A burial permit is a required document to be acquired before a body can be buried or cremated. The requirements differ slightly depending on the form of disposition, but the person responsible for burial or cremation cannot proceed without receiving a burial permit. A burial permit can be obtained after a death certificate has been issued and any other state and local requirements have been followed. Typically, a funeral director obtains a burial permit. However, depending on the state, a burial permit can be obtained through the office of vital statistics, another health department agent or clerk, or a licensed funeral director. Some states (like New York) require a funeral director to manage this process, even for at home burials. The burial permit often includes key information identifying the person being buried, the place of burial, and entity responsible for burial.
[Last updated in September of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]