How to Document Aquamation Wishes: Wills, Advance Plans, and What Families Need to Know

Most people don’t sit down to write about death because they feel “ready.” They do it because they’ve watched a family they love scramble under pressure—trying to honor someone’s values while also navigating phone calls, paperwork, and time-sensitive decisions. If you’ve decided you want aquamation, also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, you’re already doing something quietly generous: you’re giving your family a clearer path through a hard moment.

Aquamation is a form of final disposition that uses water, an alkaline solution, and heat to return mineral remains—much like cremation returns ashes—without an open flame. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, alkaline hydrolysis (often called aquamation, water cremation, or flameless cremation) places the body in a specialized chamber with water and an alkaline solution to complete the process as an alternative to burial or flame-based cremation.

The challenge is that “I want aquamation” is not always enough on its own. Availability varies by location and provider, family members may not agree in a crisis, and the legal authority to authorize a disposition often rests with specific people unless you take steps in advance. That’s why document aquamation wishes is more than a phrase—it’s a plan.

Why documenting aquamation matters more than you think

Families usually discover the importance of documentation in the same way: a loved one dies, and the next of kin is asked to sign authorizations quickly. If aquamation isn’t offered locally, the family may also be deciding whether to transport the body to a provider hours away, whether the timing works, and whether the costs fit the budget. All of that happens while grief is still raw.

At the same time, funeral preferences are evolving. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% for 2025 (with burial projected at 31.6%), and the organization projects cremation to continue rising long-term. The Cremation Association of North America also publishes annual statistics based on vital records and trends across the U.S. and Canada. According to CANA, its annual report compiles recent deaths and cremations and is widely used across the profession.

As more families choose cremation, they also ask more questions about alternatives—like aquamation—and about what comes after: keeping ashes at home, sharing remains, planning a scattering, choosing cremation jewelry, or considering a water burial. So the question becomes: how do you make sure your family can carry out your choice without confusion, conflict, or delay?

Aquamation in a will: helpful, but often too late

If you’ve searched aquamation in will, you’re not alone. A will feels official, and it’s a natural place to write down important instructions. The problem is timing. Wills are often read after immediate decisions have already been made. In many families, the funeral home is called and authorization forms are signed within hours or a day of death—long before anyone has located the original will, contacted the attorney, or opened probate.

That doesn’t mean your will is useless. It can reinforce your preference, and it can help settle disputes later. But if your goal is “my family can access this quickly,” you’ll want at least one document that is designed for immediate use.

The documents that actually help families carry out water cremation wishes

Think of documentation as layers. One layer states your preference clearly. Another layer gives someone the legal power to act. Another layer makes it easy to find.

In practical terms, the most helpful planning usually includes a legally recognized document that names who can make final arrangements (sometimes called an “agent to control disposition,” depending on the state), plus a written plan your family can hand to a provider at the time of death, plus a version that’s easy to access—like a scanned copy shared with the person you trust most. If you’re trying to reduce uncertainty, this is the combination that turns water cremation wishes into an actionable pathway rather than a hope.

If you want a grounded starting point for how authority works, the Funeral Consumers Alliance offers a state-by-state overview of assigning an agent to control disposition and notes that some states allow this designation through specific forms or signed writings, depending on local law. According to the Funeral Consumers Alliance, the details vary by state, which is exactly why naming an agent and using recognized forms can reduce uncertainty.

The “authorizing agent” issue: who can say yes, legally?

Even when everyone agrees emotionally, paperwork can still become a barrier. Many providers must obtain authorization from the legally recognized decision-maker—often a spouse, then adult children, then other next of kin in a priority order set by state law. If the decision-maker is unavailable, estranged, or disagrees, your preference can stall.

This is why aquamation authorization deserves its own attention. When you name an agent (where allowed) and that document is properly executed, you reduce the chance that the wrong person is asked to decide in a moment of crisis. It also gives your family a simple script they can use with providers: “Here is the written designation; here is the contact; here is what the person wanted.”

Availability is the second gate: what “water cremation availability” really means

Families often assume availability is a simple yes/no question: “Is aquamation legal here?” In real life, availability is more practical than political. It includes whether a local funeral home partners with an alkaline hydrolysis facility, whether transport is possible in your timeframe, and whether the provider you want can accept cases at the time you die.

Terminology can also add confusion. According to CANA, alkaline hydrolysis may be referred to by multiple names, and legal labels can differ by jurisdiction, which can affect how the option appears on forms and price lists. That’s why the best planning step is surprisingly simple: call ahead and ask two questions. First, “Do you offer alkaline hydrolysis, and what do you call it on your paperwork?” Second, “If it isn’t available locally, what is your plan for transport and timing?”

If you’re pre-planning, you’re also allowed to ask for clear, itemized information about goods and services. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the Funeral Rule is designed to ensure consumers receive accurate, itemized price information and disclosures, and it applies in contexts that help families compare options without being rushed.

What to write down: the wording that reduces confusion

When families are stressed, vague language creates delays. The most helpful documentation uses the plain words families will repeat on the phone. If you are drafting a letter of intent or final wishes statement, consider a sentence that includes the common and technical terms together, such as: “I prefer aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis / water cremation) as my method of disposition, if available at the time of my death.”

Then, instead of leaving your family to guess the next steps, add a few practical clarifiers in plain language: who should be contacted first (and who is the backup), whether you consent to transport if aquamation isn’t available locally, whether you want a viewing or a memorial service (or something simple and private), and what you hope happens afterward. This is where end of life wishes cremation intersects with memorial choices, because aquamation still results in mineral remains that families often treat similarly to cremation ashes. If you can name even one preference—like keeping ashes at home for a period of time, or choosing a scattering later—you lower the pressure on your family to “get it perfect” right away.

Planning beyond disposition: urns, keepsakes, jewelry, and pet memorials

Even if your planning started with aquamation paperwork, families don’t experience this as paperwork alone. They experience it as a series of moments: the call, the authorization, the waiting, the return of remains, and then the quiet question—where should they be, now?

If you want to make that part easier, it helps to understand the memorial containers your family might consider. Many families begin with classic cremation urns and then realize there are smaller, more flexible options for sharing and everyday remembrance. If your family wants one primary container, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes is a helpful starting point for different materials and styles. If you anticipate that siblings or children may want a portion, you can point them to keepsake urns designed for sharing. And if you know someone will want something smaller for travel or for a personal space at home, small cremation urns provide a compact option without feeling temporary.

Some families prefer to carry a very small amount, especially in the first months of grief. That’s where cremation jewelry becomes less of a product category and more of a coping tool—a way to keep someone close while life keeps moving. Funeral.com’s guide to cremation jewelry explains how these pieces work and what they hold, and the collection of cremation jewelry offers wearable options across styles. If the phrase you keep coming back to is cremation necklaces, the collection of cremation necklaces is curated around pieces designed to be worn daily with secure chambers.

And because grief isn’t limited to humans, it can help to document pet memorial preferences, too. Many families who choose aquamation for themselves also choose gentle options for pets when they can, and planning reduces the “what now” feeling after a loss. Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes collection includes different sizes and styles, while pet cremation urns with figurines can reflect a pet’s personality in a way that feels less clinical. If multiple family members want a portion, pet keepsake cremation urns can make sharing possible without improvising.

Keeping ashes at home: the choice many families make first

People sometimes imagine they need to decide everything immediately: urn, scattering, cemetery, jewelry, ceremony. But many families start with the same gentle default—keeping ashes at home—and decide on long-term plans later. That’s not avoidance; it’s a normal grief timeline.

If you want your family to feel steadier with that option, consider pointing them to Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home, which walks through practical considerations like safe placement, visitors, children, and pets. You can also include a note in your wishes about what “safe” looks like to you—whether you want a private cabinet at first, a memorial shelf later, or a keepsake portion for certain family members.

Water burial and eco-minded scattering: how aquamation planning connects

For some people, aquamation is tied to water in a deeper way—faith, memory, geography, or a sense of returning gently. If that’s you, it helps to document whether you want a scattering over water or a contained water burial using a biodegradable vessel. Water rules vary by place, and families often don’t know where to start.

A practical next step is to share a single trusted guide with your family, so they don’t have to research at midnight. Funeral.com’s article on water burial urns explains how biodegradable water urns are designed to float, sink, and dissolve—details that matter when you’re trying to plan a ceremony that feels calm rather than chaotic.

And if your family is still asking broadly what to do with ashes, it can help to start with a compassionate menu of ideas rather than a single “right” answer. Funeral.com’s guide on what to do with ashes reflects how families actually decide: one part meaning, one part practicality, and one part timing.

Costs, paperwork, and the reality of funeral planning

Even when a family wants to honor every preference perfectly, money and timing still matter. The question how much does cremation cost often shows up because families are trying to protect themselves from financial shock while still doing something respectful. Costs vary by region and by what’s included—transport, permits, refrigeration, ceremony, and the memorial items families choose afterward.

If you want your family to have a clear, calm baseline, Funeral.com’s 2025 guide on how much does cremation cost explains common fees and ways to compare quotes without missing important line items. Aquamation pricing and availability can differ from flame cremation depending on local providers and transport needs, so a good plan is to document your preference while also stating what flexibility you allow if aquamation isn’t available quickly or affordably in the moment.

This is where funeral planning becomes an act of love rather than a rigid script. You can be clear about what you want and still give your family permission to make a practical decision if circumstances change.

The “three copies” rule: make it findable, not just true

A beautifully written document that no one can find doesn’t help your family when it matters. The simplest strategy is to keep your preference in three places: one legal, one practical, one personal.

Your legal layer might be an agent-to-control-disposition designation or a state-recognized disposition form. Your practical layer might be a pre-need arrangement or written note shared with a provider. Your personal layer might be a letter to your family that explains why aquamation matters to you and what you hope it feels like—gentle, simple, water-connected, environmentally aligned, or spiritually meaningful.

And then tell two people where it is. Not “someone will find it.” Two specific names. That single step prevents a surprising amount of confusion.

FAQs

1. Is putting aquamation wishes in a will enough?

   It can help reinforce your preference, but it’s often not enough on its own because wills may be located or read after immediate authorization forms are signed. Pair your will with a disposition authorization or agent designation (where allowed) and share the location with family.

2. What should I write so providers understand water cremation wishes?

   Use both common and technical terms in one sentence, such as: “I prefer aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis / water cremation) as my method of disposition, if available at the time of my death.” Then list who should authorize and what flexibility you allow if availability is limited.

3. How do I handle aquamation authorization if my family might disagree?

   Where state law allows, naming an agent to control disposition can reduce conflict by clarifying who has authority. Also share your wishes in writing with the key decision-makers so no one is surprised.

4. If aquamation isn’t available nearby, what can I document in advance?

   Document whether you consent to transport to another provider, any timing priorities (for example, a memorial date), and your “fallback” preference if aquamation cannot be arranged quickly. This gives your family guidance without trapping them in an impossible situation.

5. After aquamation, can my family still use cremation urns or cremation jewelry?

   Yes. Families typically receive mineral remains that can be kept in cremation urns for ashes, divided into keepsake urns or small cremation urns, or placed in cremation jewelry like cremation necklaces. You can document your preference for keeping ashes at home, sharing, scattering, or water burial.

6. What is one simple step that makes my wishes easier to follow?

   Make your documentation easy to find: keep a signed copy in a known location, share a digital copy with your agent or next of kin, and tell at least two people exactly where it is. Clarity plus access is what protects your choice.