Having explored the ‘why’ of home funerals, and addressed common questions, we now turn to practicalities and how to solidify your wishes to have one.
How do we bring the idea of having a home funeral to fruition? First, it is essential to write down your wishes and desires for after-death care, and share those wishes with family, friends, and those in your close circle. Larkspur’s Planning Guide can help you discover what is most important to you.
Another critical step is naming a trusted individual to act on your behalf. This person, who will ensure your wishes are followed, can be anyone you trust, regardless of family ties. This type of designation is termed Durable Power of Attorney with rights to disposition, and that person’s decisions supersede all others. This designation can be achieved with the help of an attorney, witnesses, and a notary public before death and while in a sound mental state.
Without a designated decision-maker in legal documents, the law in many areas usually assigns this role to the next of kin. For unmarried couples, it’s crucial to understand that a domestic partner may not have automatic legal rights in these situations. If no family or person acting as such exists, obtaining a court order granting rights to disposition is suggested before proceeding with burial or cremation.
Given these legal considerations, it becomes even more critical to formally designate a person to ensure your wishes are honored through a legal document. Because regulations vary from state to state, you must consult your local home funeral guide, funeral director, or attorney for precise information relevant to your area.
Most people find it valuable to hire a home funeral guide (educator) or funeral director to help before, during, and after a death, like those at Larkspur Conservation. These guides can assist with arranging details or providing information on caring for a body and transporting it to the cemetery for burial. As long as the deceased person is transported in a dignified manner, most states allow for the family to transport their own dead (check with local laws).
One should also keep in mind the weight and specific needs of the deceased ’s body. Resources like Larkspur can provide guidance on transporting a loved one. Larkspur can also recommend a sensitive and helpful funeral director who will accommodate the needs of a family having a home funeral.
As we’ve emphasized throughout this series, you don’t have to navigate this path alone. Home Funeral Guides can become vital to your support network. The guide you choose should be someone who helps you create an experience that truly reflects your wishes and values. Home Funeral Guides also serve as educators within your community, clarifying the possibilities of home-based farewells and addressing logistical challenges.
For example, while death certificates require a funeral director or physician, your guide can leverage their resources to help obtain this crucial document. You can also contact your local health department for more information. They will give specific instructions and inform you of any special requirements for filing a death certificate.
Home-based funerals can be rewarding spiritually and personally and can be a powerful tool in the healing process. Larkspur can provide basic information and guidance to a family conducting a home funeral or will recommend someone who can help. There are many methods and tools to perform a funeral outside the funeral home.
Funeral rituals began at home, and we proudly offer guidance to families who wish to return to this practice. Reclaiming the home funeral is more than just logistics. It’s about connection, healing, and remembering that we can hold each other close even in death. It’s about bringing death home—in the most meaningful and human way possible.
We hope this series has helped open the door to new possibilities and inspired you to explore a more personal, intentional path. You don’t have to do it alone. And you don’t have to do it the way it’s always been done. Larkspur is here to help you find your way.