Arranging a Funeral or Cremation Service in New Jersey

A Comprehensive Resource for Families, Caregivers & Individuals

Published by US Funerals Online  |  Updated March 2026

Navigating end-of-life decisions is one of the most meaningful things you can do for yourself and those you love. This guide is designed as a thorough, compassionate, and practical reference for New Jersey residents — covering everything from advance care planning and death doula support, to funeral laws, disposition options, costs, green burial, and financial assistance.

1. Where to Begin: The First 24–48 Hours

The hours immediately following a death can feel overwhelming. Knowing the basic sequence of steps helps families focus on what truly matters — being present for one another.

Immediate Steps After a Death Occurs

• Obtain a legal pronouncement of death. A physician, hospice nurse, or coroner must officially pronounce death. If your loved one was under hospice care, the hospice nurse handles this and can be the one to call the funeral home.
• Contact the funeral home of your choice. You are not required to call the funeral home your loved one’s hospital or care facility suggests. You have the right to select any licensed NJ funeral establishment.
• Do not rush disposition decisions. You have time. New Jersey law requires a minimum 24-hour waiting period before cremation. For burial, there is no emergency.
• Secure the home and valuables. If your loved one lived alone, ensure their residence is secure.
• Locate essential documents. Look for the will, any pre-arranged funeral plan, insurance policies, advance directives, and the Social Security card.

NJ Law: Unlike many states, New Jersey requires a licensed funeral director to file the death certificate and burial or cremation permit, even if you are conducting a home funeral or natural burial. You cannot legally act as your own funeral director in New Jersey.

Who Is Legally Responsible for Funeral Arrangements?

New Jersey statute establishes a clear order of priority for who may authorize funeral arrangements. This hierarchy is important, particularly when family members disagree:

• Spouse or domestic partner
• Adult children (18 or older)
• Parents
• Adult siblings
• Other next of kin (grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles)
• A designated funeral representative named in writing by the deceased

New Jersey does allow individuals to designate a specific person — known as a funeral representative — to make arrangements, which can be especially important for unmarried partners, estranged family situations, or LGBTQ+ individuals whose wishes might otherwise be overridden by biological relatives. This designation should be put in writing and stored with your advance directive.

Conflict Resolution: If family members genuinely cannot agree on funeral arrangements, your options include consulting the funeral director as a neutral party, engaging a funeral mediator, or, in serious cases, seeking guidance from a New Jersey attorney.

2. Advance Care Planning & Legal Documents in New Jersey

Advance care planning is not only about death — it is about ensuring your medical and personal values guide care decisions if you are ever unable to speak for yourself. New Jersey offers several complementary legal tools.

2a. The New Jersey Advance Directive for Health Care

An advance directive is a legal document that communicates your healthcare wishes and/or appoints a trusted person (your health care representative) to make decisions on your behalf. In New Jersey, an advance directive may include:

• A Proxy Directive (Healthcare Power of Attorney): Names a specific individual — your health care representative — to make medical decisions if you lose capacity. This person can be anyone you trust: a spouse, friend, adult child, or domestic partner.
• An Instruction Directive (Living Will): Spells out your specific wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, artificial nutrition, pain management, and other interventions.
• A combined document: Most people use a single document that includes both a proxy designation and written instructions.

To be legally valid in New Jersey, your advance directive must be:

• Signed by you (the declarant) while you have decision-making capacity
• Witnessed by two adults who are not your health care representative and have no financial interest in your estate
• Notarization is not required but is recommended

Key NJ Principle: An advance directive only takes effect when your physician determines you lack the capacity to make a particular healthcare decision. You retain full control while you are competent — you can change or revoke your directive at any time simply by notifying your physician or representative orally or in writing.

2b. POLST — Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment

The POLST (Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a powerful complement to an advance directive, but serves a fundamentally different purpose. While an advance directive expresses your general wishes, a POLST converts those wishes into an immediately actionable medical order.

Key differences from an advance directive:

• It is a medical order — signed by a physician, advanced practice nurse (APN), or physician assistant — and must be honored by all healthcare providers across all settings.
• It follows the patient — the POLST travels with you to the hospital, nursing home, hospice, or home, ensuring consistent care.
• It is recommended for — individuals with a serious illness, advanced chronic conditions, frailty, or a life expectancy under five years. It is appropriate at any age if clinically indicated.
• It covers specific decisions — including CPR preferences (DNR), hospitalization decisions, artificial nutrition, and the desired level of medical intervention.

Important: POLST does not replace your advance directive. Use both. Your advance directive appoints your representative and expresses broad wishes; your POLST gives providers specific, binding orders for immediate care situations.

New Jersey’s POLST program is administered by the NJ Hospital Association. Forms can be downloaded here.

2c. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare vs. Financial POA

It is important to distinguish between two separate legal documents:

• Healthcare Power of Attorney / Health Care Representative: Handles medical decisions only. Included in the NJ Advance Directive.
• Durable Financial Power of Attorney: Authorizes your agent to manage financial affairs (bank accounts, property, bill payment) if you become incapacitated. This is a separate document prepared by an attorney.

Both documents are important parts of a complete end-of-life planning portfolio. Neither is a substitute for the other.

2d. Naming a Funeral Representative in New Jersey

New Jersey permits you to designate a specific person to authorize and direct your funeral and disposition arrangements. This designation, sometimes called a Funeral Representative Appointment, should:

• Be made in writing and signed
• Clearly identify the person you are authorizing
• Be kept with your advance directive and will
• Be shared with your funeral representative so they know of their role

This is particularly valuable for individuals who wish to ensure that a non-family member (such as a close friend or domestic partner) — or a specific family member over others — has legal authority to carry out their funeral wishes.

3. Death Doula & End-of-Life Support in New Jersey

One of the most important — and often overlooked — resources available to New Jersey families is the end-of-life doula. As death care evolves, doulas are filling a critical gap that neither medical teams nor funeral homes are positioned to address: the deeply human, emotional, spiritual, and logistical needs of the dying person and their loved ones.

An end-of-life doula (also called a death doula, death midwife, or soul doula) is a trained non-medical professional who provides holistic, compassionate support to dying individuals and their families. They do not provide clinical care — that is the domain of hospice and palliative care teams — but rather offer:

• Emotional and psychological presence for the dying person
• Guidance and education to help families understand what to expect as death approaches
• Spiritual and existential support — facilitating meaningful conversations, legacy work, and rituals
• Practical assistance with planning, including vigil plans and after-death care
• Bereavement support for loved ones before and after the death

Dying is a human experience, not merely a medical event. End-of-life doulas help restore the intimacy, intentionality, and meaning that can be lost in medicalized settings.

Finding a Death Doula in New Jersey

Independently practicing death doulas are available throughout New Jersey for families who want individualized support. To find one, ask your hospice for referrals, check online directories or listings, or use our NJ directory of death doulas to find a local EOL transition guide.:

New Jersey Distinction: New Jersey is uniquely progressive in its coverage of death doula services. NJ is one of the only states where death doula services may be covered under Medicare in certain hospice contexts — a significant distinction that families should inquire about with their hospice provider.

4. Hospice & Palliative Care in New Jersey

Hospice and palliative care are not the same thing, though they are complementary. Understanding the distinction helps families access the right level of support at the right time.

4a. Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical support focused on relieving the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness — regardless of the diagnosis or treatment stage. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment (chemotherapy, surgery, etc.) and is appropriate from the point of diagnosis.

• Palliative care is available in hospitals, outpatient settings, and at home
• It is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance
• It addresses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs

4b. Hospice Care

Hospice is a specialized form of palliative care for individuals who are nearing the end of life — generally with a prognosis of six months or less if the illness follows its expected course. Under hospice care, the focus shifts from curing the illness to ensuring comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

Hospice services covered under Medicare in NJ typically include:

• Physician and nursing visits
• Pain and symptom management medications
• Medical equipment (hospital beds, wheelchairs, etc.)
• Aide and homemaker services
• Social work support
• Chaplaincy and spiritual care
• Bereavement counseling for the family
• Volunteer support

Hospice care can be provided in the home, a hospice facility, a nursing home, or a hospital. The vast majority of New Jersey hospice care is provided in the home or in nursing facilities, with residential hospice inpatient facilities available in several counties.

Choosing Hospice Doesn’t Mean Giving Up: Families frequently wait too long to involve hospice. Research consistently shows that patients who enter hospice earlier have better quality of life, experience less pain, and that family caregivers experience lower rates of complicated grief. You can also discontinue hospice care and return to curative treatment at any time.

4c. Notable Hospice Providers in New Jersey

• Samaritan (South NJ): Serves Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. One of the state’s most established hospice organizations, samaritannj.org
• Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice (Northwest NJ): Serves Sussex and Warren counties. Award-winning organization with 44+ years of service. karenannquinlanhospice.org
• Holy Name Medical Center Hospice (Bergen County): Serves Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Essex counties. Features a volunteer doula program. holyname.org
• Valley Health System Hospice (Bergen/Passaic): Includes End-of-Life Doula program. valleyhealth.com
• Homecare & Hospice Association of New Jersey: The statewide trade association for home care and hospice can help families locate a provider. hhanj.org

4d. Hospice for Veterans in New Jersey

New Jersey veterans are entitled to robust hospice and palliative care benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Key facts families should know:

• Hospice and palliative care are part of the VA Standard Medical Benefits Package for all enrolled veterans who meet clinical eligibility
• There are no copays for veteran hospice care, whether provided by the VA directly or through a community provider like Samaritan
• 96% of veterans receiving hospice care do so through community providers, not VA facilities
• Veterans with service-connected PTSD, combat trauma, or service-related illness have specialized needs that qualified hospice teams are trained to address
• Samaritan NJ is a We Honor Veterans four-star designated program, the highest level of recognition in veteran hospice care

Families should contact their local VA medical center or NJ VA community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) to coordinate coverage. The NJ VA Medical Centers are located in East Orange, Lyons, and Vineland.

5. Choosing a Funeral Home or Cremation Provider in New Jersey

With over 1,000 funeral homes, crematories, and cemeteries operating in New Jersey, families have significant choice — and that choice matters. Price, service quality, values alignment, and logistical fit all vary considerably between providers.

DFS Memorials is a trusted network of local, independent cremation providers and funeral homes that serve NJ families by offering affordable funeral and cremation services. Direct cremation prices start from $995.

5a. Licensing Requirements in New Jersey

All funeral establishments in New Jersey must be licensed by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Mortuary Science. A funeral director’s license number must be displayed in all advertising. There are two core license types:

• Licensed Funeral Director/Mortician: Has completed accredited mortuary science education, served a supervised apprenticeship, and passed state licensing examinations.
• Funeral Establishment License: The physical facility must be separately licensed.

The NJ State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA) can assist families in verifying licensure. For complaints, contact the State Board of Mortuary Science (see Section 11).

5b. Types of Funeral Service Providers

• Full-Service Traditional Funeral Homes: Offer the full range of services from body removal through burial or cremation, including embalming, viewing, funeral ceremony, graveside services, and grief support.
• Cremation-Focused Providers: Specialize in cremation services and often offer lower costs. May offer direct cremation (no viewing or ceremony) as their primary product, or cremation with a memorial service.
• Green/Natural Burial Specialists: A growing niche of providers who specialize in eco-conscious after-death care and are often certified by the Green Burial Council.
• Full-Service with Cremation: Most traditional funeral homes now offer cremation alongside burial, though their expertise and pricing may differ from cremation-focused specialists.

5c. Your Consumer Rights Under the FTC Funeral Rule

The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule is a powerful consumer protection law that applies to all New Jersey funeral providers. Under the Funeral Rule, you have the right to:

• Receive an itemized General Price List (GPL) immediately upon request — including by phone — without having to provide your name or any personal information
• Receive a Casket Price List (CPL) before viewing caskets
• Receive a written itemized statement of all goods and services selected before any payment
• Purchase only the goods and services you want (no forced bundling)
• Use a casket or urn purchased from a third-party retailer — the funeral home cannot refuse it or charge a handling fee
• Decline embalming — NJ law does not require it

Practical Tip: Always request the GPL before any arrangement conference. You can call multiple funeral homes and ask them to fax or email their GPL so you can compare prices before you have any obligation to a single provider.

5d. Questions to Ask When Choosing a Funeral Home

• Are you licensed by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs? What is your license number?
• Can you provide your General Price List immediately?
• What is included in your basic services fee?
• Do you have experience with [specific religious, cultural, or personal traditions]?
• Can you accept a casket or container I purchase elsewhere?
• What are your aftercare or grief support offerings?
• Are you independently owned or part of a corporate funeral group?
• What happens if I need to transfer a loved one who died out of state or internationally?

6. Burial vs. Cremation: Understanding Your Options in New Jersey

The choice between burial and cremation is deeply personal and may be influenced by religious beliefs, cultural tradition, environmental values, family preferences, and financial considerations. New Jersey law does not favor one over the other, and both are fully supported within the state’s regulatory framework.

6a. Traditional Burial

Traditional burial involves preparing the body (typically with embalming for a viewing), a casket, a funeral service, and interment in a cemetery. Key facts:

• Average cost: According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a full-service burial is approximately $7,848 — not including cemetery costs, which can add $3,000–$10,000 or more.
• Embalming: Not required by NJ law. Most funeral homes offer refrigeration as an alternative if a viewing is desired within a reasonable timeframe.
• Caskets: No law requires a specific type. You may build your own, purchase from a third-party retailer (online or in-store), or select from the funeral home’s inventory.
• Cemetery requirements: Many NJ cemeteries require burial vaults or grave liners (concrete outer containers), which add cost. Check the cemetery’s own regulations carefully.

6b. Cremation Service Options

Cremation has grown significantly in popularity in New Jersey and now accounts for the majority of dispositions in the state. It is generally less expensive than burial and offers more flexibility for memorialization.

• NJ-specific rule: New Jersey requires a 24-hour waiting period before cremation, during which the cremation authorization form must be completed and the death certificate submitted.
• Direct cremation: The most affordable option — body is cremated without embalming, viewing, or a formal ceremony. In NJ, direct cremation starts at approximately $995.
• Cremation with service: Involves a viewing or memorial service before or after cremation. The average cost is approximately $3,500.
• What to do with cremated remains: Cremated remains (ashes) are sterile organic material. Options in NJ include home retention in an urn, burial in a cemetery plot or columbarium niche, scattering (see Section 7), or incorporation into memorial products such as glass art, jewelry, or reef balls.

6c. Green & Natural Burial Options in NJ

Green burial is a rapidly growing movement in New Jersey and nationwide. The core principle is returning the body to the earth as naturally as possible, without chemicals, sealed caskets, or concrete vaults.

What Makes a Burial ‘Green’?

• No toxic embalming chemicals (formaldehyde-free alternatives are acceptable)
• Biodegradable containers — shrouds, wicker, bamboo, pine, or unfinished wood caskets
• No concrete grave liners or vaults
• Burial in a natural setting that supports ecological preservation

NJ Green Burial Sites

• Steelmantown Cemetery (Cape May County): New Jersey’s first green burial preserve, established in 1700, located within the Pine Barrens ecosystem. The only NJ cemetery certified by the Green Burial Council (GBC). Located at 101 Steelmantown Road, Woodbine, NJ 08270. (609) 628-2297.
• Rosemont Cemetery (Hunterdon County): A historic 300-year-old community cemetery that opened a dedicated natural burial section in 2024. Located in Rosemont, NJ. therosemontcemetery.com
• Hybrid Green Sections: A growing number of traditional NJ cemeteries now offer designated green or natural burial sections within their grounds. It is always worth asking your local cemetery whether they accommodate natural burial.

NJ Green Burial Funeral Homes

New Jersey has approximately nine funeral homes certified by the Green Burial Council. Notable among them:

• Prout Funeral Home (Verona, NJ): The first funeral home in NJ and one of the first in the nation to receive GBC certification. proutfuneralhome.com
• Orland’s Memorial Chapel (Ewing, NJ): Serves Mercer, Middlesex, and surrounding counties with multi-generational experience in natural burial. orlandsmemorialchapel.com

Home Funerals & Natural Burial: New Jersey families can absolutely care for the body of their loved one at home and conduct a home funeral. A licensed funeral director must still file the legal paperwork. A death doula or home funeral guide can support the family through this process.

6d. Body Donation to Science

Whole-body donation is a meaningful choice that eliminates funeral costs entirely — most programs provide free cremation and return of remains after the donation is used for medical education and research.

• The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School accepts anatomical gifts from NJ residents
• Arrangements must generally be made in advance — contact Rutgers NJMS for eligibility and registration
• Certain conditions (obesity, infectious disease, recent surgery) may affect acceptance
• Body donation is typically processed by the school, not a funeral home

Important: If whole-body donation is declined at the time of death (for medical reasons), the family must have an alternative plan in place. Do not rely solely on body donation without a backup arrangement.

7. Scattering Cremated Remains in New Jersey

As cremation rates rise, so do questions about the legal and appropriate ways to scatter or distribute ashes. Cremated remains are sterile and pose no environmental hazard, but there are rules and best practices to follow.

7a. Private Land

You may scatter ashes on private land with the landowner’s explicit consent. If you own the land, you may scatter freely. If you are considering a private property scatter, document the permission in writing.

7b. Public and Rural Lands

Scattering in uninhabited public rural lands is generally permitted under the following guidelines:

• Scatter at least 100 feet from any road, trail, body of water, or developed facility
• Use biodegradable containers or scatter directly
• Do not place memorial markers, shrines, or artificial decorations

7c. State Parks & Forests

New Jersey state parks have specific guidelines for ash scattering. You should:

• Contact the individual park administration in advance to confirm their specific policy
• Use only biodegradable containers or floral tributes
• Plan and execute the scattering discreetly and respectfully
• Do not install any permanent memorial

7d. Sea Scattering

Ocean ash scattering in New Jersey is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has jurisdiction over NJ under Region 2.

• Scattering must occur at least three nautical miles from shore
• Only biodegradable materials may be placed in the ocean
• EPA notification is required within 30 days of an ocean scattering
• EPA Region 2 contact: (877) 251-4575

For families seeking professional sea scattering services near Cape May, NJ, unattended scatterings (ashes scattered by a licensed captain without family aboard) cost approximately $200, and attended scatterings (family participates on the vessel) start from approximately $395.

7e. Consider Before You Scatter

Scattering is permanent and irreversible. Be absolutely certain that all family members who wish to have input have been consulted before carrying out a scattering. Many families choose to divide remains, keeping some in an urn and scattering the rest.

8. Funeral Costs & Financial Assistance in New Jersey

8a. Understanding Funeral Costs — What to Expect

Funeral costs in New Jersey vary widely depending on the type of service, the provider, the geographic area, and the specific goods and services selected. Below is a general cost landscape:

Note: These are general ranges. Always request the itemized General Price List from each provider you are considering.

8b. How to Reduce Funeral Costs

• Compare multiple providers: Prices for the same service can vary by thousands of dollars in the same county. Call at least three providers.
• Choose direct cremation: At $995 and up, direct cremation is the most affordable disposition option in NJ. A separate memorial service can always be planned independently.
• Purchase your own casket: Third-party caskets start around $995 and must be accepted by any NJ funeral home with no handling fee.
• Decline embalming: Unless you specifically desire an open-casket viewing over an extended period, embalming is rarely necessary and is not required by NJ law.
• Use a simple alternative container: For cremation, a basic cardboard or wood container is legally sufficient and significantly cheaper than a decorative casket.
• Pre-plan: Pre-planning (but not necessarily prepaying) allows you to make thoughtful, unhurried decisions and communicate your wishes to your family.

8c. New Jersey Public Assistance for Funeral Expenses

The state of New Jersey provides limited funeral and burial assistance for qualifying individuals through the county social services system. Eligible individuals include:

• Recipients of Work First NJ/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF)
• Work First NJ/General Assistance (WFNJ/GA) recipients
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid-Only recipients
• Stillborns and deceased newborns of eligible recipients
• Medicaid-eligible individuals in long-term care facilities
• SSI recipients in hospice care programs
• Individuals in Adult Foster Care
• Community Care Program for the Elderly and Disabled (CCPED) recipients
• New Jersey Workability Program participants

Funding for public assistance funerals is obtained through the county board of social services, where the deceased was receiving benefits. The funeral director contacts the county social services office to verify eligibility. The family must inform the funeral director at the time of arrangement that the deceased may qualify.

The supplementation cap — the maximum additional amount family members can contribute before the state reduces its payment — is $1,570 for adults. Contact your county’s Division of Social Services or Department of Human Services to inquire.

8d. Social Security Death Benefit

A one-time lump sum death benefit of $255 is available from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to the surviving spouse or, in some cases, surviving children. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to apply. This payment is not sufficient to cover significant funeral expenses, but can offset minor costs.

8e. Veterans’ Burial Benefits in New Jersey

New Jersey veterans and their dependents may be entitled to significant burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

• Free burial plot: Eligible veterans may receive a burial plot at no cost in a national or state veterans cemetery. New Jersey has a veterans cemetery in Arneytown (Burlington County) — the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
• Free grave marker: VA provides a headstone, grave marker, or medallion at no cost for eligible veterans.
• Burial allowance: Veterans whose deaths were service-connected may qualify for a VA burial and funeral reimbursement. Non-service-connected deaths may also qualify if the veteran was receiving a VA pension or compensation.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate: Families of honorably discharged veterans can receive a signed certificate from the President in honor of their loved one’s military service.

Contact the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at (609) 530-6854 or the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117.

8f. Victims of Crime Compensation

New Jersey’s Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) may provide financial assistance, including help with funeral expenses, to families of homicide victims and in certain other qualifying circumstances. Contact VCCO at (877) 658-2221 or visit njvictims.org.

8g. Other Financial Resources

• Union and Fraternal Organization Benefits: If your loved one was a member of a trade union, veterans organization, fraternal order, or benevolent society, inquire with that organization about death or burial benefits for members.
• Foreign Nationals: For foreign-born decedents, the consulate of their home country may assist with local burial or repatriation of remains.
• Funeral Consumer Alliance Affiliates in NJ: These nonprofit consumer advocacy organizations can help you evaluate pricing and your consumer rights. See Section 11 for contact information.

9. Pre-Planning Your Funeral or Cremation in New Jersey

Pre-planning is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your family. It removes the burden of making difficult decisions under the pressure of acute grief, ensures your wishes are honored, and often results in significant cost savings.

9a. The Difference Between Pre-Planning and Prepaying

These are often confused but are distinct concepts:

• Pre-planning: Documenting your wishes in advance — choosing your funeral home, disposition type, service preferences, music, readings, and other details. This costs nothing and is almost universally advisable.
• Prepaying (Preneed Contract): Paying for funeral services in advance. This can lock in current prices but carries real risks — including the possibility that the funeral home closes, moves, or mismanages the funds.

NJ Law on Preneed Contracts: Anyone selling a preneed contract in New Jersey must be a licensed funeral director or mortician working within a licensed mortuary. If the contract is funded by an insurance policy or trust fund, the seller must also hold a licensed insurance producer credential.

9b. Safer Alternatives to Prepaid Plans

• POD (Payable on Death) Account: Open a dedicated savings account at your bank, funded with the amount you estimate your funeral will cost, and designate it payable on death to a trusted family member. The funds are protected, accessible immediately after death, and cannot be misused by a funeral home.
• Pre-registration with a cremation provider: Many NJ cremation companies allow you to pre-register and document your wishes without requiring prepayment.
• Written statement of wishes: Even a detailed written document stored with your will and shared with family members — specifying your preferred funeral home, type of service, music, readings, and any other preferences — can be enormously helpful.

9c. What to Include in Your Pre-Plan

• Preferred funeral home or cremation provider
• Burial or cremation preference
• If burial: preferred cemetery and any existing plot ownership
• If cremation: preferred disposition of remains (scattering, interment, retention at home, etc.)
• Religious or spiritual preferences
• Preferred type of service (formal, casual, celebration of life, graveside only, etc.)
• Music and readings
• Casket or urn preferences
• Flowers vs. charitable donations in lieu of flowers
• Who should be notified
• Obituary wishes
• Any cultural or family traditions to observe

Store a copy of your pre-plan with your will, with your advance directive, and give a copy to your designated executor or funeral representative.

10. Legal & Administrative Matters After a Death in New Jersey

10a. The Death Certificate

The death certificate is the foundational legal document following a death. In New Jersey, it is prepared and filed by the licensed funeral director. You will need certified copies for many purposes following a death.

Certified copies are available from the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (OVR):

• Cost: $25.00 per certified copy
• Additional copies requested at the same time: $2.00 each
• An application can be made online, by mail, or in person at a county registrar
• You will need to provide government-issued ID and proof of relationship to the deceased
• OVR website: nj.gov/health/vital | Phone: (877) 622-7549

Order more copies than you think you will need. You will typically need a certified copy for each of the following: the estate attorney, each financial institution where the deceased had accounts, life insurance claims, pension benefits, vehicle transfers, real estate transfers, and Social Security notification.

10b. Burial and Cremation Permits

Before a body can be buried or cremated in New Jersey, the funeral director must file a burial transit permit. This permit is issued by the local registrar (municipality where the death occurred) after the death certificate is accepted. For cremation, a separate cremation authorization form signed by the next of kin is also required.

10c. Cemetery Contracts — Read Carefully

Cemetery plot purchases are complex and often carry hidden costs. Before signing any cemetery contract, carefully verify the following:

• What is included in the plot price (opening and closing fees are almost always separate)
• Whether a burial vault is required and its cost
• What type and size of memorial marker is permitted, and when it may be placed
• What perpetual care is included (or not included)
• Whether the plot can be resold if not used, and under what conditions
• Regulations regarding visitation hours, decorations, and grave goods

10d. Burial on Private Land in New Jersey

New Jersey does not have a specific statute that explicitly prohibits or permits home burial on private property. However, it is a complex area requiring local investigation:

• Check local zoning and municipal ordinances — many municipalities prohibit or restrict private burials
• The site should be at least 150 feet from any water supply and 25 feet from any power line
• A map of the burial site must be created and recorded with the property deed
• A licensed funeral director must still file the burial permit
• Consider the impact on property title and resale if you are planning a burial on land you own

10e. When Death Occurs Outside New Jersey

If a loved one dies outside of New Jersey — whether in another state or internationally — you face additional decisions and logistical complexity:

• Transport the body home: Requires coordination between a funeral home at the place of death and your NJ funeral home. Domestic shipping can cost $3,000 or more; international repatriation can start at $6,900 or more.
• Arrange disposition at the place of death: A cremation at the location of death, with return of cremated remains to NJ, is often the most practical and economical option.

If you or a family member travels frequently, a funeral travel protection plan — which covers repatriation costs if death occurs 75+ miles from home — can be a wise investment. Annual individual plans typically start around $450 for lifetime coverage. Ask your funeral provider about available programs.

11. New Jersey End-of-Life Resources & Key Contacts

State Regulatory Bodies

Funeral Consumer Alliance Affiliates in New Jersey

These nonprofit organizations advocate for consumers in funeral planning and can help you evaluate pricing and your rights as a consumer:

• Memorial Society of North Central New Jersey: PO Box 509, Madison, NJ 07940 | (973) 540-9140
• FCA of South Jersey: 401 North Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 | (609) 518-8901
• Memorial Society of Northeast New Jersey: PO Box 1327, Montclair, NJ 07042 | (973) 783-1145

Hospice & Palliative Care Resources

• Samaritan NJ (South Jersey): samaritannj.org | Multiple county coverage
• Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice (NW NJ): karenannquinlanhospice.org | Sussex & Warren Counties
• Holy Name Medical Center Hospice: holyname.org | Bergen County
• Homecare & Hospice Association of NJ: hhanj.org | Statewide provider locator
• NJ Long-Term Care Ombudsman: (877) 582-6995 | Advance directive & POLST guidance

Green Burial Resources

• Steelmantown Cemetery (Cape May County): 101 Steelmantown Rd, Woodbine, NJ | (609) 628-2297 | steelmantowncemetery.com
• Rosemont Cemetery (Hunterdon County): therosemontcemetery.com
• Prout Funeral Home (Verona, NJ — GBC Certified): proutfuneralhome.com
• Green Burial Council: greenburialcouncil.org | National certification & provider directory

Filing a Complaint About Funeral Services

If you have a dispute with a funeral provider that cannot be resolved directly, you may:

• File a complaint with the NJ State Board of Mortuary Science: PO Box 45009, Newark, NJ 07101 | (973) 504-6425
• Contact a Funeral Consumers Alliance affiliate in your region (see above)
• File a complaint with the FTC regarding Funeral Rule violations: ftc.gov

12. New Jersey End-of-Life Planning Checklist

Use this checklist as a starting point to organize your planning. Completing these steps is one of the most caring things you can do for your family.

Advance Care Documents

• [ ]  Complete a New Jersey Advance Directive (proxy + instruction directive)
• [ ]  Complete a POLST form with your physician or APN (if appropriate)
• [ ]  Execute a Durable Financial Power of Attorney
• [ ]  Name a Funeral Representative (in writing)
• [ ]  Update your will and ensure your executor has a copy

Funeral & Disposition Planning

• [ ]  Decide between burial and cremation (and inform your family)
• [ ]  Select a preferred funeral home or cremation provider
• [ ]  Document specific funeral or memorial service wishes
• [ ]  Research cemetery options if burial is preferred
• [ ]  Consider a green or natural burial
• [ ]  Investigate whole-body donation if desired
• [ ]  Document ash scattering wishes if cremation is chosen

Financial Planning

• [ ]  Estimate funeral costs and set aside or designate funds
• [ ]  Review life insurance policies for death benefit coverage
• [ ]  Determine if VA burial benefits apply
• [ ]  Check union, fraternal, or other organizational death benefits

Communication

• [ ]  Share all documents with your designated representative and family members
• [ ]  Have the difficult conversations — don’t leave your family guessing
• [ ]  Consider consulting a death doula to facilitate EOL planning conversations

This guide is provided for informational purposes only by US Funerals Online. It is not legal, financial, or medical advice. Laws and costs are subject to change. Always consult a licensed funeral director, attorney, or healthcare professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Further Resources for Affordable Funeral or Cremation Options:

Guide to Cremation Costs in New Jersey

DFS Memorials – Save on Cremation Costs in New Jersey