California Burial Permit (Disposition of Human Remains)

In California, a Disposition Permit (Burial Permit) is required before any final arrangements can take place. This applies whether you are planning a burial, cremation, ash scattering at sea, or transporting remains.

This permit officially documents when, where, and how a person’s remains will be laid to rest, and must be secured before any services can proceed.

When you will need a Disposition Permit:

• • You need a Disposition Permit before you can:
  • Ship remains to another U.S. state or to another country
  • Pour ashes onto land or into the ocean
  • Transfer a whole body to a medical school or another institution for teaching purposes
  • Bring a body back into California from another state or from overseas
  • Dig up a body to move it to a different burial or scattering location
  • Keep remains in a location inside California for a short period before burial or scattering
  • Split cremated remains, if each segment is going to a different location— each must be covered by its own permit

Let Us Get the Burial Permit (Recommended)

For the simplest experience, let us take care of the Disposition Permit on your behalf. We’ll manage the paperwork, verifying that the permit is accurate and ready for your scheduled service, so you can focus on your family.

All we require is the original death certificate (we can’t use photocopies). Please send it to:

Funerals Your Way – Attn: Scattering
7932 Convoy Ct.
San Diego, CA 92111

Families often recommend mailing the certificate with tracking so it isn’t lost. We’ll secure the permit and return the original death certificate along with the Disposition Permit, usually within just a few business days.

💰 Fee: $69

Getting the Permit Yourself – By Mail or In Person

For those who want to get the permit themselves, the Disposition Permit is available at your local County Vital Records Office. Keep in mind that a single in-person visit may not be enough, you’ll need to first drop off the paperwork and then probably return to pick up the permit.

📝 Items You’ll Need

• • Original Death Certificate—only the official certificate is acceptable; photocopies are not valid.
  • Current Government-Issued Photo ID—feel free to bring any of the following: driver’s license, passport, or state ID. You must prove that you are the legal next of kin, or the person to whom the duty of disposition has been assigned (executor, under a power of attorney, or similar).
  • Completed Disposition Permit Application—fill this form out in full and check for accuracy.

Fee Payment—confirm the exact amount in advance. Counties typically charge between $12 and $15, depending on the county. Payment methods may vary, so it’s wise to prepare ahead.

How to Complete the form:

This is a copy of the disposition form completed for a scatter at sea off the coast of San Diego. Some things to note on this form and the changes you may need for your particular case are listed below;

• • The deceased person vital stats need to be enter on the top of the form. These need to match the death certificate information. (boxes 1a, 1b, 1c, 2, 3, 4, 6a and 6b)
  • The address of the person completing this form (boxes 7a, 7b, 7c, 8)
  • Signature of person completing this form and date (boxes: 9a, 9b)
  • Amount of the fee and date permit issued (boxes: 10a, 10b)
  • The address of the paticular vital statistics office that will be issuing form (box: 10d)
  • Check boxes on the tranaction taking place. I this ase the cremains are being moved from their existing location (home probably) and will be scattered at sea. If you are bringing the cremains in from out of state then the “ship in to California” box is also checked.
  • Where the scattering will take place. In this case “off the coast of San Diego County” replace San Diego which the specific county  where you scattering will take place (box: 16a)

You may obtain the appropriate at any Vital Statistics office in the state.

📌 Note: Incomplete applications will result in delays. 

Southern California County Vital Records Offices

If you are obtaining the permit yourself, contact the vital records office in the county where the death occurred:

Fee is typically $12–$15 per county. Confirm current fees and hours before visiting. A full list of California vital records offices is available at CDPH.ca.gov.

Fee and requirements current as of June 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About California Burial Permits

Families often have questions about burial permits, especially during an already difficult time. The answers below are designed to provide clear, straightforward guidance on when a permit is required and how the process works.