Can you keep cremation ashes at home?

Yes, in most jurisdictions there is no law preventing you from keeping cremated remains at home. Some people keep them in an urn in a meaningful room; others store them temporarily while deciding what to do with them. There is no legal requirement to bury, scatter, or otherwise dispose of cremated remains within any time period. However, if you're keeping them in a temporary container from the funeral home (often a plastic bag in a cardboard box), transferring them to an urn or other appropriate container is a thoughtful step.

Do you need a permit to scatter cremation ashes?

It depends on where and how. Scattering at sea (at least 3 nautical miles offshore) requires notifying the EPA within 30 days but no advance permit under federal maritime law. National parks and federal land typically require permission from the park or land manager; policies vary significantly. State parks and beaches vary by state and sometimes by specific location. Private property requires the owner's permission. Scattering in a city or populated area is generally not recommended and may violate local ordinances. Most permits (where required) are free or low-cost and obtained easily.

How long can you keep cremation ashes before scattering them?

Indefinitely — there is no legal time limit and cremated remains do not degrade or pose any health risk. Many families keep ashes for months or years while deciding what to do, or keep them permanently. Some families scatter a portion and keep a portion. Some keep ashes until a significant person or place becomes available for scattering. Take the time you need. The decision doesn't have to be made immediately, and it can be changed — some families divide ashes among multiple options.

Can cremation ashes be divided among family members?

Yes. Cremated remains can be divided among family members — a portion for each person or each option you've chosen. Cremation produces several pounds of ash, more than enough to divide multiple ways. Some families choose to keep a portion at home, scatter a portion at a meaningful location, and have a portion made into memorial jewelry or another keepsake. A funeral home can help with dividing and providing appropriate containers.

What to Do with Cremation Ashes: 15 Meaningful Options

After a cremation, families often find themselves with the ashes and a question they hadn't fully anticipated: what now? There's no single right answer — the options range from traditional interment to deeply personal, unconventional choices that reflect who the person was.

Traditional Options

1. Burial in a cemetery

Cremated remains can be buried in a traditional cemetery, in a dedicated cremation section, or in a columbarium (an above-ground structure with individual niches). This option creates a permanent, visitable memorial site. Some families bury ashes alongside a spouse's remains in an existing plot; others purchase dedicated urns and burial plots or niches.

2. Columbarium or mausoleum niche

A columbarium is a building or wall of niches designed to hold urns. A niche in a columbarium or mausoleum provides a permanent, sheltered location with a marker — similar to a grave, but above ground. Many cemeteries and religious institutions offer columbarium niches. Costs vary widely: from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on location and material.

3. Keep at home

Many families keep ashes at home in an urn — in a place that felt meaningful to the person, near their favorite chair, in the bedroom. This isn't a permanent commitment: ashes can always be moved, scattered, or buried later. Urns range from simple wooden boxes to handcrafted art pieces. Many families choose to keep ashes at home at least temporarily while they grieve and decide.

Scattering Options

4. Scatter at sea

One of the most common choices. Federal maritime law requires scattering at least 3 nautical miles offshore and notifying the EPA within 30 days (a simple online form). No advance permit is required. Charter boats for scattering services are available in most coastal cities. Many families rent a boat themselves. This option is particularly meaningful for people who loved the ocean.

5. Scatter at a meaningful location

A favorite hiking trail, a family's ancestral home, a beloved national park, a childhood neighborhood. Requirements vary: national parks typically require contacting the park in advance; private property requires the owner's permission; many public places are permissive for discreet scattering. Some families scatter a small portion at each significant place rather than all at one location.

6. Garden scattering

Scattering in a private garden — your own or a family member's — is one of the simplest options. Some people incorporate ashes into the soil around a particular plant or tree. In a home garden, no permit is required and the memorial is immediately visible and tended.

7. Aerial scattering

Services exist that scatter ashes from aircraft over a location you specify — a city, a coastline, a geographic feature. Some services use small planes; others offer helicopter options. Cost ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The family typically receives a GPS confirmation and sometimes photos or video of the scattering.

Memorial Keepsake Options

8. Memorial jewelry

A small amount of ash can be incorporated into a piece of jewelry: a glass pendant, a ring with ash-infused resin, a locket, or a diamond made from compressed carbon extracted from the ashes (a process offered by companies like Eterneva and LifeGem). Memorial jewelry gives a tangible, wearable connection to the person. Costs range from $100 for simple glass pendants to $3,000+ for ash-into-diamond processes.

9. Memorial glass or art

Blown glass artists can incorporate a small amount of ash into handmade paperweights, vases, or ornaments — the ash creates a subtle swirl within the glass. Local glass studios and national companies like Heart in Diamond offer this service. Each piece is unique.

10. Memorial portrait or painting

Some artists use a small amount of ash mixed into the paint or canvas to create a portrait or abstract artwork. This creates a piece of art that is also a physical memorial.

11. Memorial reef ball

Eternal Reefs and similar companies incorporate cremated remains into an artificial reef structure — a reef ball — which is placed on the ocean floor to support marine ecosystems. The reef ball serves as both a memorial and a habitat. GPS coordinates are provided; families can dive to visit. Cost ranges from $3,000–$7,500.

Nature-Based Options

12. Living urn / tree planting

Companies like The Living Urn offer biodegradable urns designed to be planted with a tree seedling — the ashes provide nutrients as the tree grows. This creates a living memorial that grows over decades. The tree can be planted in a private garden or a memorial forest.

13. Memorial forest burial

Some memorial forests allow interment of cremated remains — the ashes become part of a protected natural landscape. Similar to conservation burial but for cremated remains.

14. Fireworks

Companies like Heavens Above Fireworks incorporate a portion of ashes into fireworks shells that are launched in a memorial display — a celebration in the sky. Families gather to watch. Cost ranges from $500–$2,500 depending on the scale of the display.

15. Space memorial

Companies like Celestis and Elysium Space offer to launch a symbolic portion of ashes into space — into Earth orbit, to the Moon, into deep space, or on a brief suborbital flight. This is expensive ($1,000–$13,000+) and purely symbolic, but profoundly meaningful for some families and for space enthusiasts.

Dividing Among Options

You don't have to choose just one. Cremation produces several pounds of ash — far more than required for any single option. Many families:

Divide ashes among multiple family members who each keep a portion
Use the majority for scattering and keep a small amount for jewelry
Bury a portion in a cemetery (for those who want a visitable site) and scatter a portion at sea
Plant a memorial tree with most of the ashes and keep a portion at home

Funeral homes can help you divide and provide containers for each portion. Take your time — there's no deadline.

Capturing These Wishes in Advance

One of the kindest things you can do for your family is to document your own wishes before they need to know them. FinalKeepSake includes space to record your preferences for cremation, ash disposition, and memorial arrangements — so your family has clear guidance rather than guesswork at a hard moment.