Human Remains Shipping
We Provide Shipping of Human Remains Nationally and Internationally
Interstate, Nationwide and International Transportation of Human Remains
When someone dies away from home, the family is suddenly faced with more than grief.
There may be transportation arrangements, receiving funeral homes, airline requirements, permits, death certificates, preparation of the deceased, cemetery schedules, and—when the death occurs outside the United States—consular and international documentation.
This is commonly called body transportation, human remains transportation, shipping human remains, funeral shipping, or repatriation of human remains.
At Miller-Reesman Funeral Home in Union Grove, Wisconsin, we understand the importance of coordinating these arrangements carefully and respectfully.
Whether a loved one has died in another state and needs to return home, or a family needs assistance arranging transportation from Wisconsin to another destination, our funeral professionals can help coordinate the funeral-home-to-funeral-home process and explain what information and documentation will be required.
For international transportation, requirements depend on the country involved. The U.S. Department of State explains that returning a U.S. citizen's remains from abroad can involve a consular mortuary certificate, local death certificate, funeral director affidavit, transit permit, preparation requirements, and other documents depending on the circumstances.
What is Human Remains Transport?
Moving a Loved One From One Location to Another
Human remains transportation is the professional coordination required to move a deceased person from the place of death to another location for funeral services, burial, cremation, or final disposition.
Transportation may occur:
- Within Wisconsin
- Between Wisconsin and another state
- Across the United States
- From another state to Wisconsin
- From Wisconsin to another state
- From the United States to another country
- From another country to the United States
The process is different from ordinary travel.
Human remains must be prepared, identified, documented, packaged, transported, received, and ultimately cared for in accordance with applicable laws and transportation requirements.
The FTC identifies transportation of remains as one of the services that may be separately charged as part of funeral arrangements.
Ship-In Services
When a Loved One Dies Away From Home
A ship-in occurs when a person dies somewhere other than the community where the family wants the funeral, cremation, burial, or memorial service to occur.
For example, a person who lived in Union Grove may die while visiting another state.
The family may want the deceased returned to Wisconsin.
In this situation, the funeral home in the location of death and the receiving funeral home must coordinate the transfer.
Ship-in coordination can involve:
- Initial communication with the originating funeral home
- Coordination with the family
- Transportation arrangements
- Preparation requirements
- Required permits
- Death certificate documentation
- Transit documentation
- Airline or carrier coordination
- Receiving the deceased at Miller-Reesman
- Local funeral or cremation arrangements
- Cemetery coordination
- Family communication throughout the process
Ship-Out Services
When a Loved One Needs to Leave Wisconsin
A ship-out occurs when a person dies in Wisconsin and the family wants the deceased transported to another state or country for funeral services, burial, cremation, or final disposition.
The Miller-Reesman funeral director can help coordinate with the receiving funeral home or appropriate destination facility.
Ship-out coordination may include:
- Care and preparation of the deceased
- Required documentation
- Transit permits
- Coordination with the receiving funeral home
- Transportation arrangements
- Airline or carrier requirements
- Casket or approved shipping container
- Scheduling with the receiving cemetery or funeral home
- Communication with the family
- Coordination of final local arrangements
Requirements depend on the destination.
A funeral director will review the circumstances and destination before transportation is scheduled.
Out-Of-State Body Transport
Bringing a Loved One Home to Wisconsin
Families often search for:
"How do I transport a deceased person from another state?"
or
"How do I bring a loved one home after they die out of state?"
The answer depends on where the death occurred and where the family wants the deceased transported.
Working with funeral professionals on both ends can simplify the process because the sending and receiving funeral homes can coordinate directly.
The receiving funeral home can communicate what will be needed locally while the originating funeral home handles the requirements in the location of death.
This can reduce the burden on a family that is already managing grief and travel.
The FTC recognizes transportation of remains as a funeral service that may be included in an itemized funeral statement.
International Body Shipping
Repatriation of Human Remains Across International Borders
International transportation of human remains is more complex than domestic transportation because two or more legal systems may be involved.
The process may involve:
- Funeral homes in both countries
- Airlines or specialized carriers
- Embassies or consulates
- Local health authorities
- Customs authorities
- Transit permits
- Death certificates
- Consular documentation
- Preparation or embalming requirements
- Approved shipping containers
- Destination-country requirements
The U.S. Department of State explains that when a U.S. citizen dies abroad, consular officers can assist families with information about shipment of remains and can coordinate with local authorities and the legal representative.
The Department of State also identifies several documents that are generally required when returning remains to the United States, including a consular mortuary certificate, local death certificate, funeral director affidavit, and transit permit, although additional documents may be required depending on the circumstances.
The CDC also states that requirements for importing human remains into the United States depend on whether the remains are embalmed or cremated, the purpose of importation, and whether the person died from an infectious disease.
International transportation is never one-size-fits-all.
The country of origin and destination should be identified before the arrangements are finalized.
Shipping Human Remains Into The United States
When a Loved One Dies Abroad
If a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident dies outside the United States, the family or legal representative may need to work with U.S. consular officials and local authorities.
The Department of State states that consular officers can assist with information and coordination involving the return of remains.
The CDC states that imported human remains may require documentation concerning the death and the condition of the remains, and that requirements can differ based on embalming, cremation, infectious disease circumstances, and other factors.
Miller-Reesman's will to help the family understand the receiving-funeral-home side of the process and coordinate with the appropriate parties.
Shipping Human Remains Out of the United States
Sending a Loved One to Another Country
When a family wants a loved one transported from Wisconsin to another country, the destination country's requirements become especially important.
Different countries may have different requirements for:
- Embalming
- Sealing or approved containers
- Documentation
- Translations
- Consular certification
- Transit permits
- Death certificates
- Medical documentation
- Airline transportation
- Receiving funeral homes
For this reason, international shipping should be arranged as early as practical and should be coordinated through funeral professionals familiar with the required documentation.
Shipping Human Remains Out of the United States
Sending a Loved One to Another Country
When a family wants a loved one transported from Wisconsin to another country, the destination country's requirements become especially important.
Different countries may have different requirements for:
- Embalming
- Sealing or approved containers
- Documentation
- Translations
- Consular certification
- Transit permits
- Death certificates
- Medical documentation
- Airline transportation
- Receiving funeral homes
For this reason, international shipping should be arranged as early as practical and should be coordinated through funeral professionals familiar with the required documentation.
Veteran Human Remains
Coordinating Transportation for a Veteran
When a veteran dies away from home, transportation may be necessary before the family can hold the funeral, cremation, memorial service, or final committal.
Miller-Reesman can help coordinate the transportation process with the appropriate funeral home or destination location while keeping the family's desired services in view.
When military honors are part of the funeral plans, the timing and location of the honors should be coordinated with the funeral director and appropriate military representatives.
The Department of Veterans Affairs recommends that military funeral honors be arranged through the funeral director or another authorized representative.
This can be particularly important when the deceased is being transported between states or when the funeral and final committal will occur in different locations.
Funeral Home-To-Funeral Home Transport
Professional Coordination at Both Ends
One of the most important aspects of long-distance transportation is having a funeral professional on both ends.
The originating funeral home handles the deceased and prepares the shipment according to the destination requirements.
The receiving funeral home accepts the deceased, confirms arrival, and continues the family's arrangements.
This can provide families with a clear chain of communication instead of requiring relatives to coordinate multiple transportation companies, government offices, airlines, and funeral providers themselves.
What Families Should Have Available
Information That Can Help the Process Move Forward
When arranging human remains transportation, it is helpful to have:
- Full legal name of the deceased
- Date and place of death
- Death certificate information
- Identification information
- Location of the deceased
- Destination
- Receiving funeral home information
- Cemetery information, if applicable
- Cremation or burial plans
- Veteran information, if applicable
- Family or legal representative contact information
- International travel or consular information, when applicable
Not every situation requires every document listed above.
The funeral director will determine what is needed based on the circumstances and destination.
Why Professional Transportation Matters
There Is No Room for Guesswork
Transporting a loved one across state lines or international borders is not simply a matter of putting a casket on an airplane.
- Documentation must be correct.
- Preparation must meet requirements.
- The receiving funeral home must be prepared.
- Transportation arrangements must be coordinated.
- International cases may require government and consular involvement.
The Department of State specifically notes that requirements can vary by country and that local laws may differ significantly from U.S. practices.
That is why experienced funeral-director coordination is so valuable.
Body Transport FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Human Remains
What is a ship-in funeral?
A ship-in is when a deceased person is transported from another location to the funeral home serving the family. For example, someone who lived in Wisconsin may die while traveling in another state and be transported back to Wisconsin for funeral services.
What is a ship-out funeral?
A ship-out occurs when a deceased person is transported from the local funeral home to another state or country for funeral services, burial, cremation, or final disposition.
Can a body be shipped from another state to Wisconsin?
Yes. Human remains can be transported across state lines, but the requirements depend on the state of origin, destination, preparation of the deceased, carrier requirements, and the planned final disposition.
Can Miller-Reesman receive a loved one who died in another state?
Families should contact Miller-Reesman directly to discuss the circumstances and destination. The funeral director can explain what will be needed from the originating funeral home.
Can Miller-Reesman arrange transportation to another state?
Contact our funeral director to discuss your destination and circumstances. Interstate transportation involves coordination between funeral homes and may require specific documentation and preparation.
Can human remains be shipped internationally?
Yes, but international transportation involves the laws and requirements of the countries involved. When a U.S. citizen dies abroad, the Department of State explains that consular documentation, death certificates, funeral-director affidavits, transit permits, and other documentation may be required.
What documents are required to bring human remains into the United States?
Requirements vary. The CDC states that import requirements depend on factors including whether the remains are embalmed or cremated and whether an infectious disease is involved.
Does a body have to be embalmed to be transported internationally?
Not necessarily. The Department of State notes that embalming requirements can vary by country and that unembalmed remains may be permitted to enter the United States under certain conditions, including appropriate documentation and a leak-proof container.
Can cremated remains be transported internationally?
Yes, cremated remains can be transported internationally, but the destination country's requirements and carrier rules should be reviewed before travel.
Can a veteran's remains be transported to another state?
Yes. Funeral directors can coordinate transportation with the receiving funeral home and incorporate military funeral honors into the overall service plan when appropriate.
Who coordinates an international shipment when someone dies overseas?
The family or legal representative generally works with the local funeral provider and U.S. consular officials. The Department of State states that consular officers can assist with information and coordination involving the return of remains.
How long does international transportation take?
There is no universal timeframe. It depends on the country, documentation, preparation requirements, consular procedures, airline availability, destination requirements, and other circumstances.
Can I arrange transportation without using a funeral home?
Families should speak with a licensed funeral professional before making transportation arrangements. Human remains transportation can involve legal, health, documentation, carrier, and receiving-facility requirements that vary by destination.
Human Remains Transportation, Union Grove, WI
(Racine County, WI, Milwaukee County, WI. Kenosha County, WI, Walworth County, WI and Waukesha County, WI)
Let Our Funeral Directors Help Coordinate the Details
When a loved one dies away from home, you should not have to figure out every transportation requirement by yourself.
Call Miller-Reesman Funeral Home and tell us:
- Where did your loved one die?
- Where does your family want them transported?
- What type of funeral, burial, or cremation is planned?
From there, we can explain the next steps and coordinate with the appropriate funeral professionals and authorities.
