Can I be buried without being embalmed?

Can I be buried without being embalmed?

Direct or immediate burial, without embalming, must be offered by all funeral homes. The body is simply placed in a shroud, casket, or other container, and buried within few days, without visitation or service. Not all funeral homes have refrigeration facilities, but most hospitals do.

Do you have to be buried in a casket in Georgia?

A casket is NOT required by law for burial in Georgia, and all that is required by law for cremation is a “rigid, combustible container”. There is no law stipulating that you have to purchase a casket, and you can indeed make your own, choose a simple burial shroud or basket or purchase a simple pine coffin.

How long can a body stay in the morgue without being embalmed?

A body presents little threat to public health in the first day following the death. However, after 24 hours the body will need some level of embalming. A mortuary will be able to preserve the body for approximately a week. Regardless of the embalming, decomposition will begin after one week.

Is it mandatory to embalm a body?

Embalming is not typically required by law, except in extenuating circumstances. A viewing of the body without embalming is allowed in private for family and friends if desired. In the case of a public viewing, such as in a funeral home, the laws differ between states. Also, some funeral homes do require it.

Can you have a natural burial in Georgia?

There are two bespoke Natural Burial sites around Atlanta. Milton Fields in Milton and Honey Creek Woodlands in Conyers. There is also Eco-Eternity Forest north of Atlanta in Dahlonega but only cremated remains can be interred in the forest. Milton Woods was established in 1984 by Jim Bell on 17 acres.

Are green burials legal in Georgia?

Some funeral establishments in Georgia advertise “green” or “natural” burials, which generally refers to avoiding the embalming of a human body and the use of biodegradable casket or no casket at all. Though it may be technically legal, no Georgia facility has yet made alkaline hydrolysis available for human remains.

What happens if I don’t want to be embalmed?

Families may choose embalming for a variety of reasons including the desire to have a public viewing and ceremonies with the body present. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial.”

Is a body embalmed before cremation?

Embalming is not necessary for a cremation or for a service taking place after the cremation is complete. However, embalming is required if the service will take place with the body present before the cremation. The funeral home may require this body to be embalmed for the safety of the community as well as itself.

How do I prepare a body for burial or cremation in Georgia?

Georgia has no embalming requirements, and refrigeration or dry ice can usually preserve a body for a short time. There are resources available to help you learn to prepare a body at home for burial or cremation. The website of the National Home Funeral Alliance is a good place to start.

What are the legal requirements for embalming a body?

List of Legal Requirements. Embalming is required for bodies with specific communicable diseases in order to be viewed publicly. Funeral homes must embalm, refrigerate, or place in a sealed casket if body is not expected to reach destination within 24 hours, by regulation, not statute – applies to FDs only.

What are the rules for home funerals in Georgia?

If you are interested in holding a home funeral for a loved one who has died, you’ll need to be aware of the laws that apply. Here is an overview of the rules that govern home funerals in Georgia. Do You Need a Funeral Director in Georgia? In all states, it is legal to have your loved one’s body at home after they die.

Is it legal to bury someone at home in Georgia?

There are no state laws in Georgia prohibiting home burial, but local governments may have rules governing private burials. Bibb County, for example, requires all human remains to be buried in authorized cemeteries inside “leak-proof” caskets or vaults. (See the Macon-Bibb County Code of Ordinances §§ 8-29, 8-30.)