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When you’re grieving while trying to contact family members, making preparations for visitors and handling all the affairs for someone who just passed away, taking care of transportation and body transfers add another layer of stress. Let the experienced staff at Harmony Funeral Home take some of the burden off your shoulders. They can contact consulates, arrange in-state and out-of-state transfers, provide a hearse and limo, as well as take care of many of the other funeral details. Call them to make arrangements in advance or when you need immediate assistance. =
What Are Funeral Body Transfer Services?
Funeral body transfer services refer to the professional handling, preparation and transportation of a deceased person’s body from one location to another. Funeral body transfer services are classified into two types: domestic transfers and international transfers. Body shipping within the U.S. involves moving the body from one location to another within the United States, while international transfers include sending or receiving remains across borders.
Each destination has specific legal and health regulations that must be followed. Harmony Funeral Home specializes in funeral shipping and repatriation, trusted by families of all faiths for their professionalism and sensitivity. Other transportation needs also are fulfilled by the experienced team at Harmony Funeral Home and may include:
- Transfer from the morgue, hospital or nursing home to the Brooklyn funeral parlor
- Hearse for the casket and the funeral procession
- Limousine and other cars for funeral procession to the burial site
What Does the Body Transportation Process Involve?
If your loved one passed away in another city or state, the domestic body transportation process is generally more straightforward. You typically begin contacting a licensed funeral home near where the death occurred. That funeral home handles preparation, death certificates and any required permits. From there, your loved one is transported by air or ground to a receiving funeral home near you.
Domestic shipping doesn’t involve as many legal or logistical hurdles compared to international transport. You won’t need embassy approval or foreign documentation which often means fewer delays and lower costs. Transporting a loved one from one country to another requires extra time, documentation and coordination. Each country has its own legal requirements for entry and mistakes may delay the process significantly. The process includes:
- Obtaining multiple certified copies of the death certificate
- Coordinating with the foreign country’s consulate or embassy
- Translating documents
- Securing a consular mortuary certificate
- Meeting airline regulations for the preparation and packaging of the body
- Booking international air cargo transport
Is Embalming Required for Interstate Body Transport?
Embalming is not legally required for interstate transport. Some airlines require embalming or a sealed casket within an approved air tray for hygienic and logistical reasons. If you’re using a funeral vehicle or hearse and the distance is manageable, embalming may not be required. Some states have specific laws about how long a body can remain unembalmed or how it must be prepared before entering their borders.
Even if it’s not mandatory, embalming is often advised, especially if there’s a delay in the funeral or a public viewing planned. It preserves your loved one’s appearance and helps you avoid complications during transport. If embalming isn’t suitable for your situation, your funeral home helps you choose alternatives such as:
- Refrigerated storage during transit
- A sealed or leak-proof transport container
- Direct burial or cremation without preservation
Is Harmony Funeral Home Available for Urgent Transportation Needs?
If you haven’t made plans for a pre-arranged funeral transfer, the team at Harmony Funeral Home is available to handle all your immediate and urgent needs. Don’t worry about the paperwork involved; they provide expert legal paperwork assistance. And they can make all the contacts necessary to move the body.
Harmony Funeral Home has been proudly recognized by the NFDA for exceptional service and meaningful community involvement. They offer affordable funeral and body transport services for families of all religious backgrounds. Contact Harmony Funeral Home to handle all the funeral and transportation arrangements based on your specific faith and cultural practices.
Harmony Funeral Home
2200 Clarendon Rd.,
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 469-6666