Can You be Buried Without a Casket

Laws differ between states, but the majority require that people be buried in a casket. These laws do not typically specify what the casket be made of. This allows for a wide variety of options. A casket can be made of biodegradable material like paper, newspaper, cotton, wood pulp, wicker basket, cardboard container, or a traditional pine box. You can also choose to be buried in a simple cloth shroud. Many cemeteries that require burial with a casket also require a burial vault. We recommend that you speak with a burial planning expert or review your state laws to understand your local burial requirements.

Please be aware that in most states it is illegal to independently bury a body, even if it is on your own property. There are multiple elements to consider, such as local zoning laws. If you do follow the correct procedure, mandated by your local government, including notifying all necessary parties and completing all necessary paperwork, you are still required by law to involve a funeral director. It is also important to note that if the deceased died of a contagious disease, it is required that the body be properly embalmed.

A natural burial does not use embalming fluid, a casket, or a burial vault. The deceased is placed directly into the earth. Natural burials allow the deceased to become one with the earth and to give back to nature. Natural burials often don't have typical headstones or memorial benches. Instead, a popular option is to plant a tree or a garden on the burial site as a living remembrance of the loved once. For more information about natural burials, read Natural Burials: Questions & Burial Options.