Transporting a Body Across State Lines: What You Need to Know

If you're reading this, you're likely dealing with one of life's most difficult moments. Whether handling arrangements after a sudden loss or planning ahead for your family, the practical details of moving a loved one across state lines can feel overwhelming.

This guide offers clear, practical information to help you know what to expect and what questions to ask. It's educational information only—not legal or financial advice. Laws vary significantly by state and sometimes by county, so confirm specifics with licensed professionals in the relevant jurisdictions.

Quick Answers for Urgent Situations

Is it legal to transport a body across state lines?
Yes, generally. But there's no single federal rulebook. Each state sets its own requirements for permits, preparation, and documentation.

What paperwork do I absolutely need?
Two documents are non-negotiable: a certified death certificate from the state where death occurred, and a burial transit permit (sometimes called a disposition or removal permit) from the local health department or registrar.

Can our family transport the body ourselves?
Sometimes, for ground transport, depending on your state's rules. Air transport requires a licensed funeral home with special TSA approval. Even when ground transport is legally possible, the logistics—permits, containers, timing, and getting a destination facility to accept the remains—make professional help the more practical choice for most families.

How long does this usually take?
Most interstate transfers take 24 to 72 hours from the time of legal pronouncement of death. Delays happen due to paperwork timing, weekend closures, or airline cargo scheduling.

What will this cost?
Ground transport typically runs $2 to $5 per loaded mile. Air transport ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 or more for domestic flights, plus funeral home coordination fees. Embalming adds $500 to $1,200 if required. Total costs often land between $2,000 and $5,000 or higher.

Why the Rules Feel So Confusing

There's no comprehensive federal law governing interstate body transport in the United States. Each state controls what happens within its borders and what it requires for remains entering or leaving.

Federal agencies play limited roles. The Federal Aviation Administration oversees air transport through hazardous materials regulations. The Department of Transportation sets rules that professional ground carriers must follow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues guidelines for handling remains when certain infectious diseases are involved.

For most families, the takeaway is simple: your funeral director navigates these federal layers while state and local requirements drive the actual process.

The Typical Process: What to Expect

Legal Pronouncement and Release
A qualified person—doctor, hospice nurse, medical examiner, or coroner—must legally pronounce the death before anything else can proceed.

Decide on Final Disposition Location
You need to know where the final burial or cremation will occur. This decision affects which funeral homes you'll work with and what each state's rules require.

Engage Two Funeral Homes
Interstate transport almost always involves two funeral homes: a sending or forwarding home near the place of death, and a receiving home near the final destination. The sending home handles preparation and departure. The receiving home handles arrival and final arrangements.

Prepare the Paperwork
The sending funeral home files the death certificate with local vital records and obtains certified copies. They also apply for the burial transit permit from the local health department. This permit authorizes the body to leave the state. You'll likely need multiple certified death certificates for estate matters, insurance claims, and other administrative tasks.

Prepare the Body for Transport
Requirements vary. Some states require embalming for interstate transport. Others accept refrigeration or a sealed container if final disposition occurs within 24 to 48 hours. Airlines typically require embalming. The body must be placed in a leak-proof container that meets carrier standards.

The Transport Itself
For ground travel, a funeral home vehicle or contracted transport service makes the trip. For air travel, the sending funeral home—registered as a TSA known shipper—coordinates with the airline's cargo department.

Receiving and Final Arrangements
The receiving funeral home takes custody upon arrival, verifies paperwork, and either holds the remains in refrigeration or proceeds with burial or cremation plans.

Required Paperwork Explained

Certified Death Certificate
This official document includes the deceased's personal information and certified cause of death. Funeral directors typically order certified copies from the vital records office when they file the death certificate. In Texas, you must file within ten days of death. In California, within eight calendar days. Processing times vary, so ask about same-day availability.

Burial Transit Permit
This is the travel authorization for the remains. Issued by the local health department or registrar where death occurred, it verifies the death was recorded and the body is safe to move. The permit must accompany the remains during transport.

Other Possible Documents
Depending on circumstances, you might need an embalming certificate or a letter confirming the deceased did not die from a contagious disease. Your funeral director will know what's required for your specific situation.

Preparation Requirements: Embalming, Refrigeration, and Containers

Embalming Rules Vary
There's no federal embalming requirement for interstate transport. However, Alabama, Alaska, and New Jersey explicitly require embalming when a body crosses state lines. Many other states allow alternatives like refrigeration if disposition occurs within 24 to 48 hours. But if you're using an airline or train, those companies often require embalming regardless of state law. Always verify both origin and destination state rules, plus carrier policies.

Refrigeration as an Alternative
When state law permits, refrigeration can preserve remains for short periods. Costs typically run $50 to $100 per day. Florida, for instance, requires refrigeration at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for remains held more than 24 hours after death unless embalmed.

Container Standards
Remains must be transported in a leak-proof, sealed container that prevents fluid seepage and odor escape. For air travel, this means a sealed casket placed inside a sturdy outer shipping case. Your funeral director selects appropriate containers based on transport method and legal requirements.

Transportation Options and Realistic Expectations

Ground Transport
For distances up to a few hundred miles, ground transport is often the most cost-effective option. Costs typically range from $2 to $5 per loaded mile, and because the vehicle must return to its origin, round-trip mileage usually applies.

Families sometimes ask about driving the body themselves. While a few states technically permit this with proper permits and containers, most find it impractical. You must ensure the destination funeral home or cemetery will accept remains not delivered by a licensed provider—many will not.

Air Transport
For longer distances, air cargo is the practical choice. Only funeral homes registered as TSA known shippers can arrange these shipments directly with airlines. Families cannot call an airline and book cargo space for human remains.

Air transport costs typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 for domestic flights, not including funeral home handling fees. While you can often travel on the same flight, the remains travel in the cargo hold in a specialized container.

Cremation First, Then Transport
If cremation aligns with your family's wishes, this simplifies interstate transport significantly. Cremated remains are sterile and pose no public health concerns. The United States Postal Service is the only carrier authorized to ship cremated remains domestically, with costs typically $25 to $35 for Priority Mail Express service. This option eliminates embalming, refrigeration, and many permit complexities.

Cost Breakdown: Where Your Money Goes

Understanding typical costs helps you ask informed questions and compare quotes.

Sending Funeral Home Services
Basic fees cover administrative work, death certificate filing, permit applications, and coordination. These service fees often range from $730 to $3,000. Some funeral homes offer a forwarding remains package that bundles pickup, basic services, embalming if required, and airport delivery.

Preparation and Transport Costs
Embalming typically costs $500 to $1,200 when required. Refrigeration runs $50 to $100 per day. Container costs vary from basic shipping containers to specialized air trays or caskets costing $500 to $3,000. Ground transport costs $2 to $5 per loaded mile. Air transport ranges from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on distance and airline.

Receiving Funeral Home Fees
The destination funeral home charges for receiving remains, local transport from airport, and holding in refrigeration if needed. Expect charges similar to local transfer rates: $200 to $500 for pickup, plus any service fees.

Managing Costs
Call multiple funeral homes for itemized quotes. Ask specifically about forwarding remains packages, which often cost less than individual services priced separately. If religion or personal preference permits, cremation first substantially reduces costs.

Your Practical Checklist

When you're ready to move forward, this sequence helps organize your next steps:

• Identify the legal next-of-kin and the preferred location for final disposition
• Contact a funeral home near where the death occurred and explain you need forwarding remains services for interstate transport
• Contact a funeral home near the destination to confirm they can receive the remains
• Provide both funeral homes with the deceased's information and required authorization forms
• Ask the sending funeral home to confirm preservation requirements based on transport method and destination state rules
• Get a written, itemized estimate that includes all services, preparation, and transport costs
• Confirm the timeline: when permits will be ready, when transport will occur, and when the receiving funeral home expects arrival

Common Questions Families Ask

How many death certificates should I order?
Most families need at least five to ten certified copies for estate matters, insurance, and banking.

Can I accompany my loved one on the same flight?
Often yes. Most airlines will accommodate bereavement travel on the same flight as the remains, though seating isn't guaranteed.

What if the death was from an infectious disease?
CDC guidelines may apply. Funeral directors coordinate with health officials to ensure safe handling, which may involve cremation or special containment.

What happens if paperwork isn't ready in time?
Incomplete personal information or weekend office closures can delay processing. Building a small buffer into your timeline expectations reduces stress.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Interstate body transport involves three consistent elements: proper documentation, appropriate preparation, and professional coordination. While requirements vary by state, these pillars remain the same.

You don't need to memorize every regulation. You need a licensed funeral director who understands the rules in both the origin and destination states. They handle the permits, coordinate with carriers, and ensure the destination facility will accept the remains.

Start by calling a funeral home where the death occurred, explain your situation, and ask them to walk you through the forwarding remains process. They'll know what the destination state requires and how to get your loved one there safely and legally.

This information is for educational purposes to help you understand the landscape. Laws change, and each situation has unique factors. Always confirm details with licensed funeral professionals and local health authorities in the relevant states.