Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Arkansas does not let families handle a death entirely on their own. State law requires a licensed funeral director or embalmer to sign the burial permit and take legal custody of the body. A 'home funeral' in Arkansas means the body rests at home, but a licensed professional still manages the legal paperwork. Costs typically run $700 to $3,000 depending on services chosen.
Do you need a license for a home funeral in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas is what the home funeral movement calls a 'not-family-friendly' state. Under Arkansas Code Annotated § 20-17-102 and the funeral industry statutes in Title 17, Chapter 61, no family member may legally obtain a burial transit permit or disposition permit without a licensed funeral director signing off. The Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors controls this process.[1]
The body does not have to leave your home. But a licensed funeral director has to be hired, even if their role is purely administrative: picking up the paperwork, signing the burial permit, and filing the death certificate. Many Arkansas families do exactly that. They hire a director for the minimum legal function, then handle bathing, dressing, visitation, and graveside services themselves.
The director you hire does not have to embalm the body. Embalming is not required in Arkansas unless the body is transported by common carrier or held for an extended period.[2] That distinction matters a lot for cost.
So in practical terms: you cannot be your own funeral director in Arkansas. You need one. The real question is how little you need from that director, and that is where smart planning saves real money.
What does Arkansas law actually say about funeral licensing?
Arkansas Code Annotated Title 17, Chapter 61 governs funeral directing and embalming. Section 17-61-101 defines a funeral director as someone who 'engages in or conducts the business of funeral directing' and treats filing a death certificate and obtaining a burial permit as acts of funeral directing.[1]
The death certificate process in Arkansas requires the certifying physician or coroner to sign within 72 hours of death. The funeral director then files the certificate with the Arkansas Department of Health death records office before a burial transit permit is issued.[3] Families cannot bypass that chain.
Arkansas Code Annotated § 20-17-102 requires that every body be prepared, transported, or disposed of by or under the supervision of a licensed funeral director unless specific exemptions apply. The statute carves out religious and fraternal organizations in limited circumstances, but those exemptions are narrow and have not been read to allow general family-directed home funerals.[1]
The Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors licenses both individual directors and funeral establishments. An individual cannot operate as a funeral director out of their home. They have to be affiliated with a licensed establishment.[4] This matters if you were thinking about starting a small operation to help your own community: you need a brick-and-mortar or otherwise approved facility, more than a licensed person.
How much does a home funeral cost in Arkansas?
The range is wide, and the honest answer is that it depends almost entirely on how much you hire out versus handle yourself.
At the low end, a 'direct disposition' or 'immediate burial' package from a low-cost funeral home in Arkansas runs roughly $700 to $1,500. That covers the director's legal work (death certificate, burial permit), transportation of the body to the grave site or crematory, and a basic container. Many families in rural Arkansas use this model and conduct their own graveside service.[5]
Want the body at home for a visitation period before burial? Add refrigeration rental or dry ice, which runs roughly $50 to $200 depending on duration and availability. Some funeral homes charge a daily 'holding' fee if they keep oversight.
A more involved arrangement, where the director does the paperwork, transports the body to your home and later to the cemetery, and you handle everything in between, typically runs $1,000 to $2,500 in Arkansas. Rural counties often have lower overhead. Pulaski County (Little Rock area) prices tend to be higher.
Add a burial plot if you do not already own one, a grave liner or vault if the cemetery requires one (most do), and a grave opening fee, and total out-of-pocket costs can reach $3,000 to $5,000 even for a simple home-style funeral with private cemetery burial.
Cremation is the other common path. Direct cremation in Arkansas, where a licensed funeral home handles the paperwork and cremation and returns the cremated remains to the family, runs roughly $800 to $1,800 as of 2025.[5] Families then hold any memorial service they choose, at home, at a church, or outdoors, with no additional licensing required for that gathering.
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule requires any licensed funeral home to give you an itemized price list on request, in person or by mail, at no charge.[6] Call three or four homes in your area and ask for their General Price List before you commit to anything.
Typical Arkansas home funeral cost breakdown
The table below reflects realistic ranges drawn from FTC Funeral Rule pricing data and Arkansas market conditions. These are estimates, not fixed prices. Always get a General Price List from the specific funeral home before signing anything.
| Item | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral director's basic services fee | $400 | $900 |
| Transportation (first call, to home) | $150 | $350 |
| Transportation (home to cemetery or crematory) | $100 | $250 |
| Death certificate copies (each) | $10 | $15 |
| Burial permit filing | $0 | $50 |
| Dry ice or refrigeration (per day) | $50 | $150 |
| Cremation (if chosen) | $600 | $1,200 |
| Grave opening and closing fee | $400 | $1,000 |
| Grave liner or vault (if required by cemetery) | $400 | $1,500 |
Note: The funeral home's 'basic services fee' is the one charge you cannot waive under the FTC Funeral Rule. Every other line item can be declined if you do not want it.[6]
How long does a home funeral take in Arkansas?
The practical window between death and final disposition in Arkansas is typically 24 to 72 hours if you are not embalming.
Here is the actual sequence. The physician or coroner must sign the death certificate within 72 hours of the death.[3] The funeral director then files it with the county health unit or the Arkansas Department of Health death records office and obtains the burial transit permit. That permit is what legally allows the body to be buried or cremated. In many Arkansas counties this filing can happen electronically, cutting turnaround to same-day or next-day.
If you want the body at home for a period before burial, refrigeration or dry ice is the practical limit on how long that is safe and dignified. Without embalming, most practitioners keep the viewing period to 24 to 48 hours, though conditions matter. A cool room in January is different from a warm room in August.
If the death is reportable to the medical examiner or coroner because of unusual circumstances, the process can stretch. The coroner must release the body before any disposition can proceed, and that varies by county and circumstance. Coroner cases have no fixed schedule.
For cremation, once the burial permit is issued, the crematory schedules the cremation. That usually happens within 24 to 48 hours of permit issuance in Arkansas, though backlogs at busy crematories can push it to 72 hours or more. Confirm current timing directly with the crematory or funeral home.
Who is the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors?
The Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is the licensing authority for all funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral establishments in the state.[4] If you have a complaint about a funeral home, or want to verify that a director or establishment holds a current license, this board is your first call.
The board's contact information and licensee lookup are on the Arkansas Department of Health website. License status is public record. Always confirm that any director you hire holds a current, active Arkansas license before you sign a contract.
The board also sets continuing education requirements for licensed directors and runs disciplinary proceedings. If a funeral home breaks the FTC Funeral Rule (for example, by refusing to hand over an itemized price list or by charging for services you did not authorize), you can file complaints with both the Arkansas board and the FTC directly.[6]
If you want to know whether a limited-services provider in your area is authorized to handle just the minimum required paperwork, the board can confirm the establishment's license scope. Not every licensed establishment offers unbundled services, but many will when asked.
Can a family member transport the body in Arkansas?
This is one of the most common questions, and the Arkansas answer is complicated.
Under Arkansas law, transporting a dead human body is regulated as a funeral service function. The burial transit permit authorizes a specific transportation. Technically, whoever transports the body should be doing so under the authority of a licensed funeral director who has obtained that permit.[1]
In practice, once a burial permit is issued, some families do transport the body themselves to a private cemetery on family land, and rural counties often handle this informally. But 'informally tolerated' is not the same as 'legally permitted,' and the distinction matters if anything goes wrong or a county official objects.
If you plan to bury on private land, Arkansas does allow private burial grounds under certain conditions. The grave location must be recorded with the county, and local regulations (county or city) may apply. Some counties have setback requirements from water sources and property lines. Check with your county judge's office before proceeding.
For any transport on public roads without a licensed funeral director's direct involvement, you are in legally gray territory in Arkansas. If this is your plan, get written confirmation from the funeral director that they authorize the transport and that the permit covers it.
The safest path: hire a director for the minimum services, let them obtain the permit, then ask them to document that your family will handle transport. Some directors will accommodate this. Some will not.
What paperwork does an Arkansas home funeral actually require?
Three core documents cover every Arkansas disposition, no matter how simple the arrangement.
First, the death certificate. The attending physician, hospice medical director, or coroner completes the medical section. The funeral director completes the disposition and informant sections. The document is filed with the county health unit in the county where the death occurred, then forwarded to the Arkansas Department of Health Center for Health Statistics.[3]
Second, the burial transit permit. Arkansas issues this after the death certificate is accepted. The permit must accompany the body to the place of final disposition and stay on file at the cemetery or crematory.[3]
Third, if burial is in a cemetery, the cemetery requires its own authorization: proof of lot ownership or lot purchase, a completed interment order, and confirmation of any vault or liner requirements. This is a private cemetery contract, not a state form, but you cannot skip it.
For deaths at home under hospice care, the process is usually smoother because the hospice agency has a relationship with the pronouncing physician and the family already knows the expected path. For unexpected deaths at home, the county coroner must be notified, and the coroner decides whether to investigate before releasing the body to a funeral director.
Death certificate copies in Arkansas cost $10 each as of the current fee schedule.[3] Order more than you think you need. Banks, insurance companies, and government benefit agencies each typically require a certified copy.
How does an Arkansas home funeral work in practice, step by step?
Here is a realistic sequence for an Arkansas family who wants the body at home for a period before burial.
Step one: Contact a licensed funeral director before or right at the time of death. If the death is expected (hospice, terminal illness), arrange this in advance. Get a signed contract and an itemized price list.
Step two: If the death is at home, notify the county coroner if required (sudden or unexpected death), or have the hospice or attending physician called to pronounce and begin the death certificate paperwork.
Step three: The funeral director files the death certificate and obtains the burial transit permit. This can happen while the body remains at home in most cases.
Step four: The family prepares the body for home visitation. Bathing, dressing, positioning, and wrapping are things families can do themselves. Dry ice or a body cooling blanket extends the visitation window. The National Home Funeral Alliance has practical guides on body care worth reading before you need them.[7]
Step five: Family and friends gather at home for whatever ceremony or quiet time feels right. No license is required to hold a memorial gathering at a private home.
Step six: The funeral director or the family (depending on what you have agreed and documented) transports the body to the cemetery or crematory with the burial transit permit.
Step seven: Final disposition. For burial in a private cemetery on family land, the grave location must be recorded with the county within a set number of days. Confirm the exact requirement with the county clerk.
If you are working through the paperwork and want a structured checklist of what each state requires, the HomeFuneralPath Home-Funeral Legality Kit covers Arkansas specifically and walks through each document in the correct sequence.
What is a 'green burial' and is it allowed in Arkansas?
Green burial means interment without embalming, in a biodegradable container or a shroud, with no concrete vault. It is legal in Arkansas as long as the standard permit requirements are met.
The practical barrier in Arkansas is not state law. It is individual cemetery policy. Most conventional cemeteries in the state require a grave liner or concrete vault to prevent ground settling. If you want a natural burial, you need a cemetery that explicitly allows it.
As of 2025, Arkansas has at least one dedicated green burial section at a conventional cemetery and several natural land burial options on private property, though the picture changes. The Green Burial Council keeps a list of certified providers by state if you want to check which facilities meet defined natural burial standards.[8]
Burial on private family land is legal in Arkansas with the proper permit and county recording. This is the most common form of informal green burial in rural parts of the state, and it has a long history there. The steps: confirm no local ordinance prohibits it, make sure the location meets setback requirements, obtain the burial transit permit, and record the grave location with the county clerk.
How does Arkansas compare to nearby states for home funeral freedom?
Arkansas is more restrictive than some of its neighbors. Here is a quick comparison.
| State | Family-directed without funeral director? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | No | Licensed director required for permits |
| Missouri | No | Licensed director required |
| Tennessee | No | Licensed director required |
| Oklahoma | No | Licensed director required |
| Texas | No | Licensed director required |
| Mississippi | No | Licensed director required |
| Colorado | Yes | Families may act as their own funeral director [9] |
| Vermont | Yes | Among the most permissive states [10] |
If you are near the Colorado border or have property in a more permissive state, it is worth understanding whether a multi-state option is practical for your situation. Most people are not, so Arkansas families need to work within the licensed-director requirement rather than around it.
See also our guides on home funeral license in Arizona and home funeral license in Colorado for comparison on how nearby states handle the same questions.
Across the South and much of the mid-South, Arkansas is typical. The region has kept strong licensing requirements. If you want maximum family control, look at states like Colorado, Vermont, or Washington.
Finding a funeral director willing to do minimal services in Arkansas
This is the real practical challenge. Some Arkansas funeral homes flatly refuse to do 'unbundled' services. They want to provide embalming, a casket, and a full package. They are legally allowed to set that policy.
Others will help. The key is asking the right question upfront: 'Do you offer direct disposition or minimal-services arrangements where the family handles the visitation and ceremony?' Some smaller, independent funeral homes in rural Arkansas are more flexible than large corporate-owned operations.
The National Home Funeral Alliance's directory lists funeral directors sympathetic to family-directed arrangements.[7] Not all of them are in Arkansas, but some are, and it is worth checking. Word of mouth in hospice communities and natural burial groups in Arkansas is often the best lead.
Get everything in writing before the death occurs if you possibly can. A preneed arrangement or a written agreement that spells out exactly what the director will do and what the family will do protects both sides and prevents a crisis-moment argument.
The HomeFuneralPath Home-Funeral Legality Kit includes a state-specific checklist for Arkansas that you can bring to the conversation with a funeral director to confirm which tasks they will handle and which you will.
For a broader look at how to structure the full process, see our guide on how to start a home funeral in Arkansas.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for a home funeral in Arkansas?
Arkansas families cannot legally obtain a burial permit or file a death certificate on their own. State law under Arkansas Code Annotated Title 17, Chapter 61 requires a licensed funeral director to handle those steps. You can manage the body at home, conduct your own ceremony, and handle burial on private land, but a licensed director must be involved in the paperwork. This is non-negotiable under current Arkansas law.
Can a family member sign a death certificate in Arkansas?
No. In Arkansas, the medical portion of the death certificate is signed by the attending physician, hospice medical director, or coroner. The disposition section is completed by a licensed funeral director. A family member acts as the informant (providing biographical details) but cannot sign as the funeral director unless they hold an active Arkansas funeral director's license issued by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
How much does a home funeral cost in Arkansas?
Realistic total costs for a home-based arrangement in Arkansas run from about $700 for minimal direct disposition to $3,000 or more when you add burial plot, grave opening fees, and a grave liner. The funeral director's basic services fee, which you cannot waive under the FTC Funeral Rule, typically runs $400 to $900 in Arkansas. Always ask for an itemized General Price List before signing anything.
How long does an Arkansas home funeral take?
The physician must sign the death certificate within 72 hours. After the funeral director files it and obtains the burial transit permit, disposition can proceed. Without embalming, most families plan visitation for 24 to 48 hours. Cremation usually follows permit issuance by 24 to 72 hours depending on crematory scheduling. Coroner-involved cases have no fixed schedule and can extend the process by several days.
Is embalming required in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas does not require embalming for home funerals or for burial in general. Embalming is required only when the body is transported by common carrier or held for an extended period under specific conditions. Families who want the body at home for a short visitation period typically use dry ice or a body cooling system instead. The funeral director you hire cannot require embalming as a condition of basic services.
Can you bury someone on private land in Arkansas?
Yes, private land burial is allowed in Arkansas. You still need a burial transit permit issued through a licensed funeral director. The grave location must be recorded with the county clerk. Local ordinances may impose setback requirements from water sources, roads, or property lines. Check with your county judge's office before any burial on private property. Most rural Arkansas families who use this option have established family cemeteries already on their land.
What does the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors do?
The board licenses and disciplines all funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral establishments in Arkansas. It is the first stop to verify that a funeral home or director holds a current active license. It also handles complaints against licensed providers. The board operates under the Arkansas Department of Health. If a funeral home violates the FTC Funeral Rule, you can file complaints with both the Arkansas board and the FTC concurrently.
What is the cheapest legal option for a home funeral in Arkansas?
The lowest-cost legal path is direct cremation: a licensed funeral home handles the death certificate, burial permit, and cremation, and returns the cremated remains to the family. Costs in Arkansas range from roughly $800 to $1,800. The family then holds any memorial service they want at home at no additional regulated cost. For burial, a direct burial with a minimal container and no embalming from an independent funeral home is the next cheapest option.
Can I prepare and dress the body myself in Arkansas?
Yes. Bathing, dressing, and caring for a deceased family member's body at home is not a licensed activity in Arkansas. You do not need any credentials to wash, dress, or otherwise prepare the body for viewing. What you cannot do is handle the legal paperwork (death certificate, burial permit) without a licensed funeral director's involvement. Many families divide the tasks: the director handles paperwork, the family handles body care.
Does Arkansas allow green or natural burial?
Yes. Arkansas law does not require embalming or a concrete vault, so a natural burial in a biodegradable container or shroud is legally permissible. The practical barrier is cemetery policy: most conventional cemeteries require a grave liner. You need to find a cemetery that explicitly allows natural burial, or use private family land with proper permits. The Green Burial Council maintains a directory of certified natural burial providers that includes Arkansas options.
How many death certificate copies do I need in Arkansas?
Most families need at least four to six certified copies, sometimes more. Each financial institution, insurance company, and government benefit agency (Social Security, Veterans Affairs, pension plans) typically requires its own certified original. Arkansas charges $10 per certified copy. Order more than you think you need upfront; ordering additional copies later involves a separate application process and additional fees.
What happens if someone dies at home unexpectedly in Arkansas?
Call 911 or the county coroner immediately. For unexpected, sudden, or unattended deaths, the coroner must investigate before the body can be released to a funeral director. Do not move the body until the coroner releases it. The coroner determines cause of death and issues a release. After release, the normal funeral director and burial permit process proceeds. The timeline for coroner cases varies by county and circumstance.
Do hospice deaths at home require a coroner in Arkansas?
Generally no. When a person is under hospice care and death is expected, the hospice agency typically coordinates the physician's signature on the death certificate and notifies the funeral director the family has chosen. The coroner is not involved in expected hospice deaths. The process is usually smoother and faster than an unexpected death. Confirm the specific protocol with your hospice provider when you enroll, not at the time of death.
Is Arkansas moving toward allowing family-directed home funerals without a funeral director?
There is no active legislation in the Arkansas General Assembly as of early 2026 that would create a family-directed home funeral exemption. Arkansas has not followed the path of states like Colorado or Vermont. The licensing lobby in Arkansas is well-organized. Families who want change should contact their state legislators directly. For now, plan around the licensed-director requirement rather than waiting for a law change.
Sources
- Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas Code Annotated Title 17, Chapter 61 (Funeral Directors and Embalmers): Arkansas Code Annotated Title 17, Chapter 61 requires a licensed funeral director to obtain a burial transit permit and file a death certificate; family members may not perform these acts without a license.
- Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas Code Annotated § 20-17-102: Embalming is not required in Arkansas unless the body is transported by common carrier or held for extended periods under specific regulated conditions.
- Arkansas Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics: Arkansas requires the attending physician or coroner to sign the death certificate within 72 hours; the funeral director files it to obtain the burial transit permit; certified copies cost $10 each.
- Arkansas Department of Health, Professional and Occupational Licensing: The Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors licenses individual funeral directors and funeral establishments; directors must be affiliated with a licensed establishment.
- National Funeral Directors Association, Cremation and Burial Statistics: Direct cremation pricing in Arkansas ranges from roughly $800 to $1,800; direct burial and minimal-services packages range from approximately $700 to $1,500 depending on geography and firm.
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Complying with the Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453): The FTC Funeral Rule requires licensed funeral homes to provide an itemized General Price List on request at no charge; the basic services fee is the one charge consumers cannot waive.
- National Home Funeral Alliance, Home Funeral Directory and Resources: The National Home Funeral Alliance maintains a directory of funeral directors and guides sympathetic to family-directed arrangements, including resources on body care without embalming.
- Green Burial Council, Provider Directory: The Green Burial Council certifies natural burial providers by state; Arkansas has options including natural burial sections at conventional cemeteries and private land burial.
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-135-302 (Funeral Services Licensing Act exemptions): Colorado law explicitly allows families to act as their own funeral director and handle all disposition paperwork without hiring a licensed professional.