When someone dies far from home, grief often arrives with a second, practical shock: there are decisions to make quickly, and many of them involve logistics you have never had to think about before. Families picture “bringing them home,” but across state lines that phrase can mean several different things. It can mean transporting an uncremated body for a hometown burial. It can mean arranging a cremation near the place of death and then traveling with the ashes. It can also mean choosing a local service and creating a memorial at home later—because sometimes the most loving choice is the one that reduces stress and delays.
The good news is that this process is common, and there are systems in place to handle it respectfully. The challenging part is that the systems involve paperwork—death certificates, permits, authorizations—and coordination between professionals in two locations. With the right steps (and the right expectations), you can avoid most delays and keep the focus where it belongs: honoring the person you love.
Why “across state lines” changes the process
Local transportation—moving a loved one from a hospital to a funeral home in the same county—usually happens quietly behind the scenes. Crossing state lines adds complexity because the person’s care must be documented in a way that satisfies public health rules, transportation carriers, and the receiving funeral home or cemetery. In practice, that means you’ll almost always work with a licensed funeral director to coordinate permits and transfer custody. Even when families handle some steps themselves in certain states, state rules can limit who may obtain transport permits. The Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) notes that in some states a burial-transit permit can only be issued to someone licensed or registered with a state agency, which is one reason funeral homes are so often involved.
If you’re starting from scratch, Funeral.com’s guide on how to transport human remains can help you map the path before you start making calls, and the Journal post When a Loved One Dies Far Away speaks to the emotional reality of planning from a distance while trying to grieve.
The paperwork families usually need
Requirements vary by state and by situation (hospital vs. coroner’s case, burial vs. cremation, driving vs. flying). But for most out-of-state transfers, the core documents are consistent: a certified death certificate and a permit authorizing transportation and disposition. Many families hear the phrase burial transit permit, but you may also hear “disposition permit,” “removal permit,” or “burial permit.” The names vary, but the function is similar: it is the authorization that allows the body to be transported and ultimately buried or cremated. Funeral.com’s Journal guide on what documents families actually need after a death explains why the terminology can feel confusing and what those documents typically control.
One detail that helps: the death certificate and the permit are connected. In many places, the permit is issued after the death is registered and the necessary signatures are in place. That means delays can happen when a death certificate is pending (for example, if an investigation is required), or if a weekend or holiday slows vital records processing. These are normal delays—but they can feel frightening when you’re waiting. Knowing what you’re waiting for can reduce the panic.
A simple “transport file” checklist
- A certified death certificate (or, if the certified copy is delayed, clear copies while you wait for the official version)
- The transport/disposition permit (often called a burial transit permit)
- Written authorization from the legal next-of-kin for the funeral home to act on your behalf
- The receiving funeral home or cemetery’s contact information, hours, and any special requirements
- If airline transport is involved, the airline cargo booking details and required packaging/labeling instructions
For families who want a professional perspective on shipping logistics, the National Funeral Directors Association provides an overview and FAQ-style guidance on shipping remains, reflecting common standards the profession follows across the U.S.
Ground transport: when driving is the most straightforward option
For many families, ground transport is the simplest and most flexible approach—especially if the distance is manageable and timing matters. Typically, a funeral home near the place of death (often called the “sending” funeral home) coordinates with a funeral home near the final destination (the “receiving” funeral home). The sending funeral home handles care, refrigeration, documentation, and scheduling. The receiving funeral home prepares for arrival and helps coordinate the cemetery, clergy, or service location.
Families often ask whether embalming is required for ground transport. In many cases, embalming is not automatically required by law, but practical requirements can apply. A state may require embalming or refrigeration after a certain number of hours if disposition is delayed, and some carriers have their own rules. The key is this: the requirement is usually tied to time and method of transport, not to “crossing a state line” as a standalone concept. If you prefer not to embalm, ask about refrigeration and timing, and ask the funeral home to explain what is required versus what is recommended.
If you are considering handling transport yourself (for example, in a private vehicle), be cautious. Some states allow family-directed after-death care, while others limit who may obtain permits or transport remains. The National Home Funeral Alliance maintains a state-by-state overview that can help you understand what your state generally allows and what restrictions might apply.
Airline cargo: why most families use a funeral home for flights
When a loved one must be transported a long distance, flying can reduce travel time—but it adds layers of coordination. Most airlines handle uncremated remains through their cargo divisions, and the shipment must meet documentation and packaging requirements. In practice, families usually cannot just “book a ticket” for a casket shipment; the sending funeral home coordinates the booking, the paperwork, and the transfer to the cargo facility.
Airlines publish their requirements publicly, and they are a useful reality check when you’re trying to understand why the process feels formal. For example, Alaska Air Cargo notes that human remains must be accompanied by a death certificate or a burial removal/transit permit as required by law. Southwest Air Cargo similarly describes documentation such as a signed certificate of death and/or burial transit/removal permits, depending on regulations. Some carriers also specify how the outer shipping container must be marked to guide careful handling.
If the funeral home tells you embalming is required for air travel, clarify whether that requirement is coming from state law, from the airline, or from timing and practical realities. Airlines may have policies for unembalmed remains, packaging, and dry ice usage. The point is not to push you toward one choice; it’s to help you avoid a last-minute refusal at the cargo counter.
It can also help to think about “handoffs.” Airline cargo shipments move through multiple teams, and each handoff is a moment where missing paperwork can cause a delay. A receiving funeral home that is already expecting the flight and has the correct permit information can make the arrival feel calm instead of chaotic.
How families avoid delays with the receiving funeral home or cemetery
Most transport problems are not caused by one big mistake. They are caused by small misalignments: the cemetery is closed on Sundays, the receiving funeral home needs an appointment to accept remains, the airline cargo facility has cut-off times, or the certified death certificate will not be available until the following week. The sending funeral home can usually navigate these issues, but you can help by asking a few practical questions early.
Here are the most useful “timing” questions to ask in plain language: When can the receiving funeral home accept arrival? What are the cargo facility hours (if flying)? Does the cemetery require advance scheduling or specific vault/container requirements? If a permit is required, who is responsible for obtaining it, and when is it typically issued in this county? These questions are not pushy. They are protective. They keep your loved one from getting caught in an administrative gap.
For a grounded overview of shipping considerations from within the profession, the National Funeral Directors Association resource is a helpful reference point, especially if you want to understand why funeral directors emphasize “continuity of care” across state lines.
When cremation changes the transport equation
Some families begin with a plan to transport a body for burial, then realize that cost, timing, or family travel needs are pushing them toward cremation near the place of death. This isn’t “giving up.” It is adapting. And nationally, more families are making cremation part of their decision-making. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, reflecting how common this choice has become. The Cremation Association of North America also publishes annual cremation statistics and trends, based on vital statistics data.
Once cremation occurs, transport usually becomes simpler. Instead of managing casketed remains and airline cargo, families often travel with a temporary container or ship the ashes using permitted methods. That shift is one reason families who feel overwhelmed sometimes choose cremation first, then plan a memorial service at home later—when relatives can gather without a tight timeline.
If cremation is part of your plan, this is also where memorial choices come into view. Families begin searching for cremation urns not because they want to shop, but because they want a safe and dignified way to bring someone home. Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection is a good place to compare materials and styles, and the small cremation urns and keepsake urns collections can be helpful when more than one person wants a personal share of the remains.
Flying with ashes, mailing ashes, and what carriers actually allow
If you are transporting cremated remains by plane, it helps to know what airport screening can and cannot do. The Transportation Security Administration explains that cremated remains are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, but officers will not open the container; if the container material creates an opaque image and screening cannot be completed, the container may not be permitted through the checkpoint. That’s why many families travel with a container made of materials that screen clearly, and then transfer ashes into a permanent memorial urn once they are home.
If mailing is easier than flying, the carrier rules matter. The U.S. Postal Service provides packaging guidance in Publication 139, which explains how to package and ship cremated remains. USPS rules have also evolved: a Federal Register notice describes changes effective March 1, 2025, requiring the use of USPS-provided Cremated Remains shipping supplies when mailing cremated remains. (In other words: if you’re shipping ashes, follow USPS’s exact kit and labeling instructions rather than improvising.)
Families often ask whether these rules apply to pets as well. When it comes to mailing, the answer is essentially yes: USPS packaging rules treat human and animal cremated remains similarly. If you are also navigating pet loss, Funeral.com’s pet urns and pet urns for ashes collection includes classic memorial styles, while pet cremation urns in figurine designs can feel especially personal. For families who want shareable options, pet keepsake cremation urns offer a gentle way to keep a small portion close.
Choosing memorial items after transport: urns, keepsakes, and jewelry
Transportation is the urgent part, but it is not the whole story. Once your loved one is where they need to be—home, a cemetery, or in your care—many families experience a second wave of questions: what to do with ashes, whether keeping ashes at home is okay, and how to create a memorial that doesn’t feel rushed.
If you are planning to keep ashes at home, you are far from alone. Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home walks through practical considerations like placement, visitors, and safety with children and pets. Some families prefer a single focal point, choosing cremation urns for ashes sized to hold the full remains. Others find that sharing brings comfort—one primary urn, plus a few keepsake urns or small cremation urns for adult children or siblings who live far away.
For people who want something portable and deeply personal, cremation jewelry can bridge distance and daily life. Cremation Jewelry offers a range of styles, and Funeral.com’s cremation necklaces collection focuses specifically on wearable pendants designed to hold a symbolic portion of ashes. If you want practical guidance (seals, filling, what “waterproof” really means), the Journal’s Cremation Necklaces for Ashes guide can help you choose with fewer unknowns.
If you want a fast, clear overview of how to choose an urn—especially after a travel or shipping situation—Funeral.com’s How to Choose the Best Cremation Urn and Cremation Urns 101 pair well: they keep the tone practical without losing compassion.
Water burial and burial at sea: when distance meets meaning
Sometimes the “across state lines” plan is really about place: the ocean where someone spent their happiest years, a coastline the family returns to each summer, or a final wish that feels tied to water. Families often use the phrase water burial to describe different choices—scattering, releasing ashes from a vessel, or arranging an official burial at sea. If you are planning an ocean ceremony in U.S. waters, it helps to anchor your plan in official guidance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that it issues a general permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act to authorize burial at sea, including the release of cremated remains. The federal regulation at 40 CFR 229.1 specifies that cremated remains may be buried in or on ocean waters, as long as the burial takes place no closer than three nautical miles from land.
If you want the emotional and practical side brought together—what “three nautical miles” really means in planning, how families time the moment, and what kind of vessel may fit your intentions—Funeral.com’s Journal post on water burial and burial at sea is a gentle companion. And if you are considering a vessel designed to dissolve, the guide to biodegradable ocean and water burial urns can help you picture the real logistics before you commit.
Cost questions: what families are really paying for
When people search how much does cremation cost or “body transport cost,” they are usually asking a deeper question: “Can we do what they wanted without financial damage?” The honest answer is that cost depends heavily on distance, timing, the need for airline cargo, and whether a full-service funeral is planned. Air transport with specialized packaging and coordinated transfers can be significantly more expensive than cremation with later transport of ashes. That’s why many funeral directors talk through options before families commit to a single plan.
If you want a clear, plain-language breakdown of what families commonly pay for cremation arrangements and how memorial items fit in, Funeral.com’s guide on how much cremation costs is designed for exactly that moment—when you need realistic ranges and a way to compare quotes without feeling pressured.
A final word on control and kindness
Transporting a loved one across state lines can feel like a test you never asked to take: legal documents, phone calls, unfamiliar terminology, and decisions that have emotional weight. But you do not have to know everything to do this well. You only need a clear next step and the right support. In most situations, that next step is choosing a sending funeral home you trust and giving them the information they need to coordinate with the receiving funeral home or cemetery.
And if cremation becomes part of the plan—whether by preference or necessity—remember that memorialization does not have to happen on a deadline. Families choose cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, keepsake urns, and cremation jewelry at the pace grief allows. They keep ashes at home for a time, plan a water burial when family can gather, or create a shared memorial that honors different needs in the same family. Whatever path you choose, the goal is the same: dignity, continuity of care, and a goodbye that feels like love.
