Do dead human remains have to be embalmed prior to burial or cremation?
No–as long as certain conditions are met, such as the 24-hour time frame previously mentioned and several other laws. Some funeral homes may not allow for a public visitation to take place at their facility unless embalming has taken place. This would be a funeral home policy–not a law. Generally speaking, embalming is relatively inexpensive compared to costs for caskets and services involved with traditional funerals.
