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

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.

Working With the Originating Funeral Home