Cremation
Verified 17 August 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
The cremation is to burn and burn to ashes the body of a deceased person. We talk sometimes incineration plant.
It is carried out in a crematorium within a maximum of 6 days after the death, with certain exceptions.
The funeral company takes care of the procedures.
The fate of the ashes is framed (dispersion, burial of the urn...).
We present you with the information you need to know.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The deceased has indicated his will
If the deceased had expressed a wish to be cremated, you must respect his willin any manner indicated (orally or in writing).
The deceased left no indication
The decision rests with the close ones of the deceased.
Please note
If you disagree with other relatives of the deceased about the organization of his funeral, you must refer the place of death to the court of justice.
Delays vary from place of death:
- France
- Foreigner
- Overseas Community
- New Caledonia
Deaths in France
Cremation must take place at least 24 hours and maximum 6 working days after death.
Sundays and public holidays are not included in the calculation of deadlines.
Where special circumstances so warrant, the prefect of the department of the place of death or cremation may grant derogations from those time limits.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
Please note
cremation may take place up to 6 days after body transfer in mainland France if the death occurs in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Lands or Wallis and Futuna.
Deaths abroad
The cremation, with body transfer in mainland France, can take place up to 6 days after the body enters France.
Sundays and public holidays are not included in the calculation of deadlines.
Where special circumstances so warrant, the prefect of the department of the place of death or cremation may grant derogations from those time limits.
In practice, the funeral company takes care of the process.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
In a commune of more than 5,000 inhabitants
You can freely choose a funeral operator.
The list of local licensed funeral companies is available at (or on their website):
- Town Hall
- Health care facilities
- Mortuary or funeral rooms reception room
The company of funeral directors must present the following 3 documents:
- General documentation listing tariffs and services (whether mandatory or optional)
- Free, detailed and costed individual quotation (conforming to an official model)
- Purchase order in case of acceptance of quotation
Companies are required to submit standard specifications in town halls of municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants.
They can also submit these estimates to any other municipality.
In a municipality of less than 5,000 inhabitants
You can freely choose a funeral operator.
The list of local licensed funeral companies is available at (or on their website):
- Town Hall
- Health care facilities
- Mortuary or funeral rooms reception room
The company of funeral directors must present the following 3 documents:
- General documentation listing tariffs and services (whether mandatory or optional)
- Free, detailed and costed individual quotation (conforming to an official model)
- Purchase order in case of acceptance of quotation
Companies must submit standard estimates to the municipalities of the department where they have their registered office or a secondary school.
They can also submit these estimates to any other municipality.
After the declaration of death, you need to complete some formalities.
In practice, the company of funeral directors takes care of them, in whole or in part.
The cremation is authorized by the mayor of the place of death (or the place of beer setting in case of transport of the body).
Authorization shall be granted on presentation of the following documents:
- Written expression of the deceased's last wishes or request from the person in charge of organizing the funeral
- Certificate of the physician who pronounced the death indicating the absence of a forensic problem
In certain situations, special rules apply:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The deceased had a battery-operated prosthesis
If the deceased person was carrying a prosthesis operating by means of a battery (pacemaker, defibrillator, physiological pump, for example), the doctor or the thanatopractor removes it and proof of recovery prior to beer production (with exceptions).
The cremation is authorized by the Mayor of the place of death (or of the place of beer setting in case of transport of the body).
Authorization shall be granted on presentation of the following documents:
- Written expression of the deceased's last wishes or request from the person in charge of organizing the funeral
- Certificate of the physician who pronounced the death indicating the absence of a forensic problem
- Doctor or thanatopractor certifying removal of the prosthesis
Death poses a forensic problem (for example, accident, suicide)
The mayor may not permit cremation when the death poses a forensic problem (accident, suicide, signs or clues of violent death, unknown or suspicious cause of death).
He must immediately seize the public prosecutor.
The cremation is then authorized by the prosecutor's office, after police investigation and determination of the causes of death.
A prior autopsy may be required, at the expense of the family.
The body of the deceased was placed in an airtight coffin
The use of a hermetic coffin is mandatory in certain situations, in particular in the case of body transport from the foreigner or by air.
A hermetic coffin (or galvanized) cannot be cremation.
The opening of a coffin shall be prohibited for a period of at least five years from its closing.
So you have to choosing a burial.
However, it is possible to request a permission to transfer the body to a suitable coffin to the cremation.
You have to go through some formalities.
In practice, the company of funeral directors takes care of them, in whole or in part.
The request must be addressed to the mayor of the municipality of the place of change of coffin.
You must attach supporting documents (including a medical certificate issued at the place of death).
The mayor has 6 days to make his decision.
If the mayor refuses, you must choosing a burial.
Warning
The transfer of coffins is a delicate operation (hygiene, security) and can be expensive. It must be carried out by an authorized funeral operator under strict conditions.
The cost varies depending on the place and the services chosen.
The settlement is made out of the public purse.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The deceased took out a funeral insurance contract
The funeral insurance contract allows you to plan a sum of money to finance your funeral.
Relatives of the deceased should to check whether the deceased has entered into such a contract.
The deceased did not take out a funeral insurance contract
The deceased was an employed person
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact the following organizations:
- Social security fund (rights in respect of death capital)
- Mutual society of the deceased (possible financial contribution to the costs)
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
The deceased was an active civil servant
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact the following organizations:
- Administration employing the deceased (rights in respect of death capital)
- Mutual society of the deceased (possible financial contribution to the costs)
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
The deceased was retired from the general scheme
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
Depending on the situation of the deceased, some organizations can help you financially.
You can contact his pension fund.
Any person who has paid the funeral expenses of a pensioner under the general scheme may have the amount of those expenses deducted from the amounts due by the Cnav: titleContent, up to €2,286.74.
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
Other situation
Funeral expenses may be charged to the bank accounts of the deceased, up to €5,000 (and the amount available on the account).
If the amount charged is not sufficient, heirs must participate.
FYI
ask the city council about local arrangements for the payment of certain funeral expenses.
Video: Death - Ash Conservation
Vidéo - Death - Ash Conservation
Text Version
(Title and topic)
Death
Ash conservation
(SMS chat with friends)
· How have you been since your grandfather passed away?
· I miss... But it's okay
· It was incinerated?
· Yes, and my grandma promised me I could keep the ashes in my house
· It is impossible to keep the ashes of a loved one at home
(Received Idea)
Can you keep the ashes of a deceased man in your house?
(Expert response)
Indeed, it is a common misconception because since the law of 19 December 2008, it is no longer possible to keep the ashes of the deceased at home.
From now on, the funeral urn can be sealed on a headstone, buried in a grave or finally deposited in a columbarium.
Be aware that if you opt for ash dispersal, it can be done in a space provided for this purpose, cemetery or cinerary site, or in the middle of nature, off public roads of course.
Finally, if you do not know the final destination of the ashes of the deceased, know that the crematorium will be able to keep them for a year.
(Key points reminder)
· The funeral urn can be:
- Sealed on a headstone
- Deposited in a columbarium
- Buried in a grave
· Ash can be dispersed in a designated area or in the open air
· The crematorium may retain ash for up to one year
After cremation, the ash is collected in a ballot box with identification plate of the deceased and the name of the crematorium.
Please note
Metals collected following the cremation (prostheses, implants, etc.) are not returned. They are picked up by the funeral operators. Proceeds from their sale must be returned either to one or more municipalities (to provide for the funerals of deprived persons) or to an association.
You must decide the fate of the ashes, unless the deceased had indicated his will.
You can opt for one of the following :
- Cemetery or burial site
- Dispersion in the countryside
- Burial of the ballot box in private property
The urn can also be buried for free in the communal grounds of the cemetery.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Cemetery or burial site
In a cemetery or cinerary site, you can choose to scatter the ashes in the space provided for this purpose (souvenir garden).
Warning
You cannot disperse the ashes yourself in a memorial garden.
Within a cemetery or a burial site, ashes may also have the following destinations:
- Burial of the urn in an existing burial or to be created (in open ground or in cavurn)
- Sealing the urn on a funeral monument
- Deposit of the ballot box in a columbarium
- Burial of urn in the communal grounds in an unlicensed location (free) for at least 5 years
Please note
If you opt for the deposit of the urn in a columbarium, the door of the hut is like a funeral monument. So you can customize it.
Dispersion of ash in the countryside
You must make a declaration to the town hall of the place of birth of the deceased.
A register shall indicate the identity of the deceased, the date and the place where the ash was dispersed.
Please note
There is no formality involved in transporting a ballot box by land within the national territory.
In order to be in the wilderness, the dispersal site must be owned by no one and must not be enclosed.
Dispersal is forbidden on public roads or in public places (stadium, square, public garden, etc.).
Dispersal of ash or immersion of the urn (in biodegradable material) is allowed in the open sea.
Dispersal may be prohibited on watercourses (inquire at the municipality concerned).
Dispersal is forbidden in a private garden.
However, dispersal over a large area (field, meadow, forest, etc.) accessible to the public but belonging to a private person is possible. You have to have the prior consent of the landowner.
Burial of the ballot box in private property
The urn containing the ashes can be placed in a burial located in a private property.
You must to apply for a prefectural authorization.
Warning
You cannot keep the ashes in your home or in another accommodation.
The ballot box can be kept for up to 1 year (the service can be paid for) in one of the following places:
- Crematorium
- Place of worship (after agreement of the association responsible for the practice of worship)
During this time, you have to decide what happens to the ashes.
After the 1 year period, if you have not made a decision, the ashes are scattered in one of the following places:
- Dedicated area of the cemetery of the commune of the place of death
- Nearest cinerary site
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Cost: free service
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 12h00
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Town Hall
Penalty for failure to comply with the deceased's decisions
Respect for the human body
Order of 19 December 2017 establishing the list of battery prostheses exempted from the requirement of explantation before beer is put in
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Ministry responsible for local government
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Economy