Home funeral laws in Washington
Washington places no funeral director between a family and their dead. Every step of a funeral, from caring for the body at home to driving to the crematory, can legally be handled by the family alone. Hardly anyone knows this.
What your family may legally do in Washington
Care for the body at home
Legal in every state. Embalming is not required; refrigeration or dry ice does the same job. Families have a day or more, usually several.
File the death certificate and permits yourselves
As next of kin you can complete and file the death certificate and burial-transit permit directly with the local registrar.
Transport the body in the family vehicle
Legal with the burial-transit permit in hand. A station wagon, van or truck bed with a simple box is how it was done for centuries.
Deliver directly to the crematory or cemetery
Many crematories accept families directly. Call ahead; the fee is a fraction of a funeral home's package.
Bury on your own rural land
Not here: this state requires burial in an established cemetery.
The common questions
Are home funerals legal in Washington?
Washington places no funeral director between a family and their dead. Every step of a funeral, from caring for the body at home to driving to the crematory, can legally be handled by the family alone. Hardly anyone knows this.
Is embalming required in Washington?
No. Washington, like every US state, has no embalming requirement for a direct cremation or an immediate burial. Refrigeration or dry ice does the same job and costs a fraction as much. Where embalming does come up is a public viewing or some long-distance transport, and even there alternatives usually exist.
Can you be buried on your own property in Washington?
No. Washington is one of only three states (alongside California and Indiana) that require burial in an established cemetery. Home burial isn't an option here, whatever the acreage.
Useful Washington facts
- Cremation rate
- Cremation is the norm here: about 81% of Washington deaths end in cremation, ahead of the national average.
- State regulator
- Washington Funeral and Cemetery Board, the body that licenses providers and handles complaints.
Legality summary follows the National Home Funeral Alliance’s legal tracking and state statutes. Laws change: confirm current rules with your state and county before planning a family-directed funeral.
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