Questions about cremation and memorial planning often come up at a time when there is already a lot to manage. Our guides offer practical information to help you choose an urn, understand what happens after cremation, plan a memorial service, care for ashes and make decisions about their final resting place.

Whether you are making arrangements for someone you love or planning ahead for yourself, start with the topic that best fits what you need today.

Where to Begin

How to Choose a Cremation Urn

Learn about urn sizes, materials, styles and final resting places, with practical guidance to help you choose an urn that fits your needs.

How to Transfer Ashes to a Cremation Urn

Understand your options for placing ashes in an urn, whether you prefer to have a funeral professional handle the transfer or do it yourself.

How to Plan a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life

A practical guide to planning a gathering that brings family and friends together to remember someone you love.

Cremation Costs

Learn about the expenses that may be involved with cremation and the choices that can affect the overall cost.

Choosing and Caring for a Cremation Urn

From size and materials to personalization and care, these guides can help answer some of the most common questions that come up when selecting an urn.

Cremation Urn Materials: A Complete Guide

Compare common urn materials and learn how material can affect appearance, care and where an urn may be placed.

Urn Care and Maintenance

Find general guidance for caring for an urn and helping preserve its appearance over time.

Sealing a Cremation Urn

Learn how common types of cremation urns open and close, and when you may want to permanently seal an urn.

4 Engraving Options to Personalize a Urn

Learn about different engraving methods used to personalize cremation urns.

Purchasing a Urn for a Grieving Friend

Considerations for choosing an urn or memorial when you are helping someone who has experienced a loss.

Understanding Cremation and Planning Ahead

Learn more about cremation itself, the decisions that may come before it and practical considerations for families making arrangements.

Cremation: What Is It?

An introduction to the cremation process and some of the questions families commonly have about cremated remains.

Hydro-Cremation vs. Traditional Cremation

Learn about traditional flame cremation and hydro-cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis.

Preplanning and Prepaying Cremation Costs

Explore considerations for making cremation arrangements and planning for costs in advance.

VA Death Benefits: Sacred Honor

Learn about burial and memorial benefits that may be available to eligible veterans and their families.

Organ Donation

An overview of organ and whole-body donation and considerations that may affect funeral or memorial planning.

Engaging Physicians in End-of-Life Conversations

Guidance for beginning conversations about end-of-life wishes and care with healthcare providers.

Burial, Scattering and Final Resting Places

There is no single right place for cremated remains. These resources cover burial, scattering, biodegradable urns and other options for choosing a final resting place.

Planning an Ash Scattering Memorial

Ideas and practical considerations for planning a meaningful ash scattering ceremony.

Ash Scattering Regulations

Learn about some of the rules and considerations that may apply when scattering ashes on land or water.

Unique Ash Scattering and Storage Ideas

Explore different ways families may choose to scatter, keep or memorialize cremated remains.

What Urns Can Be Buried?

Learn what to consider when choosing an urn for burial, including materials, cemetery requirements and urn vaults.

Cremation Urn Vaults

Learn what an urn vault is, why some cemeteries require one and when it may be needed.

Biodegradable Urns: What Are They?

An introduction to biodegradable urns designed for earth or water burial.

Green Burials: A Growing Trend

Learn about environmentally conscious burial practices and some of the choices available for cremated remains.

Memorial Urn and Site Options

Explore different possibilities for keeping, burying, scattering or creating a permanent memorial for ashes.

Traveling and Shipping With Ashes

If cremated remains need to travel, these guides cover some of the practical requirements to consider.

Traveling With Ashes

Learn what to consider when traveling with cremated remains, including air travel and choosing an appropriate container.

Shipping Ashes Domestically or Internationally

An overview of considerations when cremated remains need to be shipped rather than carried with you.

Planning a Memorial Service and Remembering a Loved One

Find guidance for planning a service, preparing what you would like to say and navigating some of the decisions that follow a loss.

Planning a Memorial Speech

Ideas for gathering memories and preparing a eulogy or memorial speech.

Planning After the Service

Consider some of the decisions and responsibilities families may face after a funeral or memorial service.

Stages of Grief

An introduction to grief and some of the emotions people may experience following a loss.

Keepsakes, Cremation Jewelry and Pet Memorials

Keepsakes can hold a small portion of ashes or another remembrance, providing additional ways to keep memories close or share them with family.

Memorial Keepsake Options

Explore different types of memorial keepsakes and ways they may be used to remember someone you love.

Cremation Keepsakes: What Are They?

Learn about keepsake urns, mementos and other small memorials that can hold ashes or meaningful objects.

Memory Boxes Guide

Ideas for using memory boxes to preserve photographs, letters and other reminders of someone special.

Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Cremation Jewelry

Learn what to consider when choosing jewelry designed to hold a small amount of cremated remains.

Best Keepsake for Your Pet

Explore memorial keepsakes and ways to remember a beloved pet.

More About Cremation Urns and Memorial Traditions

Cremation, Urns and Keepsakes: A History

Explore some of the history behind cremation and the vessels and keepsakes used to memorialize cremated remains.

Cremation Urns: An Infographic

A visual introduction to different cremation urn styles, materials and memorial options.

Need More Help?

Choosing what to do after cremation can bring up questions you did not expect. Visit our Help Center for additional resources, or learn more about engraving and personalization if you are considering a custom memorial.