Ashes must go in an urn, and you need a special permit to scatter ashes. Bodies may not be buries anywhere but in an approved cemetery plot. There is no requirement for a hearse , which is merely a wagon big enough to accommodate a casket. There is no requirement for an urn - cremated remains may go in any container. California is the only state that requires a permit to scatter cremated remains on private property.
All states permit burial of bodies, with a proper death certificate, on private land.
My religion requires it. No major religion or religious organization in the United States endorses the modern American funeral . Religious leaders have been trying for years to curb the excesses of the funeral industry. If you are in doubt about the exact requirements of your religion, ask your pastor, priest, rabbi, etc. Don t rely on the word of the funeral director, whose only interest is in separating you from the largest amount of money he can manage.