There is no property in a dead body, or put another way, nobody can claim ownership of a body. The individual entitled to possession of the body is the person under the duty to dispose of the body. A crematorium authority will need to hand over the ashes to the person who delivered the body for cremation.
Who legally owns the cremated ashes? This is typically left to the deceased executor, on the condition that the deceased did leave a valid and complete Will. Important to note: As followed by the law a cohabiting partner or stepchildren do not figure into the above.
After the expiration of the five-year timeline and a recipient hasn't been located, a funeral director may scatter the ashes at a chosen crematorium or an appropriate location such as a cemetery or land with the owner's permission.
It is legal to scatter ashes anywhere on your own private land. If this is not the case, you will need the landowner's permission.
Your loved one's ashes don't have to stay together either. Families can choose to split the ashes of the deceased among the wider family, where the individual families can choose what they want to do with them.
Cremation occurs at such a hot temperature all micro-organisms are destroyed, and the remaining ashes are inert. After cremation there are no public health risks associated with handling ashes.
Ceramic, Metal, or Glass Urns
If it doesn't come off with slight pressure on the lid, soak a cotton swab in acetone or epoxy solvent and run it along the seal. Repeat as needed. Note, a rubber mallet can also be used to help loosen the lid. Lay a cloth atop the lid and lightly tap the lid to help loosen the sealed urn.
Yes, you can take ashes to Australia. There are multiple options available to you: Ashes can be taken in your carry-on or hold luggage on many airlines.
There are no requirements for importing human ashes into Australia. There are requirements however, in relation to the container used to hold the ashes. It should be free from contaminants such as soil, and containers made from wood must be declared to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on arrival.
Ultimately, the executor has the final say over what happens to the ashes and is well within their rights to “distribute” the ashes to themselves. Despite this, Australian courts do have an implied power to order an executor to dispose of ashes in a particular way, and have done so.
How long do cremated ashes last? In theory, cremated ashes can last forever. Some funeral homes have ashes from the 19th Century that are still in their urns, and archeologists have been known to discover ashes that are thousands of years old.
Are coffins sold back to the funeral director for re-use? No. The coffin and the body inside are cremated together. There are occasions where the deceased or the family of the deceased has opted for using a cardboard coffin in which their loved one will be cremated.
Items that are not safe for the water or marine life are not permitted. What happens to ashes scattered at sea? Human ashes are like sand and they do not float. They will not dissolve in the water; instead, they will descend into the ocean until they hit the floor.
The right to possess the ashes is likely to be “the executor*, or whoever was at the charge of the funeral” or basically the person who signed the contract with the funeral director. This tends to be the bill payer – if you paid the bill the chances are you signed the contract.
But those who prefer a less traditional memorial can choose to have their voice echo through the ages by having their ashes pressed into a vinyl record. And Vinyly is a United Kingdom-based company that provides planning services for people who choose to immortalize themselves through music, voice, or other sounds.
Divide the ashes
If your family cannot decide or agree on what to do with your loved one's cremation ashes, it's perfectly acceptable to divide them up and do several different things. This can be a great way to fulfil the wishes of the deceased and those who are mourning the death.
Perhaps your loved one was a keen fisher or had an affinity with the ocean or beach? You generally don't need permission to scatter cremated ashes at most Australian beaches or coastlines. However, you will need to comply with local environmental protection authority guidelines.
For domestic travel, the TSA allows you to bring cremated remains onto the plane either in your carry on or in your checked luggage. You should carry a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the Disposition Permit, which will be given to you when you receive the cremated remains from our office.
Ashes (cremated remains) may be carried as checked or carry-on baggage. Ensure that the container used to hold the ashes is free from contaminants such as soil.
Customs declarations, packing and insurance are included. Prices start at £1195 GBP or $1495 USD - based on shipments from our UK headquarters. SpeedLink can arrange for a timed collection service from any UK address for an additional charge. This service is ideal for many reasons.
Ashes must always be secured in an urn or otherwise sealed and safe receptacle that can be transported. This will be a requirement for any postal service that you wish to send your ashes through. Auspost allows the transportation and sending of ashes but they do prefer you to use registered post.
Human ashes may be carried as checked or carry-on baggage. Passengers travelling with human ashes require an official document from the crematorium confirming contents. Ensure that the container used to hold the ashes is free from contaminants such as soil. The container must be sealed properly to stop any leakage.
You may see that the urn's lid can be unscrewed from the base. If it seems as if the lid does not come off after applying gentle pressure, this may mean that a silicone, wax, or another type of adhesive is sealing the urn.
We will attempt to walk you through the process by giving you a guide based on the type of cremation urn you have in your possession. Before we begin, some people ask, “is it illegal to open an urn?” We can assure you that it is perfectly legal to open an urn. Cremated remains are considered sterile.
While it will not always be necessary to permanently seal an urn, this could be an option depending on where you are planning to keep your urn. If you would like to permanently seal your urn we would recommend silicone sealant or epoxy glue for most urns and metal glue for plated or metallic urns.