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Funerals/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| home burial | 2/9/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: I have 11.5 acres outside of town near Weaverville CA, in trinity County. I read some of the ... A: I know you didn't ask about pets but tho't you'd find it interesting. These are from the Health and ... | ||
| Burial in Alabama | 2/9/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Is it legal to burial a person(family member on your private property or does the state require the ... A: No state laws either allow or prohibit home burial. Check with the local zoning. If you're in a ... | ||
| Private Cemetery Care | 2/6/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: We would like to know how to insure that family cemetery is cared for and protected for future ... A: One must be buried in an "established" cemetery in Indiana. Is there already a cemetery on your ... | ||
| Natural Burial and New Funeral Options | 2/6/2012 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: I am a certified celebrant specializing in funerals in Memphis Tennessee. I would very much like to ... A: Nice to meet you!! Thank you for your inquiry! I can be found in multiple networks; first check ... | ||
| private burial missouri | 2/6/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: When you bury a loved one on your private property in missouri, is a land survey showing the burial ... A: I don't think so. And I'm sure they don't want the responsibility for say mowing. :-) ... | ||
| private burial missouri | 2/6/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: When you bury a loved one on your private property in missouri, is a land survey showing the burial ... A: According to the statutes, land--not to exceed one acre--should be deeded in trust to the county ... | ||
| moving a grave | 2/4/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Is it legal in north carolina to only move the head stone to another location in grave site move. ... A: WOW! Am I hearing right that the cemetery moved only a headstone -- *without* the family's ... | ||
| Memorial Gardens | 2/2/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Our church has a small "memorial garden" with the cremains of approximately 35 members of our ... A: You could certainly use the members of your church, maybe on Memorial Day as a special activity. See ... | ||
| family cemetery | 2/1/2012 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: several questions, can we stop others from being buried in our family cemetery, the cemetery is on ... A: Patricia I will try to answer your questions 1 at a time. I would think that since the cemetery is ... | ||
| caskets | 1/31/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: do you legally have to have a casket for burial in OH-if I were to die at home it would be easier to ... A: No, a casket isn't required for burial by law, but the cemetery might require one. To get ... | ||
| renting a casket | 1/31/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: do they rent casket in Georgia A: There's no law saying they can't rent caskets in GA. Some probably do and some don't, hoping you'll ... | ||
| Natural burial | 1/30/2012 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: I'm wanting to know more about natural burial, and if Kentucky offers a natural burial site. If ... A: it's an old concept newly embraced! It's basically a natural burial; no embalming, no chemicals, ... | ||
| Burial of ashes | 1/28/2012 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: My uncle recently pasted away and my aunt will be bring his ashes back to Illinois (St. Mary's ... A: I am not sure why you would need a full size vault for an urn burial. I assume Full size means a ... | ||
| Missouri burial laws | 1/26/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Do we have to use a funeral home/director in the state of Missouri? I would like to bypass the ... A: Yes, that would be permissible. Go to www.funerals.org--you can download the MO chapter for only $5 ... | ||
| embalming for cremation | 1/25/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My mother is "in hospice" presently, but dying of gall bladder cancer. She is down to 90lbs. We live ... A: Most funeral homes require embalming for any public viewing. The state law is a little muddled on ... | ||
| Moving my daughter | 1/17/2012 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: I just recently lost my 6 month old baby due to complications. She is buried right now in Williams ... A: Andrea Again, B.C. Provincial law may differ from this, but, in Oregon where I practice, the owner ... | ||
| cremation | 1/17/2012 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: I live in Toronto Ontario Canada. My mother is 93 this year and still alive and well. She says that ... A: Ron I am not well versed in the laws & rules concerning disposition of human remains in the Province ... | ||
| Moving my daughter | 1/16/2012 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: I just recently lost my 6 month old baby due to complications. She is buried right now in Williams ... A: Andrea First, how are you doing ? I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now. The death ... | ||
| private family cemetary | 1/11/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: What are the requirements to start a family cemetary on one acre of land? A: Georgia has no laws specifically allowing or prohibiting home burial. If your acre is in a rural ... | ||
| cremation burial | 1/9/2012 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: our family has recently decided to have my father's remains moved from our local cemetery to the ... A: Joyce Placing the marker at the foot end of the grave is uncommon, but is not unheard of. The best ... | ||
| Right to install Grave marker | 1/9/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My wife passed away 3 years ago and is buried along with her father and mother in one of four ... A: In some US states there is a probate court where such issues can be settled without hiring a lawyer, ... | ||
| fetal miscarage | 1/9/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My wife past 7 years ago and was buried in a cemetery. I was just informed that my brother in laws ... A: At five months the state typically requires a fetal death certificate. But because the baby was so ... | ||
| Right to install Grave marker | 1/9/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My wife passed away 3 years ago and is buried along with her father and mother in one of four ... A: How terribly sad for you and your family. I am not that conversant with Canadian law. That said, as ... | ||
| Family Cemetery | 1/6/2012 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Lisa, We have a small family cemetery in rural KY. It is very small (1/2) acre. My question is how ... A: Write them a letter saying that you need to limit burials because of the small size and ask that ... | ||
| disinterment and reburial of father | 12/30/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My father dies in 1978 and now my step mother has died. My father was buried in the town he resided ... A: This is very much a gray area of the law, as the statutes aren't at all specific. A disinterment ... | ||
| Urn disposal | 12/29/2011 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: We have spread my Mom's ashes, but don't know how to dispose of the urn. Seems disrespectful to ... A: June Depending on what the urn is made of (cardboard, plastic, wood, metal, ceramic), my best ... | ||
| Funeral expenses | 12/26/2011 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: My husband was one of 7 children, unfortunately we have had to pay for two of his siblings funerals ... A: Funerals are an expense, unfortunately many of us are not prepared. Someone else usually ends up ... | ||
| Spreading A Veterans Ashes | 12/21/2011 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: I am Fubar with the Viet Nam Veterans Motorcycle Club. The Catholic church in Merrill,Wisconsin ... A: Cremation in the catholic church has been challenging, in 1997 the church made some accepting ... | ||
| cemetery deed | 12/20/2011 | Joseph Lucchese |
| Q: My mom will be cremated and then buried in the same plot that my sister has been buried in for 35 ... A: The cemetery should make some consideration. It's not unusual for deeds to be lost- and not unusual ... | ||
| cemetery plot ownership | 12/17/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: I live in Ohio. My great-grandfather owned 6 plots - 4 of which are used. His son, my grandfather ... A: Who owns the cemetery--a religious group, a municipality, a nonprofit organization, or a for-profit ... | ||
| Cemetery installation fees and additional 'administration' fees | 12/17/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Carlson, I own and operate Midwest Monument Co. in Indianapolis, IN and have provided monument and ... A: Clearly that cemetery (Anderson? Maplewood? I'm guessing) is not only violating the state statute ... | ||
| burial of body | 12/17/2011 | Kellie Gillespie |
| Q: if your are barried in a casket with a steel vault aroung it would worm get in to eat the body ? A: The purpose of the vault is to protect the casket, however there are no guarantees for the ... | ||
| Plot mix up | 12/16/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: my father had purchased 3 plots years ago....2 are already used and the last remaining one is for ... A: If my search is right then this is in Humble or Porter. By *all* means talk to the funeral home ... | ||
| Plot mix up | 12/16/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: my father had purchased 3 plots years ago....2 are already used and the last remaining one is for ... A: Who owns the cemetery? Do you by any chance have a copy of the original purchase documents or deed? ... | ||
| My dads ashes | 12/15/2011 | Erin Phelps |
| Q: My dad passed away last month and my stepmother had him cremated. She said that she would initiate ... A: Kelli Sorry for taking so long in answering. My best advise would be to contact the state agency ... | ||
| How to stop a grave from being moved | 12/8/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My daughters father passed away two years ago, we visit his site often to pay our respects and tell ... A: No, but you might be able to get that information from the cemetery. If he were to be moved from ... | ||
| How to stop a grave from being moved | 12/7/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: My daughters father passed away two years ago, we visit his site often to pay our respects and tell ... A: Who paid for his funeral and the cemetery plot? I'm guessing if you weren't married that his family ... | ||
| dad with cancer | 12/4/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: hi i live in va and my 87 yr dad is living with me when he pases away what is the least cost to ... A: Is there a possibility that cremation would be acceptable? That would be the least expensive. You ... | ||
| Refusal to bury | 11/30/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: Carlson: My father passed away in May, 2011. His mother, sister, brother, and numerous other ... A: Alas, in all states, religious cemeteries are allowed to create their own rules and regulations. I ... | ||
| FAMILY FUNERAL | 11/29/2011 | Lisa Carlson |
| Q: WE ARE HAVEING ALOT OF TROUBLE FINDING OUT ABOUT A FAMILY FUNERAL HERE IN PADUCAH KY THE CORNOR ... A: How wonderful you found a funeral director to work with at a reasonable price. Send him my regards. ... | ||
Funerals
Answers by Expert:
Lisa Carlson
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Funeral Law. Having written a 512-page book on funeral law for consumers with state-by-state information, I am very conversant with consumer rights in this regard: What are the laws on disposition of cremated remains? Is embalming required? Do I have to use a funeral home? Can I have a home wake? Is it a state law to buy a vault? I prepaid for a funeral but changed my mind. They won`t give me all my money back. What can I do? . . . If you have an immediate need for information because a death has just occurred or is about to occur, you may call me at 802-482-6021.
Experience
I have monitored the funeral industry on behalf of consumers for over 20 years. I have been a guest speaker to funeral trade organizations, consumer workshops, and social service professionals. I am regularly consulted by lawyers and legislators as well as journalists.
Organizations
Funeral Ethics Organization (www.funeralethics.org)
Funeral Consumers Alliance (www.funerals.org)
Publications
Caring for Your Own Dead (1987)
Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love (1998)
I Died Laughing: Funeral Education with a Light Touch (2001)
Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death (2011) with co-author Joshua Slocum
Education/Credentials
Masters degree in Administration and Special Education
Past/Present Clients
Available as an expert witness for funeral-related court cases.
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