Glossary
Cremains
Cremains is a common term for cremated remains — the bone fragments left after cremation, processed into a coarse, sandy material. They are returned to the family and can be kept in an urn, buried, scattered, or placed in a niche.
Cremated remains are not ash in the everyday sense; they are mainly processed bone. The volume returned for an adult is typically a few pounds and fits in a standard urn.
What you may legally do with cremains — keeping, burying, scattering on private or public land, or dividing among family — is governed by state and local rules, so it is worth checking before you make plans.
Related terms
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Common questions
- How much do cremated remains weigh?
- For an adult, cremated remains typically weigh a few pounds and fit in a standard urn. The exact amount varies with body size, since the remains are mainly processed bone rather than ash.
- Can I divide cremated remains among family members?
- Often yes. Many families keep a portion, scatter some, and place the rest in keepsake urns or jewelry. What you may legally do is governed by state and local rules, so it is worth confirming before you make plans.
- Can I scatter or bury cremated remains anywhere I like?
- Not always. Keeping, burying, or scattering cremains on private or public land is governed by state and local rules and property owners' permission. Checking the rules for a specific place avoids problems later.
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