Should I Be Embalmed?

The short answer is that embalming is not required by law (in fact, the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Law forbids any funeral home from stating the contrary)... ... If remains are kept in refrigeration until the time of a funeral, disposition of those remains must occur within 5 hours of removal from refrigeration.

How long will a body last if not embalmed?

A body presents little threat to public health in the first day following the death. However, after 24 hours the body will need some level of embalming. A mortuary will be able to preserve the body for approximately a week. Regardless of the embalming, decomposition will begin after one week.

Is embalming necessary?

When is embalming required? Embalming is rarely required by law. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission and many state regulators require that funeral directors inform consumers that embalming is not required except in certain special cases. Embalming is mandated when a body crosses state lines from Alabama and Alaska.