when youâre talking about someone you love. But in the vital records world, âdispositionâ simply means the final, legal handling of remainsâburial, cremation, donation, transport, or other authorized methods. Itâs the administrative word for âwhere they are going next.â
The National Home Funeral Alliance includes a plain-language glossary noting that âburial-transit permitâ may also be called a disposition permit or removal certificate, and that it is tied to moving from the place of care or vigil to the place of disposition. That simple framing helps families understand why the permit exists: itâs the legal bridge between care and destination.
When transport is part of the plan
Sometimes the permit is needed even if your plan is simple. If a death occurs in one county and burial will occur in another, or if you need to move the body to a crematory across town, you may need transport authorization deceased paperwork in hand. In many jurisdictions, the burial-transit permit is the document that provides that authorization.
Transport becomes more complex when you cross state lines or use a common carrier (like an airline). Even if your family is driving, the receiving cemetery or crematory may require that the permit and other paperwork arrive with the remains. Funeral.comâs guide to transporting human remains across state lines offers a grounded explanation of why the process feels formal and how providers verify documentation in real-world conditions.
If your plan involves cremation, remember that cremation typically requires more than one authorization. In addition to the disposition permit, many states and crematories require a cremation authorization signed by the legal next-of-kin or person with the right to control disposition. Families often see this as part of cremation permit requirements, even when the documents are technically separate. If youâre staring at forms and feeling unsure, Funeral.comâs guide to documents you actually need can help you understand which forms are mandatory and which are optional add-ons.
Home funeral permits and the reality of local variation
Families planning home-led care often ask for one universal answer: âIs it legal?â The honest answer is that the broad right exists in most places, but the steps differ. Your state may allow family care but require a specific official to file the death certificate. Your county may process permits through a local registrar you can visit in person, or it may require an online request through a state system. Your medical examiner may require additional forms. This is why vital records office help is not a small detailâit is the difference between a plan that flows and a plan that stalls.
If your goal is to handle only certain parts without a paid funeral directorâperhaps you want to care for your loved one at home, then hire a transport-only provider, or work directly with a crematoryâask the registrar what they need from each party. Many families find that a hybrid approach reduces stress: the family leads the vigil and the meaning, and a professional handles the steps that require industry access, equipment, or after-hours transport.
If cost is part of why you are managing the paperwork yourself, you are not alone. Many families begin with a budget question and then discover that the most important part is simply understanding what is required and what is optional. If youâre trying to understand pricing alongside permits, Funeral.comâs 2025 cremation cost guide offers a practical breakdown of why quotes vary and what fees are commonly bundled.
The words to use when youâre on the phone
When you call a registrar or vital records office, the most effective language is calm, specific, and procedural. You can say: âI am requesting guidance as the person responsible for disposition. I need to know how to complete the death registration and obtain the permit required for burial/cremation/transport.â If your state uses the phrase local registrar burial permit, use it. If they donât, ask them what they call it. The goal is not to win a vocabulary contest. The goal is to match the language your office uses so they can route you correctly.
If the person you reach seems unfamiliar with family-led filing, donât panic. Ask if there is a supervisor or a specialist who handles family-directed cases, home funerals, or âperson acting as funeral directorâ filings. In many offices, one experienced staff member knows the pathway and can save you days of back-and-forth.
A gentle bottom line
In grief, administrative steps can feel like they erase the humanity of what has happened. But the permit is not a judgment on your choices. Itâs a safeguard: it ensures that a death is properly registered, that legal authority is respected, and that the body is cared for within clear rules. Once you understand the workflowâmedical certification, death registration, permitâmuch of the fear drains away.
If youâre doing this without a funeral director, you deserve clear answers and respectful support. Start with your local registrar or vital records office, use precise terms like how to get burial transit permit and burial permit application, and ask where your case sits in the chain: certification, registration, or permit issuance. And if you want guidance written for families rather than professionals, Funeral.comâs resources on the first 48 hours, death certificates, home funerals, and transporting remains can help you move forward with steadier footing.
