When a loved one passes away, the thought of handling the next necessary steps like notifying family and friends and planning a funeral can be overwhelming to say the least. While it may seem like a pretty simple process to plan a funeral, it’s important that you understand all local laws in addition to the standard timelines and procedures. Every state is different when it comes to laws surrounding funerals, and as a professional biohazard cleaning company in Louisiana, we put together the most important ones so you can feel confident as you make arrangements.

 

Funeral directors are required in Louisiana

 

Unlike most of the states in America, Louisiana requires that licensed funeral directors be involved and oversee the final disposition of a body in the state. The state law requires that all human remains be “disposed of and prepared through a funeral establishment and under the supervision of a licensed funeral home or embalmer.” Unfortunately, this means that the state has restrictions when it comes to hosting funerals at home.

 

There are specific people allowed to make funeral arrangements

 

While a licensed funeral director is technically required to be the one that carries out disposition arrangements, laws in the state of Louisiana determine who has the right to make final decisions when it comes to funeral services and the body. There is a specific list of people who have the right and responsibility in descending order starting with you or someone appointed by you that has been determined before death. The next people who are allowed to make arrangements include a surviving spouse (if there is no record of a filed divorce), adult children, adult grandchildren, parents, siblings, next of kin, district court judge, or public administrator.

 

Death certificate timeline

 

If someone passes away in the state of Louisiana, the person in charge of filing for the certificate is required to do so within five days of the death. This should also be done before final disposition of the body. Obtaining a death certificate within a few days of someone passing is critical because it serves as proof for legal purposes such as accessing benefits, planning funerals, etc.

 

Burial and cremation laws

 

In Louisiana, bodies need to be buried in established cemeteries and are not to be buried on private or public property. An exception to this is if someone would like a body to be buried on their own private land, they can try and establish a family cemetery on that land but will need to check with the county regarding zoning laws and ordinances. In instances where families live in rural areas, they may be able to create a family graveyard by contacting the Louisiana Cemetery Board. For those who would like to arrange a cremation, they can do so through a licensed funeral director who will be able to obtain the proper permits.

 

Cleaning up after a loved one passes at home

 

If your loved one died at home, you may be responsible for cleaning and decontaminating the space and this is when it’s important to work with biohazard cleaning companies. At Xtreme Cleaners, we understand the difficulty of cleaning these spaces and have decades of experience cleaning contaminated spaces with care in Louisiana. If you or someone you know needs help cleaning up after someone has passed away, give us a call at 800-524-9591.