What to Do with Ashes After Cremation: 10 Options for Families

After cremation, there is no rush to decide what to do with the ashes. Some families know right away. Others take weeks, months, or even years. There are many options, and choosing more than one is common. Here are 10 meaningful ways families honor their loved ones.

Keeping Ashes at Home

Keeping the urn at home is the most common choice. There is no law against it in any US state. Many families choose a decorative urn and display it on a mantel, bookshelf, or in a dedicated space. Others prefer a simple container kept privately. The ashes are yours to keep for as long as you wish.

Scattering Ashes

Scattering is popular for families who want to return their loved one to a place that was meaningful to them. Common locations include the ocean, a mountain trail, a garden, or a family property.

Legal considerations: Federal law allows scattering at sea at least 3 nautical miles from shore. National parks generally require a written permit. Many state and local parks allow scattering but may have rules about notification or location. Private property requires the landowner's permission. Always check local regulations first.

Burial Options for Cremated Remains

• Cemetery burial: Many cemeteries offer urn plots or columbarium niches specifically for cremated remains, often at a fraction of the cost of a traditional burial plot.
• Green burial: Cremated remains can be buried in a biodegradable urn in a green cemetery or natural burial ground.
• Companion burial: Some families choose to bury the urn in an existing family plot alongside a previously buried loved one.

Memorial Keepsakes

• Cremation jewelry: Small pendants or rings that hold a tiny portion of ashes, allowing family members to carry their loved one with them.
• Memorial diamonds: Companies can compress carbon from cremated remains into a lab grown diamond.
• Glass art: Artists incorporate ashes into blown glass sculptures, paperweights, or ornaments.
• Memorial reef: Cremated remains are mixed into an environmentally safe concrete reef ball and placed in the ocean to support marine life.
• Tree planting: Biodegradable urns designed to grow into a tree using the ashes as part of the soil mix.

What to Do If You Are Unsure

There is no deadline. Cremated remains are chemically stable and will not change over time. If you are not ready to decide, keep the urn at home and take the time you need. Many families wait months or longer and make a decision when it feels right. You can also split the ashes, keeping some at home and scattering or burying the rest later.