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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Death and Dying > Funerals > Transport of cremated remains to Germany from the U.S and final disposition
Funerals - Transport of cremated remains to Germany from the U.S and final disposition
Expert: Lisa Carlson - 10/30/2009
Question
Hi Lisa,
I was appointed the personal representative of my good friend's estate when he passed away this past April. Although he immigrated to the United States as a small boy and lived in New York for all of his adult life and served in the U.S. military he was born in Germany. There are several friends and family members that recollect him saying that upon his death he wanted to be returned to the small German town he was born in and have his ashes disbursed in a public park that he was fond of. What kinds of difficlties can I expect to encounter in executing his wishes? The plan is to have a family friend travel with the remains and carry out the final disposition. Is it necessary to notify the airline or any authority in either the U.S. or Germany in advance? Is it likely that we will be violating German national (or possibly a local town law for that matter) by traveling through Germany and then scattering the ashes in a public area?
Thank you in advance for your time and effort in responding to this inquiry.
Answer
I am not at all familiar with German laws in this regard. I do know that Germany will not ship cremated remains to a family member, only a funeral director, so I'm guessing they may be somewhat restrictive in other ways compared to our laws in the U.S.
If the cremated remains are in a cardboard, plastic, or ceramic container--NOT metal--then you should have no problem going thro' airline security scanners. Better to carry on, not check. Since they do occasionally pull out a few for more thorough inspection, it would be a good idea to have a copy of the death certificate and cremation authorization along with you.
I suspect the idea of scattering may not be as typical in Germany as it is here, so I would follow the "don't ask, don't tell" philosophy. Just remember that cremated remains tend to be stark white and a bit like aquarium gravel, not the gray dust from the bottom of your fireplace. You might see if you could plant something in his memory in the park, and then add your own "bonemeal" in the process. That might be nice. Good luck.
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