Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : Death laws in the U.S.

[Webdude]

My wife and I were discussing some things about death. Like she wants to be cremated. I on the other hand, I dont want a casket or preservatives in my viens. I believe I came from this earth, and I should give back to the earth. Dig a hole, dump me in, fill it in.

Now, my wife said she doesnt think we can do that, that at least a simple casket is required. I was wonder if anyone knew more about this. I certainly dont want preservatives inserted into my veins after a lifetime of eating foods with preservatives. I just want my body absorbed naturally by the earth and insects.

Can I do that? If not, why not?

[Quartz]

There are laws that tell you how you are used after death? O_O

[Dan L]

How about becoming a donor?

[Aussie Bob]

Originally Posted by Webdude

. . . I believe I came from this earth, and I should give back to the earth. Dig a hole, dump me in, fill it in.

Preferably after you've died.

[Aussie Bob]

Originally Posted by DanX

How about becoming a donor?

I'm an organ donor. When I'm finished with my organs, they can take whatever they want, if it's going to save the life of someone needing an organ transplant.

[Barti1987]

Nope, in the USA if you want to be buried, you must be put into a casket.

There is no way any cemetery (unless you got connections) would allow you to do that.

Peace,

[stapel]

Originally Posted by Webdude

Can I do that? If not, why not?

I think it depends on where you are (which state in the USA) and what you mean, precisely, by "dig a hole and dump you in". But I'm pretty sure that, at least some places and under certain conditions, yes, you can be buried un-embalmed in a cardboard box.

You might want to consult with a local funeral directory for more information.

Eliz.

[4daggers]

In the U.S. you have to be in a casket or atleast something that is concealed so that you can't easily be dug up by say...an animal.

The reason is probably something to the affect of not wanting to spread disease...or something to that affect.

You could always dump your body at sea......almost the same thing.......

[StackHost]

Originally Posted by azizny

Nope, in the USA if you want to be buried, you must be put into a casket.

There is no way any cemetery (unless you got connections) would allow you to do that.

Peace,

I'm not familiar with burial guidelines in the US, but how do you know this is the case? It seems to me this would be a state by state (city by city even) legislative matter.

Also, do you actually need to be buried in a cemetery OP? If not, just have your family dig a hole on some family property and toss you in. This way the grand children and their grand children can tell stories about the benevolent grandfather always looking over the family lol.

[akashik]

I suppose your state Health Department would be a good place to start. Most of the rules on burial tend to be based around health issues anyway.

[Webdude]

So far I have found that if you have at least 5 acres and it's deemed as estate, you can have a burial plot. Control of the plot means you can be buried there however you wish. However, major public cemetaries do not allow it on their property. Personally I think embalming and casket is un-natural. Actually I feel deep down it is. I mean think about it, how does evolution come about? Maybe a creature lives it's life, then when it dies it goes back to whence it came, from which nature continues to learn from the remains what that creature needs to survive, and puts out the evolution codes into things we eat commonly and such.

We know very little about DNA. It's possible dna continues to live after our death, live in vegetation and other creatures till absorbs byt the creature it was defined for, and releases changes to that creature for it's future offspring for evolutional change. I know it sounds far fetched, but it also used to sound far fetched to believe the earth was round and that it revolved around the sun instead of vice versus.

[grandad]

No "environmentally-friendly" burials in the US?
In the UK you can be buried in bio-degradable caskets.

[jjp-hp]

What you’re asking for is called a green burial. Check this out: http://www.funeralplanning101.com/bu...en-burial.aspx

[Energizer Bunny]

oh darn i never thought about what to do after i die . Life itself is hard enough and your making it harder by thinking about what to do after ur dead . Lighten up after all you would be dead. Well if you want to give back to nature than why not ask your body to be dumped in sea or some place where animals can feed on you ? After all you have been feeding on them for years right?