The National Park Service normally grants permission to those wishing to scatter cremated remains within the borders of Yosemite National Park. To receive permission, please complete the application [70 kb PDF]. The application may include your relationship to the deceased (e.g., sister, mother, husband, father, etc.), which you may add in the "proposed activity" field. Application processing may take up to three weeks. With a letter of authorization, you may scatter cremated remains with the following conditions: The scattering of cremains is accomplished out of the sight of any public use areas including roads, walkways, trails, and parking areas. All such activity occurs at least 100 yards from any watercourse or creek bed (running or dry); Cremains must be spread over an area large enough that no single portion is accumulated in one place. The cremation identification disc must not be dispensed or left on site during or after scattering activity; No marker of any kind is left to commemorate the event. Yosemite National Park is under federal jurisdiction and is, therefore, sovereign in its lands and not subject to the limitations regarding land use by the State of California. Permission by the National Park Service to scatter cremated remains assumes that necessary permission from the state has been secured for the disposition of cremated remains.

As cremation is growing in popularity as a disposition choice, we are finding that more people are searching online to find out the laws for cremation in their state. As a body is completely reduced to just ashes in the cremation process, there are quite strict laws governing the cremation of a body. There are licensing and operational requirements for crematories, and state laws governing who can authorize a cremation and how long after a death a cremation can be performed. Who can authorize a cremation? The next-of-kin is normally considered the person responsible for authorizing a cremation. In some states this is referred to as the “authorizing agent”. For a cremation to go ahead an authorization form or declaration for disposition of cremated remains must be signed by the next-of-kin. Cremation Permits Once the death certificate and authorization form have been filed, the county in which the cremation is to take place issues a cremation permit. The charge for the cremation permit is often added to the general price for a cremation, as is the fee for the death certificate. The cost for a cremation permit varies depending on the issuing county, but is usually between $10-$40. How do state and local laws on cremation vary? Each state, and even each county, has its own variations on federal regulations governing the cremation process. There is usually at least a 24-hour waiting period before the deceased can be cremated, but in some states the law on cremation states that 48-hours must lapse between the death and the cremation. The coroner or public health department can override this if there is a public health concern and the body must be immediately disposed of. Do cremation providers need to be licensed? Yes, all cremation providers are regulated and have to be licensed. There are also industry regulations and practices to ensure the ethical and safe handling of the deceased in crematories. There are rules that stipulate about the handling of cremated remains that ensure you can be assured that the cremated remains you receive are exactly, and only, the remains of your loved one. What is the process for a cremation? As mentioned above there is strict code of standards for crematories to ensure that dispositions are ethically managed. Only one body can be cremated at once, and all cremated remains must be cleared from the cremation chamber before another cremation can begin. These standards do mean that you may have little input into any ‘customization’ of a cremation process. Once your loved one is received into the care of the crematory he/she will be ID checked and tagged to ensure that checks can be made at all steps of the process. If the deceased has any medical implants these are removed and the body is prepared for cremation. The deceased is placed in a suitable rigid combustible container, which is then placed in the cremation chamber or retort. The cremation is the process of adding intense heat to reduce the body to cremated remains or ashes. The process reduces the human body to its base elements and the process can take anything between 1 – 4 hours, depending upon the cremation machine. The cremated remains following the cremation are actually bone fragments, which are then mechanically ground to a powder. Usually there is about 3 – 9 pounds of cremated remains. Is a casket required for a cremation? No, you do not require a casket or coffin for a cremation. Most state laws stipulate that an “alternative container” is required. This can be any rigid, combustible container and these days a rigid cardboard or plywood/laminate container is commonly used. If you are having a service and require a casket, you can usually use a rental casket supplied by your cremation provider or funeral home. Eliminating the need for a casket can significantly reduce your overall funeral costs. Can I view the actual cremation process? Some crematories will allow you to view the initiation of the cremation process. Some crematories will actually allow you to initiate the process by pressing the button, as this is required by some faiths. If this is important to you, you should check this before selecting a cremation provider. Most crematories do open their doors to the public, however, many prefer not to witness any aspect of the process. What laws govern what I can do with the cremated remains? Again, laws governing what you can, and cannot, do with cremated remains can vary state-by-state. Although you should check specific state laws, the general guidelines are: You cannot commingle cremated remains, unless with the specific request of the deceased. You can keep cremated remains at home You can have them buried or stored in a niche or columbarium You can have them added to an existing grave i.e. spouse or family already buried You can scatter cremated remains in a designated place i.e. a memorial garden You can scatter remains on private or public lands with the appropriate permission. Visit our Funeral Guides by State in the Library Section to check specific ash scattering laws for your state. Why should I choose cremation? It is a personal choice whether cremation is the right disposition option. Many consider it more environmentally and eco-friendly than traditional burial. It eliminates the need for embalming chemicals, and the need for steel caskets and concrete burial vaults to be buried in the ground. Cremation has been around for many, many centuries and in some religions is considered the only, and most spiritual, way to dispose of the dead. The Catholic Church also now accepts cremation. Many modernists prefer the idea that their DNA is, in effect, eliminated. One significant reason why more Americans are choosing cremation is that it is much cheaper than a traditional burial. The cremation rate in the U.S. is now at around 41% and is forecast to reach as high as 60% by 2025. How much does a cremation cost? A cremation can cost anything from $450 through to $4, 000, this all depends on exactly how extravagant the funeral service is and whereabouts you are located. In many of the states where the cremation rate is higher, prices are more competitively priced and a basic cremation can be purchased for around $700 - $900. In Florida and Nevada the prices for a direct cremation can be as low as $450. What is a direct cremation?

The ancient world is full of examples of burial customs that seem strange now, from Egyptian mummification to bodies dumped in bogs to departed Vikings launched out on ships-turned-crematoriums. But space constraints and environmental concerns are pushing modern man to explore new options for dealing with the dead. The most recent of these to land on American shores is a process that uses heat, pressure and chemicals to liquefy a body in just a few hours, leaving behind sterile remains that can be poured into the wastewater system. But unusual customs, from launching cremated remains into space to old-fashioned burials in hand-dug graves, are a growing trend. Here are some of the newest choices (not all eco-friendly) for the end of life. Resomation Anderson-McQueen funeral home in St. Petersburg, Fla., is currently the only place in the United States where patrons can opt to have their tissues dissolved as an alternative to traditional cremation. The process, called resomation or "bio-cremation, " uses heated water and potassium hydroxide to liquefy the body, leaving only bones behind. The bones are then pulverized, much as in regular cremation, and the bone fragments are returned to the family. The funeral home's resomation device is still being installed and tested, but calls are already coming in, said John McQueen, the president and CEO of Anderson-McQueen. "We like to give all of our families various options, " McQueen told LiveScience. "And we do have more and more families every year that are interested in cremation but also in reducing the carbon footprint that they leave behind. This is a more environmentally friendly process than flame-based cremation." [Top 10 Craziest Environmental Ideas] Three-quarters of Floridians currently opt for cremation over burial, McQueen said, but the natural-gas-fueled fire, which reaches temperatures of 1, 600 to 1, 800 degrees Fahrenheit (871 to 982 degrees Celsius), releases carbon dioxide as well as trace chemicals such as mercury from dental fillings. Resomation requires water of only 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and takes the same amount of time as traditional cremation, McQueen said, so it's less energy-intensive. In addition, fillings and other medical implants can be removed from the bone before the liquid — now sterile — is dumped into the municipal wastewater system. "It breaks the body down to the very basic amino acids, so there's no DNA, nothing humanly identifiable, left, " McQueen said. The base price for cremation at Anderson-McQueen is $550, McQueen said, and resomation costs $650 (transportation, handling and other fees bring the prices for both procedures to about $3, 000). Natural Burial Not so much a new invention as a return to old ways, natural burials are interments that take place without embalming and without the concrete vaults that line graves in most modern cemeteries. Bodies are wrapped in a shroud or placed in a biodegradable casket, the idea being that they will decompose naturally. The natural burial movement started in1998 with the opening of the all-natural cemetery Ramsey Creek preserve in Westminster, S.C., said Mark Harris, the author of "Grave Matters: A Journey through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial" (Scribner, 2007). Today, Harris told LiveScience, there are at least 50 natural cemeteries in the country, and "scores more" regular cemeteries with sections for natural graves. The movement is driven by dissatisfaction with typical funeral rites. "Most people, when they find out what happens in the embalming room, they're pretty horrified, " said Harris, who blogs at grave-matters.blogspot.com. "They can't believe the cost, which is outrageous, and then there is this growing concern about the environmental effects of all of these procedures and of all of the goods and resources devoted to this modern method." In addition, Harris said, many natural cemeteries double as nature preserves, and many people like the idea of contributing to the ecosystem after death. Eternal Reefs For those who prefer to nourish a more aquatic environment after death, there's also the Eternal Reef option. Georgia-based Eternal Reefs creates artificial reef material out of a mixture of concrete and human cremains (the crushed bone left over from cremations). These heavy concrete orbs are then placed in areas where reefs need restoration, attracting fish and other organisms that turn the remains into an undersea habitat. Cremation isn't as green as natural burial due to the combustion process, Harris said, but he is a fan of Eternal Reef burials. "It's a terrific opportunity not just to return to an aquatic environment, but to produce new life under the sea, " he said. Cryonics And then there are those who would prefer to hang on to their old life, thank you very much. For people with that attitude (and large pocketbooks), there's cryonics. Cryonics is the process of freezing a person's body in the hopes that later medical science will make it possible to revive them, personality and memory intact. Despite the numerous barriers to this, including the toxicity of chemicals used in an attempt to prevent damage to cells from freezing, advocates have promoted cryonics since the late '60s. According to the Cryonics Institute, there were just over 200 people in cryonics storage in the U.S. as of August 2011. [Top 10 Immortals] Prices vary depending on the procedure, preservation company and payment plan, but can range as high as $200, 000 for whole-body preservation. Cost-cutters can have a head-only preservation for around $80, 000. Space Burial If cryonics sounds too expensive, but you'd still like the afterlife to smack of sci-fi, you can always get some of your ashes shot into space. Your cremated remains will hitch a ride on a rocket already headed for the stars, a journey that is more symbolic than practical: Because of the high cost of spaceflight, only 1 to 7 grams (0.04 to 0.25 ounces) of remains are launched. According to Celetis Memorial Spaceflights, a company that offers the postmortem flights, a low-orbit journey that lets your cremains experience zero gravity before returning to Earth starts at $995. A chance to orbit Earth and eventually burn up in the atmosphere runs around $3, 000. Dedicated space-lovers can have themselves launched to the moon or into deep space for $10, 000 and $12, 500, respectively. Mummification It's not just for ancient Egyptians anymore. A religious organization called Summum, founded in 1975, offers mummification services to both people and pets. Before his death in 2008, Summum's founder Corky Ra told CBS News that at least 1, 400 people had signed up for eventual mummification. Summum's representatives are currently not granting media requests, but Ra told CBS that the price of human mummification starts at $63, 000. Like believers in cryonics, Ra and those like him hope that their preserved DNA will enable future scientists to clone them and give them (or at least their genes) a second shot at life. Ra put his money where his mouth was: After he died, he was mummified and is now encased in bronze in Summum's pyramid in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Funeral homes and other businesses are coming up with more personal and creative ways to commemorate deceased loved ones with send-offs to reflect the life that was lived, sometimes even with a bang. From artistic personalities to undying cases of wanderlust, there are a growing number of ways that people can memorialize a loved one after death. Compost A garden bed might turn into the final resting place for the eco-conscious deceased, thanks to a proposed program in Seattle. Katrina Spade helped devise the Urban Death Project that aims to create a human composting facility that would allow people to turn the deceased into nutrient rich soil. The nonprofit wants to build a three-story structure that would allow the deceased to turn into compost within six weeks. At the end of the six weeks, families could use the nutrient rich soil to grow something new. "You'd lay your loved one into woodchips and sawdust; that would be the moment you say goodbye, " Spade told ABC affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle. "Then a month and a half later, take some soil away and have another ceremony of your own, maybe grow a tree with your loved one's soil." Getty Images The first display of a new Firework Memorial program, a partnership with AM Pyrotechnics in which fireworks are manufactured with cremated remains. Fireworks You know the old joke of a funeral being the party your friends throw for you when they know you can’t attend? Well some of those parties may get even more celebratory now that funeral home directors are arranging for cremated ashes to be packed into fireworks. "It explodes with a lot of beauty and covers a lot of the sky, the size of a football field, " said Aaron Mayfield, owner of Illinois-based fireworks company AM Pyrotechnics. "It spreads the cremated remains into the sky and the particles are taken into the wind." Courtesy Adam Brown A pleased client picks up the portrait of his late husband painted with traces of his ashes. Paintings Ashes can be mixed into custom paints and used to create a truly unique work of art in memory of the loved one. Portraits of the deceased are a clear choice, but landscapes and abstract scenes are also popular. Adam Brown, a Missouri-based painter who creates such paintings, told ABC News that he believes this is a less-morbid way of keeping the loved one’s memory present in day-to-day life. "It just kind of hit me that having ashes in an urn is a good way to remember that someone died but having them in a piece of art is a good way to remember that someone lived, " he said. Algordanza Memorial Diamond Algordanza Memorial Diamond is specially created from the cremation ashes received from the family. Jewelry Forget "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." How about "from dust to diamonds"? LifeGem, based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, calls itself the original inventor and says it holds the U.S. patent for memorial diamonds. Each year the company has "generally about a thousand customers worldwide, " a spokesperson from LifeGem told ABC News. Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo In this Dec. 17, 2013 file photo, an urn containing the ashes of C.J. Launched into Space Some see death as a chance to help a loved one see places they weren't able to reach during their lifetimes, including outer space. That was the plan for one grieving Maine mother, Hallie Twomey, who mailed hundreds of packets of her son C.J.’s ashes to people she met through social media who agreed to scatter them in various places that he was never able to go during his lifetime. Frozen The most eternal optimists (or truly dedicated Red Sox fans who want to follow in Ted William’s footsteps) can opt to forgo the cremation process and have their remains frozen in the hopes that their body could be revived when medical advances warrant, rather than burning all prospect of a physical return through cremation. Since its inception, the Cryonics Institute has housed nearly 200 “patients” (they don’t call them bodies even though they’re all dead) in their Michigan warehouse. Each body costs $28, 000 to freeze and store until it becomes possible to thaw and somehow revive them.

How do I select a cremation urn for ashes? There are many factors that come into play when selecting a cremation urn for ashes. The important thing is not to rush into any decisions. This is one of the last acts of love you can perform for your loved one, and the urn that holds the last physical earthly elements is really a very sacred vessel. If you are having a difficult time deciding on the perfect urn, it might be wise to have other family members or even a friend join in on the decision. When selecting an urn, most people try to find a style that reminds them of the deceased. Maybe it’s the style or maybe the person admired certain materials in their taste for art. You should also consider your budget when selecting a cremation urn for ashes. No one wants you to over-extend your financial means when making your selection. At Cremation Solutions we offer many styles of cremation urns for ashes at many different price points, so that you can get an urn that is meaningful without breaking the bank. Why are there different sizes of cremation urns for ashes? Cremation urns come in different sizes for several reasons. The most common size is the individual sized cremation urn for ashes. An individual cremation urn is sized to hold the ashes of one person. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has created an industry standard of 200 cubic inches, which equals about 6.8 pints. Unless stated otherwise, all of our individually sized cremation urns are designed to hold 200 cubic inches of ashes. Sometimes several members of a family wish to retain a portion of the ashes and the ashes are split up into several smaller sized urns or what is commonly called Sharing Urns for Ashes . Sharing urns can range in size from 50 to 100 cubic inches and come in many styles and colors. Sharing sized urns are also the size that is used for pets and infants. In a mobile society like ours families can get spread out over the years. Sharing sized cremation urns are a great solution that can satisfy the needs of many.

The 20-page document, filed under his legal name David Robert Jones, said the estate was worth about $100 million, but didn't break down the finances. The "Fame" singer left his SoHo home he shared with Iman to her, and half of the rest of his worth. His son Duncan Jones from a previous marriage received 25 percent and his daughter Alexandria also received 25 percent as well as his Ulster County mountain home. Bowie left $2 million to his longtime personal assistant Corinne Schwab and left her shares he owned in a company called Oppossum Inc. He left $1 million to Marion Skene, Alexandria's nanny. The chameleon-like star transformed the sound - and the look - of rock with his audacious creativity and his sexually ambiguous makeup and costumes. His hits included "Space Oddity, " ''Golden Years, " ''Heroes" and "Let's Dance." He had cancer about 18 months before he died Jan. 10. He was 69. Bowie prepared the will in 2004. He said if cremation in the Indonesian island was "not practical" then he wanted his remains cremated and his ashes scattered there still. According to the death certificate, filed with the will, his body was cremated Jan. 12 in New Jersey. Long before alter egos and wild outfits became commonplace in pop, Bowie turned the music world upside down with the release of the 1972 album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , which introduced one of music's most famous personas. "Ziggy Stardust" was a concept album that imagined a rock star from outer space trying to make his way in the music world. Bowie re-imagined himself over and over again with personas like the "Thin White Duke" and "Aladdin Sane." Two weeks ago, his new album Blackstar was released. An off-Broadway musical created by Bowie called Lazarus is currently playing, and stars Michael C. Hall.

If the person who died specified where he or she would like his or her ashes scattered, follow those instructions. If no instructions were made, consider selecting a meaningful location. Scattering Remains On Private Property If you’re planning on scattering the remains on your property, know that you have every right to do so. However, some states may require you to get a permit before you scatter the ashes. If you’re planning on scattering the remains on private property that you do not own, be sure to get permission from the landowner before you do. Scattering Remains In A National Park If you’re planning on scattering the remains in a national park, you’ll need to apply for a permit from the National Parks Service. Every national park has a different application form for scattering permits. Hiring A Company To Scatter The Ashes There are a number of companies that will scatter the ashes for you. Some specialize in scattering ashes from a small airplane, while other will scatter the remains in remote or distant locations around the world or over a body of water.

You Can't Go Back and Do it Over Some say it’s harsh to say it, but we know we must. We want you to be able to honor your loved one in a way that allows you to look back on the occasion, even years from now, and be glad that you did the best you could to honor the life of your loved one. Is there a "wrong" way to conduct your service? Certainly not - but we must say - the only wrong thing would be not to give this some careful thought and discussion with all who are involved. ​ We have different types of services to suit your family's individual needs without compromising your wishes, your budget, or your traditions. We can accommodate almost any reasonable request, however small or unique. If you do not see exactly what you are looking for on our website, please make sure to use the Contact Us form to submit your wishes. ​In the rush of things, sometimes families can discount the value of a service after the death of a loved one, and we certainly don’t want you to make that mistake. Coming together after a loss is an essential part of the grieving process... We've been serving families since 1997 and have had many different requests over the years. The important thing is creating a ceremony - whether simple or more elaborate - that calls together the hearts and minds of all who loved them - this is a gift to everyone involved. A gift of memories, a gift of healing...a priceless gift of peace-of-mind. We promote family-led services. Each of our families will receive our Guide to Planning a Family-Led Service. ​

Each state has laws affecting what happens to a body after death. For example, most states have unique rules about embalming, burial or cremation, scattering ashes, and how to get a death certificate. Here are some answers to common questions about post-death matters in New Hampshire. 1. How do I get a death certificate? 2. Who can order a death certificate? 3. Is embalming required? 4. Is a casket necessary for burial or cremation? 5. Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home? 6. Where can bodies be buried in New Hampshire? 7. Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation? 8. Learn more. How do I get a death certificate? In New Hampshire, a death must be registered with the Division of Vital Records Administration within 36 hours and before final disposition of the body. (New Hampshire Statutes § 5-C:62.) Typically, the funeral home, mortuary, cremation organization, or other person in charge of the deceased person’s remains will prepare and file the death certificate. You may need to obtain copies of a death certificate for a number of reasons. You might simply want a copy for your personal records or, if you are in charge of wrapping up the deceased person’s affairs, you may require multiple, official copies to carry out your job. You will need to submit a certified copy of the death certificate each time you claim property or benefits that belonged to the deceased person, including life insurance proceeds, Social Security benefits, payable on death accounts, veterans benefits, and many others. The easiest way to get copies of a death certificate is to ask the person or organization that files the certificate to order them for you at the time of the death. If you are the executor of the estate, you should ask for at least ten certified copies. If you need to order copies of a death certificate after the time of death has passed, visit the website of the New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration. From the DVRA website, you can find instructions for ordering death certificates by mail. You must provide a copy of a valid ID, such as a government issued photo ID, at the time you order a death certificate. The first certified copy of a New Hampshire death certificate costs $15; additional copies are $10 each. Who can order a death certificate? In New Hampshire, certified copies of death certificates are available only to those who can show they have a “direct and tangible interest” in the record. (New Hampshire Statutes § 5-C:83.) This usually includes immediate family members, authorized legal representatives, and others who can show that they need the death certificate to establish a personal or property right. If the record is more than 50 years old, it is available to anyone who requests it. Genealogists may also be permitted to receive records if they have a written statement from a member of the deceased person’s immediate family. (New Hampshire Statutes § 5-C:105.) Is embalming required? Embalming is a process in which blood is drained from the body and replaced with fluids that delay disintegration. Though it is still a common procedure, embalming is rarely necessary; refrigeration serves the same purpose. In New Hampshire, embalming is required only if a body will be “exposed to the public” for more than 24 hours. (See New Hampshire Statutes § 325:40-a.) Practically speaking, this is an unlikely situation unless, for example, the body were to be present at a wake lasting more than one day. Is a casket necessary for burial or cremation? A casket is often the single greatest expense incurred after a death. The cost of a casket can range from a simple $500 box to $20, 000 or more for an elaborate design. Some people prefer to forgo a casket altogether. Burial. No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container. Cremation. No law requires a casket for cremation. On the contrary, federal law requires a funeral home or crematory to inform you that you may use an alternative container, and to make such containers available to you. An alternative container may be made of unfinished wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard. Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home? No. Federal law requires funeral homes to accept caskets that consumers have purchased from another source, such as an online retailer. You may also build your own casket, if you prefer. Where can bodies be buried in New Hampshire? Most bodies are buried in established cemeteries, but burial on private property may be possible in New Hampshire. Before conducting a home burial or establishing a family cemetery, check with the town clerk for any local rules you must follow. (Some towns prohibit private burial grounds.) If you bury a body on private land, you must draw a map of the property showing the burial ground and file it with the property deed so the location will be clear to others in the future. For more details, see New Hampshire Statutes § 289.3. Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation? In New Hampshire, there are no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter ashes. Ashes may be stored in a crypt, niche, grave, or container at home. If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many options. Cremation renders ashes harmless, so there is no public health risk involved in scattering ashes. Use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious to others. Scattering ashes in an established scattering garden. Many cemeteries provide gardens for scattering ashes. If you’re interested, ask the cemetery for more information. Scattering ashes on private land. You are allowed to scatter ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone else’s private land, it’s wise to get permission from the landowner. Scattering ashes on public land. You may wish to check both city and county regulations and zoning rules before scattering ashes on local public land, such as in a city park. However, many people simply proceed as they wish, letting their best judgment be their guide. Scattering ashes on federal land. Officially, you should request permission before scattering ashes on federal land. As with local or state land, however, you will probably encounter no resistance if you conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes well away from trails, roads, facilities, and waterways. You can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites for some national parks. For more information, begin your search at the website of the National Park Service.

Each state has laws affecting what happens to a body after death. For example, most states have unique rules about embalming, burial or cremation, scattering ashes, and how to get a death certificate. Here are some answers to common questions about post-death matters in Massachusetts. 1. How do I get a death certificate? 2. Who can order a death certificate? 3. Is embalming required? 4. Is a casket necessary for burial or cremation? 5. Do I have to buy a casket from the funeral home? 6. Where can bodies be buried in Louisiana? 7. Where can we store or scatter ashes after cremation? 8. Learn more. How do I get a death certificate? In Massachusetts, a death must be registered with the local board of health within five days. (Massachusetts General Laws 46 § 6.) Typically, the funeral home, mortuary, cremation organization, or other person in charge of the deceased person’s remains will prepare and file the death certificate. You may need to obtain copies of a death certificate for a number of reasons. You might simply want a copy for your personal records or, if you are in charge of wrapping up the deceased person’s affairs, you may require multiple, official copies to carry out your job. You will need to submit a certified copy of the death certificate each time you claim property or benefits that belonged to the deceased person, including life insurance proceeds, Social Security benefits, payable on death accounts, veterans benefits, and many others. The easiest way to get copies of a death certificate is to ask the person or organization that files the certificate to order them for you at the time of the death. If you are the executor of the estate, you should ask for at least ten certified copies. If you need to order copies of a death certificate after the time of death has passed, visit the website of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services. From the HHS website, you can find instructions for ordering death certificates in person, online, by phone, or by mail.