Family wants to transport body.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jul 24, 2008

Has anyone ever came across this? The family is wanting to transport the body like two hours away in the back of their car. They already have a body bag and everything. Just really odd to me.

?to save cost? i would think you need to check the legality.....

psalm, RN · Jul 24, 2008

I think there are laws about transporting a dead body...I would not release a body to a family member. Let us know, after you find out from your state Board of Health, what the law is, okay?

momtotwo · Jul 24, 2008

I believe the body would have to be embalmed first by a funeral home but then the body can be released to the family for transportation. We did this for my Grandfather. The funeral home gave us a certificate to show if we were stopped by police (which we weren't).

rockchalk_jayhawk · Jul 24, 2008

There are many reasons why a family may want to transport the body themselves. My oldest sister passed unexpectedly of a Berry Aneurysm. She was 43. :cry: She was in a very disfunctional relationship. She had no money nor life insurance. Her husband would not pay for the funeral home to have her body transported back to her hometown, where she requested to be buried by her infant son. The funeral home would do it for a charge of $1500. My sisters and I did go get her and transport her body back home.

But, there are laws regulating when they can do it. I do know to transport across state lines, the body needs to be embalmed. You also need a transit permit from the sending funeral home to the receiving funeral home.

Buckyxj · Jul 25, 2008

I checked into this and they are not crossing state lines so the body doesn't have to be embalmed. They have all the paperwork from the funeral home and have been given the ok by the Hwy patrol. so I guess I learned something new today.

Cindy_A · Jul 25, 2008

So did I! Interesting thread!

tencat · Jul 25, 2008

Very common where I live. Lots of families pop grandma or grandpa in the back of the pickup and take them to the family home for funeral preparation.

mwilder · Aug 2, 2008

I need to know what all I need to do for funeral plans and getting my mom transported to another state without spending a fortune. She is not doing well and I want to be prepared for the "day". :cry:

She has a plot picked out (next to a church) but no pre-arrangements with a funeral home. I have looked at funeral home costs. Goodness!!!!

I am stressed at what all to do and from being a caregiver.

Thank you so much for your input.

Cindy_A · Aug 2, 2008

I would talk to a local funeral home, and they would be able to tell you what you will need to do. It will be much easier if you have things planned ahead of time. There are a variety of caskets, and funeral plans to chose from. Yes, it can be quite expensive. Hopefully, you mom has some life insurance, that will help.

l.m. · May 2, 2011

When my father died at sutter memorial in Sacramento I built his coffin and transported his body back home, about 2 hours away. It was not an easy process getting the permits but not impossible if you are determined. I did it out of respect, my father and i loved our wood projects over the years and the physical aspect of dealing with his body I felt a privilege. At the end my brothers (2) and sisters (2) came to feel the same way, more connected to the reality of death. One of the head nurses at the hospital was a huge help, she actually walked me to the morgue after I had the correct paper work to see his coffin and help me obtain my father. In sacremento you go to the dept. of vital statistics to obtain the permits, the lady there by the end of the day had become quite helpful. I had built my fathers coffin 2" to wide for a vault which is required in most cemeteries to keep the ground from shifting, they waved that in the end which i was very happy about. that's my story, my father was 92 and like Joseph and Jacob I returned my father to his home. lar

tewdles, RN · May 2, 2011

Check your local laws...there are more options available to people than they know. The funeral home industry would like if every one were REQUIRED to use their services, but we are not...there are options.