For how long may a funeral home hold cremated remains before necessary action must be taken?

The correct duration for which a funeral home may hold cremated remains before necessary action must be taken is set at 60 days after the date of cremation. This guideline is established to ensure that the cremated remains are handled in a timely manner, which is respectful to the deceased and sensitive to the grieving family.

After this period, funeral homes are generally required to take appropriate action, which might include notifying the family or preparing the remains for disposition. This timeframe encourages families to make decisions about the final disposition of the remains, while also providing the funeral home with a structured timeline to follow. The stipulation does not permit indefinite holding without a fee, emphasizing the importance of resolving such matters to provide closure for the family involved.