The Transit Permit Explained: When You Need One (Body vs. Ashes)

When someone dies, families often expect the hardest parts to be emotional. And they are. But there’s another kind of difficulty that can sneak up on you: the paperwork. It can feel surreal to grieve and also have to answer questions like, “Can we bring them to another state?” or “Do we need a permit to take the ashes home?”

If you’ve heard the phrase transit permit, you’re usually hearing it in the context of moving a body from one place to another and authorizing final disposition. Depending on where you live, it may be called a burial transit permit, disposition permit, removal permit, burial/removal permit, or a permit for disposition of human remains. The names vary, but the purpose is similar: it’s the official permission that allows a person’s remains to be transported and then buried, cremated, or otherwise legally laid to rest.

This guide will walk you through what that means in real life—especially the difference between an uncremated body and cremated remains (ashes). We’ll keep it practical, and we’ll also tie the paperwork back to what families actually care about: what happens next, how you choose the right memorial, and how to make a plan that doesn’t create new stress for the people you love.

What a “transit permit” actually does

A transit or disposition permit is the “green light” that typically travels with the body to the next step—burial, cremation, or transport to another location. In many places, it’s issued by a local registrar or vital records office after key information is filed, and it’s part of the legal chain that ensures the death is recorded correctly and the disposition happens lawfully.

For example, Florida law describes how a burial-transit permit is issued by the local registrar (or the department) and generally isn’t issued until a death certificate is filed (with limited exceptions). You can see the language directly in Florida Statutes.

In California, counties often describe a “permit for disposition of human remains” as required for burial or cremation. San Diego County’s public health office, for instance, explains that a burial permit must be issued for each death at the time of registration for burial or cremation, and it also notes that if cremated remains are divided for more than one placement location, additional permits may be required. You can read that on San Diego County’s burial permits page.

The key point is this: a transit/disposition permit is not “optional paperwork.” It’s one of the documents that makes everything else possible, including legal transportation and final disposition. When families get blindsided, it’s usually because they assume the permit is only about crossing state lines. Often, it’s also about authorizing the cremation or burial itself.

Body vs. ashes: why the rules feel different

Families often ask, “Do we need a transporting human remains permit if we’re just driving?” That question has two different answers, depending on whether you mean an uncremated body or transporting ashes legally.

Transporting an uncremated body

When a person hasn’t been cremated yet, transportation is typically regulated more closely. States and counties have rules designed for public health, identity protection, and orderly documentation. In many places, the permit is tied to the death certificate filing process, and the funeral director (or person legally responsible for disposition) is the one who obtains it. The permit often accompanies the body to the crematory, cemetery, or another state.

This is why families planning a home funeral, a multi-state burial, or a transfer from a hospital to a family-managed vigil often run straight into the paperwork reality. Some states restrict who can obtain the permit or require a licensed funeral director for certain steps. Organizations like the Funeral Consumers Alliance maintain state-by-state summaries and point out that in some states, only funeral directors can be issued burial/transit permits. See their overview on Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Transporting cremated remains (ashes)

Once cremation has already occurred, the rules usually change. Cremated remains are not handled the same way as an uncremated body, and families often have more flexibility. In many situations, you can carry ashes in a vehicle without needing a special transport permit, especially when you’re simply bringing the ashes home.

But here’s the part that surprises people: even if you don’t need a separate “transport permit” to carry ashes from place to place, permits may still matter for the legal disposition step, especially if you’re scattering, burying, or dividing remains for multiple placements. California’s Cemetery and Funeral Bureau (in its guidance for cremated remains disposers) notes that cremated remains may not be scattered unless a death certificate and a permit for disposition has been obtained from a local registrar, and the disposition permit must specify where scattering will occur under California rules. You can see that in the state’s Cremated Remains Disposers Booklet.

So if your question is “do you need a permit to transport ashes,” the practical answer is often: you may not need a special transport permit for the drive itself, but you may need documentation (and sometimes additional permits) to carry out the final plan legally—especially if your plan includes burial in a cemetery, scattering at sea, or splitting ashes among multiple destinations.

Why this paperwork is showing up now: cremation is the norm for many families

It’s not an accident that families are asking more detailed questions about transport, permits, and disposition options. More households are choosing cremation, which naturally increases the number of situations where someone is traveling with ashes or planning a memorial later.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025, with long-range projections showing continued growth. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) also reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024 and provides annual trend reporting and projections.

When cremation is common, “funeral planning” changes shape. Many families choose a simple, immediate cremation and plan the gathering later—sometimes weeks later, sometimes months later, sometimes in a different state entirely. That’s where permits, certificates, and clear documentation stop feeling like bureaucracy and start feeling like protection: they keep your options open and prevent last-minute surprises.

Who gets the permit, and when?

In most typical arrangements, you won’t personally stand in a government office to obtain the permit. The funeral home, cremation provider, or funeral director usually takes responsibility for filing paperwork and obtaining the required permit for disposition. If you’re using a provider, this is one of the behind-the-scenes tasks you’re paying for, even in a simple direct cremation.

That said, requirements vary by state and sometimes by county, and families who are arranging a home funeral or handling certain steps themselves should clarify who is legally permitted to request the document. If you’re in a jurisdiction that issues the permit through the local registrar, it may be linked to the death registration process itself, as described by local government pages like San Diego County’s. In other states, statutes and health departments specify conditions for issuance, like Florida’s rule linking the burial-transit permit to the death certificate filing process.

If you want the calmest path through this, treat the permit like a baton in a relay race: someone has to carry it from “death is recorded” to “disposition is completed.” Your job is not to memorize every local rule—it’s to make sure you know who is carrying the baton, and what they need from you to do it quickly.

A quick checklist: what to ask before you move anyone (or anything)

Here’s the simplest way to prevent the most common problems. When you talk with the registrar, medical examiner, or funeral director, ask these questions in plain language:

• What is the document called here—burial transit permit, disposition permit, removal permit, or something else?
• Is the permit required for transport only, for cremation/burial, or for both?
• Who is allowed to obtain it in this county or state?
• What must happen first—does the death certificate need to be filed before the permit can be issued?
• If we’re splitting ashes, do we need separate permits for multiple placements (cemetery burial, scattering, etc.)?
• What documents should travel with us—death certificate copies, cremation certificate, permit copies, or all of the above?
• If we’re crossing state lines, does the receiving state or airline/cemetery require specific wording or forms?

If you want to keep your family out of conflict later, add one more question: “Who will keep the original documents, and how will other family members get copies?” Paperwork is often where misunderstandings begin—especially when multiple siblings are trying to do the right thing in different ways.

Where cremation urns, keepsakes, and jewelry fit into the permit conversation

It may seem like paperwork and memorial choices are separate topics, but in real life they overlap. Your plan for what to do with ashes determines what documentation you’ll need, and your documentation can affect what options feel easiest.

If the plan is to bring ashes home first and decide later, many families start by choosing a secure, dignified container. That might be a temporary container from the crematory, but it often feels better (and safer) to transition into a lasting urn sooner rather than later—especially if you’re keeping ashes at home for months while planning a service. If you’re browsing options, Funeral.com’s cremation urns for ashes collection is a good place to start, because it lets you see styles and materials side by side while you decide what feels right.

Some families also build a “share plan.” One person keeps a primary urn, and other close relatives receive a portion. That’s where small cremation urns and keepsake urns become practical, not just sentimental. Funeral.com’s small cremation urns for ashes and keepsake cremation urns for ashes collections are designed specifically for those situations.

If your family is dividing ashes for multiple placements (for example: scattering at sea plus a cemetery niche plus one keepsake for a spouse), that’s also the moment to ask whether your county requires separate permits for each placement, as San Diego County notes for divided remains. It’s not about making the decision harder—it’s about making sure the plan is legally clean and doesn’t fall apart the day you’re finally ready to carry it out.

For families grieving a companion animal, the paperwork is usually simpler, but the emotional stakes are just as high. If you’re choosing pet urns or pet urns for ashes, it helps to think about placement and size early, especially if children are involved or if you want a memorial that blends naturally into the home. Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns for ashes collection includes a wide range of styles, and many families who want something more representational choose from pet figurine cremation urns for ashes. If you’re sharing ashes among family members or keeping only a portion, pet keepsake cremation urns can be a gentle solution.

And for some families, the most meaningful “keepsake” is wearable. Cremation jewelry—especially cremation necklaces—can be a steady, everyday form of closeness while the larger decisions take time. You can browse Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces collections when you’re ready.

Common scenarios where permits and plans collide

Families don’t experience “paperwork” as a concept. They experience it as a moment: someone is ready to move forward, and something is missing. These are the scenarios where it’s worth slowing down and getting clear.

Moving a body to another state

If you’re transporting an uncremated body across state lines, assume there will be documentation requirements, and assume the funeral director or transport provider will be involved. This is the scenario most people associate with a move body to another state permit, and it’s also where timing matters most. Ask early, because some permits are linked to the death certificate filing process, and some destinations (cemeteries, crematories) have their own rules.

Taking ashes on a trip for a ceremony

Many families choose a destination meaningful to their loved one, but they wait to do the scattering or burial until travel is possible. This is where the question becomes less “transport permit” and more “what documentation proves what these are?” If you’re flying, airlines and TSA procedures often focus on screening-friendly containers and documentation. If you’re scattering, state and local rules can matter. If you’re burying in a cemetery, the cemetery may require permit paperwork to accept the remains.

If your ceremony is a water burial (burial at sea or a water ceremony), there are additional federal rules in U.S. ocean waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s burial-at-sea guidance is often the authoritative reference point for ocean burials, including requirements like distance offshore and reporting. Funeral.com’s journal resources can help you understand how families plan these moments, including Water Burial Planning and Water Burial and Burial at Sea.

Keeping ashes at home while you decide

Delaying the final decision is extremely common. If you’re keeping ashes at home, the “permit” question usually comes back later—when you’re ready to bury, scatter, or divide the ashes. In the meantime, it helps to choose a safe container and a calm setup, so you’re not living in fear of spills or accidents. If you want a steady, practical guide, Funeral.com’s journal includes Keeping Ashes at Home: A Practical Safety Guide.

Cost reality: paperwork is part of what you’re paying for

Families sometimes feel frustrated because permits and certificates sound like “extra charges.” But in many arrangements, the provider is doing real administrative labor—filing, coordinating, obtaining approvals, and ensuring compliance. When you compare options, it helps to compare what is included, not just the headline price.

If you’re trying to get grounded, NFDA reports median costs for common funeral and cremation service packages, and they list those figures on their statistics page. Funeral.com also breaks down real-world pricing and common fees in resources like How Much Does Cremation Cost? and How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.?. If you’re searching “how much does cremation cost,” those guides can help you understand why prices vary and which questions to ask so you don’t get surprised later.

How to use the permit conversation to reduce family conflict

There’s a quiet truth most families discover: disagreements about ashes are rarely about the ashes. They’re about meaning, guilt, timing, and control—especially if the death was sudden or complicated. Paperwork can amplify those emotions because it feels like someone “owns” the process.

If you can, decide early who is responsible for the documents and the plan. Even if multiple people are involved emotionally, it helps to have one person designated as the point of contact with the provider. Then, make transparency the rule: share copies of key documents, keep everyone updated on the timeline, and write down the plan in plain language.

This is also where choosing the right memorial tools can help. A single “home base” urn with thoughtfully chosen keepsake urns for close relatives can prevent years of tension. For some families, a piece of cremation jewelry provides comfort without forcing the entire group to agree on one permanent placement immediately. When you treat these as planning tools, not “products,” you often end up with fewer fights and a more peaceful memorial process.

If you want a gentle starting point for choosing the right container, Funeral.com’s journal includes guides like How to Choose a Cremation Urn and Cremation Jewelry 101.

FAQs

1. What is a transit permit (burial transit permit) in plain English?

   It’s the official document that authorizes transportation and final disposition of a body—burial, cremation, or transfer—under your local rules. The name varies by state and county (burial transit permit, permit for disposition, removal permit), but it’s often required before a crematory or cemetery can proceed.

2. Do you need a permit to transport ashes?

   Often, you do not need a special “transport permit” just to carry cremated remains in a vehicle. However, permits and documentation can still matter for legal disposition steps—such as cemetery burial, scattering under local rules, or dividing ashes for multiple placements. Requirements vary by state and county, so confirm with your provider or registrar.

3. Who obtains the disposition permit—me or the funeral director?

   In most standard arrangements, the funeral home or cremation provider obtains the required permit as part of handling the death certificate filing and disposition process. If you are planning a home funeral or managing care yourself, ask your local registrar who is legally allowed to request the permit where you live.

4. If we split the ashes, do we need multiple permits?

   Sometimes, yes—especially when ashes are placed in multiple formal locations (for example, a cemetery niche plus burial in another cemetery). Some counties explicitly state that each placement may require its own permit. Ask the registrar or cemetery what their rule is before you finalize a share plan.

5. How does this relate to choosing an urn, keepsake urn, or cremation jewelry?

   Your memorial plan determines what you’ll need to do legally and logistically. If you’re keeping ashes at home for a while, a secure urn can reduce stress and prevent accidents. If you’re sharing ashes, keepsake urns or cremation jewelry can support a clear plan—especially when multiple relatives want a portion—while you confirm what documents are required for any later burial or scattering.