Glossary
What is home funeral?
A home funeral is one in which the family cares for and keeps the body at home for viewing and ceremony, rather than using a funeral home's facilities. Families may handle some or all arrangements themselves, within what their state's laws allow.
In a home funeral, relatives may wash and dress the body, hold a vigil, and arrange transport, often with guidance from a home-funeral guide, a death doula, or hospice. The practice draws on traditions that predate the modern funeral industry, and families often choose it for its intimacy, lower cost, and the chance to grieve at their own pace.
Embalming is not required for a home funeral. Families instead slow natural changes with refrigeration, dry ice, or other cooling, which suits the short period before burial or cremation. The family still needs the legal paperwork — registering the death and obtaining the permits required to transport the body and authorize final disposition.
How much a family may legally do without a licensed funeral director varies by state. Most states permit families to care for their own dead, but a few require a funeral director's involvement for specific steps, such as signing or filing the death certificate or transporting the body. Checking your state's rules before relying on a home funeral avoids surprises.
Related terms
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is the cooling of a body to slow decomposition while arrangements are made. It is a common alternative to embalming when only a short delay is needed, and many funeral homes offer it instead of or before embalming.
Funeral director
A funeral director is a licensed professional who arranges and oversees funeral, burial, and cremation services. They handle the body, coordinate paperwork such as permits and death certificates, and guide families through the choices involved.
Viewing
A viewing is a gathering, usually before the funeral, where mourners can see the body, often in an open casket, to pay respects and say goodbye. It may involve embalming or refrigeration to prepare and preserve the body for the occasion.
Disposition
Disposition refers to the final handling of a body — most commonly burial, entombment, cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis. The method of disposition is recorded on official paperwork and usually requires authorization from the legal next of kin.
See also
Common questions about Home funeral
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.