Is Alkaline Hydrolysis Legal in Your State?: Status Map + How to Verify

If you’re reading this, you’re probably doing one of the hardest kinds of research: the kind you do while grieving, or while trying to plan ahead so your family doesn’t have to make rushed decisions later. Alkaline hydrolysis—also called aquamation or water cremation—tends to show up in late-night searches because it sounds gentler, more environmentally mindful, or simply more “right” for the person you love. And then you hit the confusing part: someone says it’s “legal,” but you can’t find a provider nearby. Or one website says your state allows it, while another says it doesn’t. Or you’re told it’s approved, but the funeral home you call has never even heard of it.

This guide is here to steady the ground beneath you. We’ll walk through what “legal” actually means state to state, where to find a credible status map, how to verify with your funeral board, and what to do if your state allows alkaline hydrolysis laws on paper but there are no providers yet. And because disposition is only one piece of the story, we’ll also connect the “after” questions families quietly carry—what to do with ashes, keeping ashes at home, urn size, jewelry, water ceremony plans—so you can move forward with fewer surprises.

Why alkaline hydrolysis is suddenly part of funeral planning conversations

In the U.S., cremation has become the majority choice, which naturally increases interest in newer cremation technologies. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025. When a practice becomes common, families start asking second-order questions: “Is there a greener option?” “Is there a process that feels less harsh?” “Is there something that aligns with their values?” That’s where flameless cremation options—especially alkaline hydrolysis—enter the picture.

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) describes alkaline hydrolysis as a process that uses water, alkaline chemicals, and heat (sometimes pressure and agitation) to accelerate natural decomposition, leaving bone fragments and a sterile liquid byproduct. CANA also notes the swirl of terms that can make this feel harder than it should: alkaline hydrolysis may be marketed as aquamation, water cremation, green cremation, liquid cremation, or other brand names. If you’re searching is alkaline hydrolysis legal in my state, you’re already encountering how inconsistent language makes the legal picture feel inconsistent, too.

It helps to know that even though alkaline hydrolysis is gaining attention, it remains a very small portion of dispositions overall. In CANA’s 2025 statistics preview, newer forms of disposition (including alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction) are estimated at about 0.1% nationally and about 0.3% in states where practiced. That’s one reason availability can lag behind legalization: the equipment is specialized, the regulatory details vary, and only some providers decide to invest early.

A reality check: “Legal” doesn’t always mean available

Families usually mean one of three things when they ask whether water cremation legality by state is “legal.” The trouble is that those meanings don’t always line up.

First, a state may have a statute or regulation that explicitly allows alkaline hydrolysis as a form of final disposition. Second, a state might not name it outright but allows it under a broader definition of “cremation” or “alternative disposition,” leaving room for regulators to permit it. Third, a state might have passed something, but licensing rules, facility approvals, wastewater requirements, or local enforcement have not caught up—so it’s “allowed,” yet functionally inaccessible.

That’s why people can be told it’s legal and still be unable to arrange it locally. It’s also why your best next step is not a single list on a single website, but a two-step approach: start with a credible status map, then verify directly with the authority that licenses funeral homes and crematories in your state.

A status map you can start with (and why you still must verify)

If you want a credible starting point, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) publishes a one-page “Alkaline Hydrolysis Regulation by State” reference (noted as current “as of 10/14/24”). It lists states with statutes or regulations addressing alkaline hydrolysis and also calls out explicit restrictions (for example, New Hampshire is noted as explicitly prohibiting the practice, and Ohio is noted as having a health department ruling that it is not an acceptable form of final disposition).

That NFDA list is a strong anchor because it points to statutory citations—but laws change, and regulatory interpretation can shift even when the statute doesn’t. A real-world example: in Texas, a March 14, 2025 notice from the Texas Funeral Service Commission states an “absolute ban on alkaline hydrolysis” under current state regulations. When you see contradictions like this across the internet, it’s not you. It’s the system. And it’s exactly why verification matters more than a viral map.

If you’d like a family-friendly explainer of the process and what to expect emotionally and practically, Funeral.com also has a gentle guide on green cremation and alkaline hydrolysis that can help you put the terminology into plain language before you start making calls.

How to verify legality and licensing in your state (the practical way)

When families feel stuck, it’s usually because they’re trying to answer a legal question with general web searches. A more reliable method is to confirm two things: (1) whether alkaline hydrolysis is recognized as a lawful form of disposition where you live, and (2) whether any providers are actually authorized and equipped to perform it.

• Start with an authoritative reference and write down the exact term used in your state’s law (alkaline hydrolysis, dissolution, chemical disposition, or “cremation”). The NFDA regulation-by-state PDF is a strong starting point because it includes citations.
• Identify your licensing authority: your state Board of Funeral Directors, Funeral Board, Department of Health, or a similar agency that licenses funeral establishments and crematories.
• Ask the question in “paperwork language,” not marketing language: “Is alkaline hydrolysis currently permitted as a method of final disposition for human remains in this state, and if so, what licensing or facility requirements apply?”
• Use the license lookup tool (most boards have one) to confirm the funeral home and the crematory are licensed and in good standing. If alkaline hydrolysis is performed off-site, ask for the name and license of the facility that actually performs the process.
• Confirm operational reality: “Do you perform alkaline hydrolysis on-site?” If not: “Do you coordinate transport to an out-of-state alkaline hydrolysis facility, and how does that affect permits, timing, and cost?”

This may feel intimidating, especially if you’re exhausted. But the tone you’re allowed to use is simpler than you think. You’re not arguing. You’re just trying to avoid a painful surprise later. Most professionals understand that, and the ones who don’t are giving you information, too.

If your state allows it but has no providers yet

This is one of the most common scenarios in 2026: your state has legalized alkaline hydrolysis (or is moving toward it), but there aren’t any operating facilities nearby. When that happens, families usually choose one of three paths.

The first path is to arrange alkaline hydrolysis through a funeral home that coordinates transportation to an out-of-state facility. This can be completely legitimate, but it changes logistics. There may be additional transit permits, additional coordination for a medical examiner case, or longer timelines. If you know your family will want a service quickly, ask whether you can hold a memorial before the remains are returned, or plan a two-part goodbye.

The second path is to choose a more widely available option now—often direct cremation—and plan an environmentally meaningful memorial afterward. That might mean a tree planting, a conservation donation, a shoreline ceremony, or a simple gathering at home. If you’re trying to compare budget scenarios, Funeral.com’s guide to how much does cremation cost can help you see what is typically included in quotes and what commonly increases the total.

The third path is to consider other eco-minded disposition options that are actually accessible in your region, such as natural burial in a green cemetery or (where available) natural organic reduction. The point isn’t to “settle.” The point is to choose something you can carry emotionally and practically, given what your community can actually provide.

What alkaline hydrolysis costs (and what makes the price move)

Families often ask about aquamation cost because they want to make an aligned choice without being blindsided. Pricing varies widely by region and availability. One consumer-oriented overview from After.com describes typical water cremation pricing in the range of about $2,000–$3,500, noting costs can be higher in areas with limited access. That range won’t fit every market, but it’s a useful baseline for understanding that alkaline hydrolysis is often priced similarly to, or somewhat higher than, flame cremation—especially where there are fewer facilities.

What changes the price is usually less about the chemistry and more about the logistics: transportation to a facility, the service package you choose, the required permits, and whether the provider is coordinating multiple steps (transfer care, refrigeration, authorizations, and return of remains). If you want to understand pricing in the broader context of funeral planning, you may find it calming to read Funeral.com’s breakdown of average cremation cost and what changes the price—because it helps you ask cleaner questions on the phone.

What you receive back, and why urn planning still matters

One of the most tender questions families ask is: “Will I still receive ashes?” Yes, you will receive remains similar to what families recognize as ashes, because the remaining bone fragments are dried and processed into a fine powder. CANA notes that alkaline hydrolysis can produce more cremated remains than flame cremation—one reason some families need slightly larger capacity planning when choosing cremation urns. If you’re choosing a container without wanting to overthink it, you can start with cremation urns for ashes and then narrow based on where the urn will live: on a mantle, in a columbarium niche, in the ground, or used for scattering.

Many families don’t want one single container, especially when relatives live in different places or have different needs. That’s where keepsake urns can feel emotionally practical: you can keep a primary urn and share a small portion with close family members. If you’re looking for truly compact options, small cremation urns can also work well for travel, temporary placement, or symbolic portions while the rest is scattered later.

And for some people, the most helpful memorial is one they can carry. Cremation jewelry can be a bridge between the day of loss and the months after, especially for those who feel unmoored when they’re away from home. If you want to explore that gently, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 explains how it works, and you can browse cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces when you’re ready.

Keeping ashes at home: usually allowed, but still worth doing thoughtfully

When a family chooses alkaline hydrolysis, the “after” questions often feel the same as with flame cremation, and one of the most common is keeping ashes at home. In most places in the U.S., families are generally allowed to keep cremated remains at home, but practical “rules” often come from policies rather than laws—cemetery requirements, airline screening procedures, or property permissions for scattering. If you want calm, practical guidance, Funeral.com’s guide to keeping ashes at home walks through safe placement, household considerations, and what to do if multiple relatives feel differently.

If a pet is part of your family story—and for many people it is—there can be an extra layer of tenderness in how you memorialize. Families sometimes ask about keeping a beloved pet’s ashes close alongside a person’s ashes, or choosing a memorial that feels like the animal’s personality. If that’s you, Funeral.com has collections for pet urns for ashes, including sculptural options in pet cremation urns (figurine styles), and small sharing pieces in pet keepsake cremation urns. For a family-centered explainer, you can also read pet urns for ashes guidance that covers sizing and common memorial styles.

Water cremation vs. water burial: similar words, very different plans

It’s easy to confuse “water cremation” with a “water burial” ceremony because the phrases sound like they should be connected. But they’re different. Alkaline hydrolysis is a disposition method. A water burial is a memorial or placement choice that happens after you receive the remains.

If your family is drawn to a shoreline goodbye, it helps to know the basic federal rule for U.S. ocean waters: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that burial at sea under the MPRSA general permit does not allow placement of human remains within three nautical miles from shore, and it also outlines reporting requirements. Funeral.com’s guide to water burial and “3 nautical miles” translates those rules into planning language, and water burial vs. scattering at sea can help you visualize which approach feels calmer for your group.

When families ask what to do with ashes, a blended plan is often the most emotionally realistic: keep a small portion at home, share keepsakes with siblings, and plan a scattering or water ceremony later when everyone can travel. If you want a guide that links urn type to the plan (keep, bury, scatter, or water ceremony), Funeral.com’s urn type by plan article can help you avoid buying something that doesn’t match what you actually want to do.

One more gentle truth: it’s okay to want certainty

When someone dies, families are asked to make decisions before they’ve had time to feel what they feel. If alkaline hydrolysis matters to you, you’re allowed to want a clear answer. You’re allowed to ask your funeral home what term appears on the paperwork. You’re allowed to ask whether the facility is licensed, whether the process is on-site, and whether your state’s rules have changed recently.

If you’re looking for state-specific, practical guidance that matches how families actually search, Funeral.com has updated 2026 guides for aquamation in several states, including Florida, Illinois, Connecticut, and New York, which can help you move from “Is it legal?” to “How do I actually arrange this?” without feeling like you’re doing it alone.

Whatever you decide, the goal is not to find the perfect option. The goal is to find the option your family can carry—legally, practically, and emotionally—with the fewest regrets.

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