How you wish your body to be dealt with after death may depend on your religious or cultural traditions and personal preferences. In general, you have the following options: Burial or entombment: If you want your body to remain intact (not cremated), you can choose to be buried or entombed in a coffin, casket, or shroud. It is most common to purchase a cemetery plot for burial, but other options include burial in a natural or green burial ground, burial at sea, or burial on private property. Just keep in mind that laws regarding private property burials vary by state and municipality and are not permitted in many locations. Entombment involves placing a body in a casket, but rather than being stored below ground, the body is placed in an above-ground structure called a mausoleum. Cremation: Cremation disposes of a body by burning it to ash. The ashes can then be:
Buried in a cemetery, cremation garden, or private burial plot
Stored in a columbarium (an above-ground structure similar to a mausoleum)
Given to a loved one such as a spouse or child
Scattered in a location of significance
There are many other creative ways to deal with your ashes, so it may be worth doing some research to see if you prefer another option. Donation to science: Donating a body to science means it will be used for medical research and/or education. In the U.S., donations can be made to private organizations or to medical schools, and it is possible in some states to pre-register as a donor. In most cases, the organization will cremate the body at no charge and return the ashes to the donor's family.