Transporting a Body In and Out of Louisiana

When someone dies in Louisiana and the family wants burial or cremation to take place elsewhere — or when someone dies out of state and is being brought home to Louisiana — a specific set of legal requirements governs how and when that transport can happen. These rules exist for public health reasons and are not optional. Violating them can delay disposition and create legal problems for the family and the funeral home.

The single most important rule: private citizens cannot transport human remains in Louisiana. Only a licensed funeral director may move a body.

Why Private Transport Is Prohibited

Louisiana law requires a licensed funeral director to handle all movement of human remains within the state. This is not a bureaucratic technicality. The requirement exists to ensure remains are properly documented, that a burial-transit permit accompanies every movement, and that public health standards are followed throughout. Families who try to transport a loved one themselves — even across short distances — are acting outside the law. The responsibility belongs to a licensed professional.

If a funeral home has custody of remains, you cannot simply take them. If a coroner releases remains, they must be released to a licensed funeral director, not directly to the family.

The Burial-Transit Permit

Before any remains can be moved, a burial-transit permit must be obtained. The licensed funeral director applies for this permit from the vital records registrar. It authorizes the specific movement being made — whether that is local transport to a cemetery, crematory, or out-of-state destination.

Once the permit is issued and the disposition has taken place, the funeral director is required to file the permit with the registrar of the parish where final disposition occurred. That filing must happen within ten days of disposition. This creates a permanent record of where and how the deceased was laid to rest, which matters for estate purposes and for future family research.

Out-of-State Transport: The 24-Hour Embalming Rule

Louisiana Administrative Code, LAC 51:XXVI.103, establishes a clear condition for transporting remains across state lines. If more than 24 hours have passed since the time of death, the body must be embalmed before it can be transported out of Louisiana. There are two exceptions: if the body is cremated first, or if transport occurs within 24 hours of death.

This rule is frequently misunderstood. Embalming is not universally required in Louisiana — for local burial or cremation, it usually is not. But for interstate transport after 24 hours, it is. For a fuller explanation of when embalming is and is not required under Louisiana law, see our post on Louisiana burial and cremation laws.

The practical implication is this: if a family decides on the day after death that they want the body shipped to another state, and more than 24 hours have elapsed, the funeral home must embalm before releasing the remains for transport. Families should make transport decisions quickly if they want to avoid embalming on religious or personal grounds.

The alternative is cremation. If remains are cremated in Louisiana, the cremated remains can be transported out of state without the embalming requirement. Cremated remains travel differently — and more simply — than unembalmed or embalmed bodies.

The 30-Hour Refrigeration Rule

If a body is not embalmed, Louisiana law requires that it be maintained at continuous refrigeration below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If those conditions are not met, final disposition must occur within 30 hours of death. This interacts directly with transport decisions: if a family intends to transport unembalmed remains, the logistics must move quickly, and the receiving funeral home or crematory must be ready to take custody.

Shipping Remains Out of Louisiana: Practical Costs and Requirements

When remains are transported to another state, the sending funeral home in Louisiana handles the originating paperwork — including the burial-transit permit and, if required, the embalming. The receiving state's funeral home handles the final disposition paperwork and local permits.

Families should expect transport costs to range from approximately $1,500 to $4,000 or more, depending on distance, the method of transport, and the services required at each end. These costs include the funeral home's fees for preparation and documentation, transportation itself, and the receiving funeral home's acceptance fee.

For air transport, airlines have specific requirements for shipping human remains. The body must typically be in a metal air tray or a combination unit that meets airline cargo regulations. The funeral home handles these logistics, but families should know that air transport adds cost and may add time depending on available flight routes.

Shipping Remains Into Louisiana

When someone dies outside Louisiana and the family wants burial or cremation to take place in Louisiana, the process runs in reverse. The funeral home in the state where death occurred handles the originating death certificate, any required permits, and preparation of remains for transport. If the body is crossing state lines, that state's rules about out-of-state transport apply at the sending end.

The Louisiana receiving funeral home then takes custody upon arrival. It obtains the local burial-transit permit and manages final disposition. Louisiana does not impose separate re-entry paperwork beyond standard permits and the death certificate — but the remains must arrive with appropriate documentation from the originating state.

Families coordinating this process from Louisiana should contact a Louisiana-licensed funeral home first. The Louisiana funeral home can coordinate directly with the out-of-state funeral home and will know exactly what documentation is required for the receiving end.

International Repatriation

When a Louisiana resident dies abroad, returning the remains to Louisiana requires more documentation than a domestic transfer. The process involves the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the country where death occurred, which handles documentation of the death and coordinates with local authorities. The funeral home in the country of death typically initiates the embalming and hermetic casket sealing required for international transport.

Requirements include: embalming, a hermetically sealed casket, and consulate paperwork from the country of death. The Louisiana funeral home coordinates with the U.S. Embassy and the receiving airline or cargo service. Timelines for international repatriation vary significantly — they can run from several days to several weeks depending on the country, availability of local mortuary services, and consular processing times.

Families in this situation should contact a Louisiana funeral home with international experience as early as possible. Many larger funeral homes routinely handle repatriation; smaller ones may need to refer out.

Transporting Cremated Remains

Cremated remains are treated differently from unembalmed or embalmed bodies under Louisiana law and under federal transportation rules. Once remains have been cremated and the death certificate and cremation permit are in hand, transport across state lines or internationally is far simpler.

For domestic travel, cremated remains can be transported by the family or by a funeral home. Airlines generally allow cremated remains as carry-on luggage, subject to security screening rules — the Transportation Security Administration requires that the container be scannable by X-ray. Metal urns often fail screening and may need to be checked as cargo. Temporary plastic or cardboard containers pass screening more reliably.

For international transport of cremated remains, some countries have their own import requirements — documentation, container specifications, or customs declarations. The funeral home can advise on destination-specific rules.

The burial-transit permit still applies to cremated remains in Louisiana. The funeral home obtains it before releasing cremated remains for transport, and it must be filed in the parish of final disposition within ten days.

Summary of Key Rules

Private citizens cannot move remains without a licensed funeral director. A burial-transit permit is required before any movement of remains. Out-of-state transport of unembalmed remains is only permitted within 24 hours of death; after that, embalming or cremation is required. Remains not embalmed and not refrigerated must be disposed of within 30 hours. Cremated remains travel more freely but still require permits. Air transport of intact remains requires a metal air tray or combination unit.

These rules apply regardless of family preferences or urgency. Working with an experienced Louisiana funeral director who handles out-of-state and international cases avoids delays and ensures the paperwork is correct on the first attempt.

For a complete reference on Louisiana funeral law — including licensing, consumer rights, what funeral homes must disclose, and how preneed arrangements work — see our Louisiana Funeral Law Guide.

See more Louisiana guides →