Life Choices
WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE DIES
Life Choices: Page 21 of 36
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Funeral arrangements: Embalming & cremation
Embalming & cremation | Funeral notices | Benefits payable upon death
Obtaining a death certificate | Military honors | Safety concerns
Embalming
Missouri law does not require embalming in most instances. However, after 24 hours an unembalmed body must be refrigerated or placed in an airtight sealed metal or metal-lined casket or box. For an open casket funeral, you may wish to have the remains embalmed to temporarily preserve the body by replacing bodily fluids with preservative chemicals. State law does require embalming if the person died of a communicable disease and the body is not buried or cremated within 24 hours. Federal law requires a funeral home to obtain authorization before embalming a body.
Cremation
Missouri law allows cremation of a body. A casket is not required for cremation, which may lower your funeral cost. Funeral directors must provide an unfinished wood box or alternative container for cremation.
page 21 of 36
Embalming & cremation | Funeral notices | Benefits payable upon death
Obtaining a death certificate | Military honors | Safety concerns
Get information or file a complaint against a funeral home
Write:
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
3605 Missouri Blvd.
P.O. Box 423
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Call:
573-751-0813
