If you're distributing a loved one’s cremated ashes or just transporting them from one place to another, you'll want to make sure those ashes are handled with care. You'll also need to make sure that you're taking care of this matter legally and in accordance with regulations. How do you ship cremated ashes? Are there any alternatives?
The Limitless Possibilities of Cremation
One of the reasons cremation has become so popular as a method of handling remains is that it offers practically unlimited possibilities. Once you have the cremated ashes, you can distribute them however you see fit – then store, transport, or display them however you see fit.
With cremation jewelry, for example, you can take a portion of the cremated remains and house them in a piece of beautiful jewelry that you wear every day. Necklaces and rings are among the most common options here, but thanks to modern design and production methods, the only real limit is your imagination. Additionally, thanks to 3D printing, it's easier than ever to design a custom cremation urn that can celebrate your loved one’s memory and house your loved one’s remains in a powerful work of art.
Of course, many people also choose to distribute the ashes to other people or scatter them in nature. Some services even allow you to integrate ashes with new trees or coral reefs, supporting new life in the process.
The Legality of Shipping Cremated Ashes
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the only service available for shipping cremated remains. You will not be able to ship cremated remains with any other service, including UPS or FedEx. You will also not be able to ship cremated remains legally with a third-party courier, and most formal services would reject any package containing them.
If you want to ship cremated ashes legitimately, legally, and in a way that minimizes risk, you must use the USPS. The USPS understands the religious, spiritual, and personal importance of cremated remains, and they have protocols in place for ensuring that cremated ashes are shipped with dignity, respect, and absolute care.
USPS Guidelines for Shipping Cremated Ashes
There are some rules and regulations for how and when your cremated ashes can be shipped. According to USPS guidelines, all cremated ashes, whether they're shipped domestically or internationally, must be shipped in a specific type of package.
· Inner primary container. First, the ashes themselves must be housed in an inner primary container. This primary container should be sift-proof, preventing any possibility of ashes spilling out. For international shipments, this inner primary container must be a funeral urn, specifically. For domestic shipments, you have more flexibility, but an urn is a reliable option. No matter what, your inner primary container should be durable enough to withstand minor impacts and jostling.
· Cushioning material. Surrounding the inner primary container must be some kind of cushioning material. This cushioning material is designed to eliminate space between the inner container and the outer shipping package, reducing the susceptibility of the inner container to breakage, spillage, or disruption. This cushioning material should be durable enough to keep the inner primary container safe during its journey.
· Outer shipping package. The package must be shipped by “USPS Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Express International Service utilizing either a USPS-produced or customer-supplied shipping package.” If you supply your own shipping package, it must comply with outer shipping package requirements set by USPS.
Additionally, “To increase the visibility of mailpieces containing cremated remains, the outer shipping box (USPSproduced or customer-supplied) containing cremated remains must be marked with Label 139, Cremated Remains, affixed to each side (including top and bottom).” Essentially, this is just a colored label with the phrase “Cremated Remains” printed on the side. It lets the professionals at USPS know to handle the package with extra care.
Best Practices
It's important to remain compliant with the law as well as any regulations set by USPS. Not only will this keep you out of legal trouble, it will also ensure that your cremated remains are shipped quickly, efficiently, safely, and respectfully.
Some of the rules and restrictions may be confusing, or you may have questions about the shipping containers and packages you plan on using. If you have any questions or concerns, it's a good idea to talk to a local USPS representative about your shipment. Any local USPS branch should be able to help you resolve these points and ship your cremated remains seamlessly.
Shipping cremated ashes isn't as straightforward as shipping most other types of items, but it's not exactly complicated, either. With a bit of prep work, you can get your loved one’s cremated ashes fully ready for shipment – and get them to wherever they need to go.
