Category: Funeral Homes

Funeral homes have their own work: caring for families, preparing services and meeting legal obligations. Shipping an occasional case, particularly an international one, pulls staff away from that work. Many funeral directors choose to partner with a shipping specialist for that reason.

Key takeaways

• A shipping specialist takes the logistics off the funeral home so staff can focus on families.
• The funeral home stays responsible for care and for the documents the law assigns to it.
• Funeral homes can start with a single case and decide from there.

Fewer unfamiliar procedures

International shipments involve consulates, translations, airline cargo departments and destination-country rules that a funeral home may encounter only a few times a year. A specialist handles those regularly and knows where problems tend to arise.

Documents handled in one place

A coordinator tracks what is needed, checks that names and dates match across documents, and tells the funeral home what is still outstanding. This reduces rework.

Carrier relationships and routing

A specialist deals with airlines and ground transport providers regularly, and we confirm which carriers accept remains on a given route, along with their cut-off times and container requirements.

Clear communication with the family

The family hears from one coordinator who knows the plan, and the funeral home is not pulled into answering questions about airline schedules or consular fees. The funeral home remains the family’s trusted point of contact for care and services.

Specialties

We ship worldwide and specialize in the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe, and in domestic shipments from and to Florida and across the United States. See Domestic Human Remains Shipping and International Repatriation.

What we do not do

We do not replace the funeral home. The funeral home remains responsible for the care and preparation of the deceased and for the documents that the law assigns to it. Our role is coordination.

Getting started

To see how we work, read How Funeral Homes Can Request a Shipping Quote, then reach out through the Funeral Home Partners page.

In-house versus partnering: a comparison

Consideration	Handling shipping in-house	Partnering with a specialist
Staff time	Absorbed by the funeral home	Shifted to the coordinator
International knowledge	Built case by case	Maintained across many cases
Consular follow-up	Done by the funeral home	Coordinated by the specialist
Carrier contacts	Established as needed	Ongoing
Family communication	All from the funeral home	Shared with the coordinator
Responsibility for care	Funeral home	Funeral home

How a partnership typically works

• The funeral home sends the case details.
• We confirm requirements and provide a quote.
• The funeral home prepares the remains to the carrier’s requirements.
• We coordinate documents, transport and the receiving side.
• Both of us keep the family informed.

Keeping the funeral home’s relationship with the family intact

The funeral home remains the family’s trusted point of contact for care, services and the funeral. Our role is to take the shipping logistics off its plate, not to replace it. We communicate with families in a way that points back to the funeral home for matters that belong to it.

What a funeral director should look for in a partner

• Clear communication and a named point of contact.
• Experience with the destinations the funeral home needs.
• Honest estimates and no promises that cannot be kept.
• Respect for the funeral home’s relationship with the family.
• Availability when emergencies arise, including nights and weekends.

Starting small

A funeral home does not need to commit to anything to try the service. Many begin with a single case, see how communication works and decide from there. Reach out through the partner page and tell us a little about your funeral home and the destinations you most often see.

Questions a funeral director might ask us

• Which destinations do you handle most often?
• How do you keep my staff and the family informed?
• Who is responsible for each document?
• How do you handle a missed flight or a rejected document?
• What terms apply to funeral home partners?

We are happy to answer these directly. Call us or send a professional inquiry, and we will respond with specifics for your funeral home and the cases you typically see.

Frequently asked questions

Do you charge funeral homes a fee?

Ask us about terms for funeral home partners.

Can we keep our own pricing?

The funeral home sets its own prices for its services. Our quote covers coordination and transport.

Who is responsible if something goes wrong?

Responsibilities are set out in the agreement for the case. Ask us for the terms.

Do you only work on international cases?

No. We also coordinate domestic shipments.

How do we get started?

Use the professional inquiry form or call 786-565-9525.

Do you work with small, family-owned funeral homes?

We work with funeral homes of all sizes.

Will you contact my families directly?

Only as you ask. We follow the funeral home’s lead on family communication.

Can we use you only for international cases?

Yes. You can send us the cases where you want help and handle the rest yourselves.

Do you handle the paperwork the law assigns to the funeral home?

No. The funeral home remains responsible for its own documents. We track them and coordinate the rest.

Keep reading

• How Funeral Homes Can Request a Shipping Quote
• Working With the Originating Funeral Home
• Working With the Receiving Funeral Home

Need help?

Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our funeral home partner services services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.

Funeral directors often need a fast answer on shipping. A complete request lets us respond with an accurate quote and a realistic plan the first time. Here is what to include.

Key takeaways

• A complete request lets us respond with an accurate quote the first time.
• Name, place and date of death, destination and target dates are the essentials.
• For urgent cases, call instead of using the form.

The essentials

• Name of the deceased as it appears on the death certificate.
• Date and place of death, and the current location of the remains.
• Destination: city and country, or city and state, and the receiving funeral home if known.
• Target dates, including the funeral or burial date if one is set.
• Disposition plan: burial, entombment or cremation, and whether cremation is before or after transport.
• Preparation status: whether embalming has been done or is planned.
• Documents in hand: death certificate status and burial-transit permit status.

Helpful extras

• The funeral home’s contact person and a number that is answered after hours.
• The family contact’s name and phone number.
• Any container or casket already selected.
• Notes on religion or cultural requirements that affect handling.

How to send it

Use the professional inquiry form or call 786-565-9525. If the matter is urgent, call and tell us up front; we will take the details by phone and follow up in writing.

What you will get back

We respond with the documents we expect to be needed, any destination-specific requirements we can identify, the likely routing and a quote. Where information is missing, we say so rather than guess.

Why completeness matters

Missing or mismatched details, such as a different spelling of a name or an unconfirmed destination funeral home, are the most common causes of avoidable delay. For a checklist of documents, see Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains. To learn about working together, read Why Funeral Homes Partner With a Shipping Specialist.

Quote request checklist

Field	Example	Required?
Name of the deceased	As on the death certificate	Yes
Date and place of death	City, state, date	Yes
Current location of remains	Funeral home name and city	Yes
Destination	City and country, or city and state	Yes
Receiving funeral home	Name and phone, if known	Helpful
Target dates	Funeral or burial date	Helpful
Burial or cremation	Plan and timing	Yes
Embalming status	Done, planned or unknown	Helpful
Document status	Certificate and permit status	Helpful

Common reasons a quote takes longer

• The destination is unclear or may change.
• The receiving funeral home has not been chosen.
• The disposition plan, burial or cremation, is undecided.
• Key details such as the legal name are unconfirmed.

Urgent cases

If a funeral date is close, call instead of using the form and tell us that it is urgent. We will gather the details by phone and tell you at once what is realistic.

How funeral directors can speed things up

Keep a standard intake sheet that includes the fields above and send it with every request. Include a direct phone number for the person handling the case, and note if the case is urgent. If you have already spoken with the family about the destination and the receiving funeral home, include those details. A complete request means we can start on the documents and the airline immediately.

After you send the request

We will reply with the questions we still have, the documents we expect to need and the estimated route. If you have a deadline, such as a viewing or a funeral date, tell us so that we can say honestly whether it is realistic.

Sample message to send with a request

A short, complete message works well: name of the deceased as on the certificate; date and place of death; the funeral home and its contact; destination city and country; receiving funeral home if known; target date; burial or cremation; embalming status; document status; and the best number to reach you. If any item is unknown, write unknown. It is better to send what you have than to wait for a complete picture, and we will tell you what else we need.

Frequently asked questions

How fast do you reply to a quote request?

We respond as quickly as we can and our line is open at all hours for urgent matters.

Is the quote binding?

Ask for the terms in writing. A quote is based on the information provided and can change if the facts change.

Do funeral homes pay a different rate?

Ask us about arrangements for funeral home partners.

Can I send documents with my request?

Yes, if you have them. Do not send sensitive documents by unsecured means; ask us how to share them safely.

Do you work with funeral homes outside Florida?

Yes. We coordinate shipments from and to funeral homes across the United States.

Can I send a request after hours?

Yes, call or use the form. Our line is open 24 hours a day.

Do you need the family’s permission to speak with them?

We work through the funeral home and the family as you direct. Tell us whom to contact.

Keep reading

• Working With the Originating Funeral Home
• Why Funeral Homes Partner With a Shipping Specialist
• Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains

Need help?

Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our funeral home partner services services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.

At the end of a shipment, someone must be ready to receive the person, complete local procedures and carry out the family’s wishes. That is the receiving funeral home, and its readiness often decides whether the arrival goes smoothly.

Key takeaways

• The receiving funeral home clears the shipment, handles local rules and arranges the funeral.
• Give it the flight details, documents and family contact before the flight is booked.
• Ask how the remains will travel from the airport to the final resting place.

What the receiving home does

• Confirms in advance that it will receive the shipment and gets the flight details.
• Meets the shipment at the airport or cargo facility.
• Completes local formalities, which may include customs, health clearances and local permits.
• Prepares for the funeral, viewing, burial or cremation according to the family’s wishes and local law.

What it needs from us

The receiving home needs the flight and airway bill details, the arrival time and airport, copies of the documents, and the name of the family contact. Sending these promptly and accurately avoids delays at arrival.

Choosing a receiving funeral home

Often the family already has a funeral home or a trusted contact at the destination. If not, we can help you identify options, though the family should make the final choice. Ask the home about its experience receiving international shipments, its fees, and its availability on the expected arrival date.

Local rules apply

The receiving country, and often the local municipality, sets rules for burial, cremation and cemetery access. The receiving funeral home knows these and will tell the family what applies. In several of our most common destinations, such as the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe, practice and timing differ from what families may expect in the United States.

Communicate early

Contact the receiving home before the flight is booked, not after. This way any requirement it raises can be built into the plan. For the full sequence, read How International Repatriation from Florida Works, and for the departure side, see Working With the Originating Funeral Home.

Information the receiving funeral home needs

Item	Why it matters
Name of the deceased	To match the documents.
Flight and airway bill details	To locate the shipment.
Arrival date, time and airport	To plan the pickup.
Copies of documents	For local clearance and records.
Family contact	To arrange the funeral.
Special requests	To honor religious or cultural needs.

Arrival-day tips

• Confirm the time with the airline before leaving for the airport.
• Bring identification and the original documents requested.
• Ask the airline cargo office what the release procedure is.
• Keep the family informed of the arrival and next steps.

When the airport is far from the final resting place

In many countries, the arrival airport is not near the town where the burial will take place. The receiving funeral home may arrange a second leg by road. Ask how long it will take and whether any local approvals are required for moving remains within the country.

Before the shipment leaves

Before the flight is booked, the receiving funeral home should confirm that it can receive on the expected date, tell us what documents it needs and share its fees. If the family has special requests, such as a viewing or a service on arrival, they should be discussed at this point so that the timing works.

After arrival

After the shipment is received, the receiving funeral home arranges the funeral or burial according to the family’s wishes and local law. Ask for confirmation of arrival and keep copies of any receipts and records. If the family is traveling, coordinate their schedule with the funeral home.

Questions to ask the receiving funeral home

• Are you licensed to receive shipments of this kind in your country?
• What documents do you need before the shipment arrives?
• What are your fees and what do they include?
• How will the shipment be moved from the airport to your facility?
• What are the local rules for burial or cremation, and how long do they take?
• Whom should the family call on arrival day?

If the family does not speak the local language, ask whether someone at the funeral home speaks yours, or whether a relative can help interpret.

Frequently asked questions

What if we do not know a funeral home at the destination?

Tell us. We can help you find options, though the final choice should be the family’s.

Can a relative receive the shipment instead of a funeral home?

In some countries yes, in others a licensed funeral home is required. Check local rules.

Who pays the receiving funeral home?

The family, typically directly.

Do you speak to the receiving funeral home for us?

Yes, we coordinate with them on logistics.

What happens if the funeral home is not ready on arrival?

That is why we confirm in advance. A late change can cause delay and extra cost.

Who coordinates between the two funeral homes?

We do, so that both are working from the same plan.

What if the family wants a service at the airport?

Ask the receiving funeral home whether it is possible under local rules and airline procedures.

Keep reading

• Working With the Originating Funeral Home
• How International Repatriation from Florida Works, Step by Step
• Repatriation to the Caribbean: General Considerations
• Repatriation to Latin America: What Families Should Prepare

Need help?

Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our funeral home partner services services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.

The originating funeral home is the one that receives the deceased into care at the place of death. In a shipment, it does the preparation and provides much of the paperwork, so a good working relationship with it is essential.

Key takeaways

• The originating funeral home prepares the remains and provides much of the paperwork.
• A coordinator handles the shipping side so the family has one consistent plan.
• Ask for the General Price List and keep copies of every record.

What the originating home does

• Receives the deceased into care and prepares them for transport.
• Obtains or helps file key documents. In Florida, the funeral director who first takes custody obtains the burial-transit permit before final disposition and within five days after death.
• Supplies the container or works with the shipping provider on the right one.
• Releases the remains to the carrier or transport provider at pickup.

What a shipping coordinator adds

We coordinate with the funeral home on the timeline, the container, the documents and the pickup, so that the family has one consistent plan. We tell the funeral home what the airline and destination require, and we tell the family what the funeral home is doing, so that no one has to relay messages.

Choosing the funeral home

The family may choose the funeral home, and may ask a coordinator for suggestions if they have no preference. Ask for the General Price List and confirm whether the home has experience preparing remains for air transport and international destinations.

Good communication habits

• Share information early, including the destination and target dates.
• Confirm who is responsible for each document.
• Keep a single point of contact on each side.
• Confirm pickup time and location in writing.

If you are a funeral director

We work with funeral homes and funeral directors across Florida and nationwide. See How Funeral Homes Can Request a Shipping Quote and Why Funeral Homes Partner With a Shipping Specialist.

The other end of the journey

The funeral home at the destination has its own role, covered in Working With the Receiving Funeral Home.

Division of responsibility

Task	Originating funeral home	Shipping coordinator
Care of the deceased	Yes	No
Preparation and container	Yes, to the carrier’s requirements	Confirms requirements
Death certificate and permit	Yes, through the proper offices	Tracks and checks
Consular paperwork	Provides documents	Coordinates the process
Airline booking	No	Yes
Updates to the family	Care and service matters	Shipping progress

What to bring to the first meeting with the funeral home

• Identification for the person who has died, if available.
• Any pre-arranged funeral plan or insurance information.
• The destination details and the receiving funeral home, if known.
• A list of the family’s wishes and any religious requirements.

Preparing for questions you will be asked

Expect questions about the destination, the date of the funeral, burial or cremation, and the container. If you do not know an answer, say so; the funeral home and the coordinator can work through it with you.

Pickup day

On the day of shipping, the remains are released from the funeral home to the transport provider or delivered to the airline cargo facility. Documents travel with the remains. The funeral home should confirm the time of release, who is collecting and what paperwork is handed over. A short message to the coordinator once the remains have left the funeral home helps us update the family and the receiving side.

After the shipment

Once the remains have arrived, the originating funeral home may be asked for additional copies of documents or for confirmation of services. Keep records of what you provided and when. If the family wants to ask questions about the preparation, the funeral home is the right place to start.

Records worth keeping

Ask the funeral home for copies of the General Price List, the signed contract, the death certificate, the burial-transit permit and any embalming or preparation record. Keep them with the shipping documents. If a question arises later from an airline, a consulate or an insurer, these records answer it quickly. If the family needs to claim insurance or benefits, they will also need certified copies of the death certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pick any funeral home?

In general, yes. Choose one that you trust and that has experience with the kind of shipment you need.

Does the funeral home arrange the flight?

Some do, but many work with a shipping coordinator who specializes in this.

Who pays the funeral home?

The family, under the terms of the funeral home’s contract.

What if the funeral home has never shipped internationally?

A coordinator can tell the funeral home what is needed, but experience matters. Ask.

Can you recommend funeral homes?

We can suggest funeral homes we work with, though the choice is yours.

Can the funeral home refuse to prepare remains for shipping?

A funeral home decides which services it offers. Ask early whether it can prepare remains for your route.

Does the family stay in contact with the funeral home during shipping?

Yes, for matters of care and service. The coordinator handles shipping logistics.

Can the originating funeral home also handle the receiving side?

Only if it has a relationship at the destination. Usually a separate funeral home or family contact receives the shipment.

Keep reading

• Working With the Receiving Funeral Home
• How Funeral Homes Can Request a Shipping Quote
• Why Funeral Homes Partner With a Shipping Specialist

Sources

• Florida Statutes section 382.006: Burial-transit permit

Need help?

Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our funeral home partner services services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.