Many families choose to share the ashes of a loved one, and it is completely legal to divide cremains into multiple containers. Your funeral planner can assist you by dividing the cremains ahead of time, so that you receive your loved one’s ashes in equal portions according to your instructions. Simple Cremation offers a variety of keepsake urns and other options for this purpose. If you plan to divide cremains on your own later, there are some practical considerations and choices to make.
Dividing ashes to share among a group of people is done for many meaningful reasons. Siblings, children and close friends might all want a physical reminder of the person they love. Dividing ashes is a solution for families who are spread across great distances, and it can be a compromise when family members disagree on disposition. There might be different religious or memorial traditions within a family, and sharing ashes allows for multiple celebrations of life. Or your loved one may have specified they wish their ashes to someday be scattered in several places.
First, to prevent disagreement, make sure you are following the wishes of the person legally responsible for the disposition of remains. This is typically the family member designated as next of kin or the person who has been named executor of the will.
If you will be transporting the cremains to another state or country to divide there, check the regulations at your destination as well as specific guidelines on transporting cremains. Many airlines and delivery services have preferred methods for packing and labeling.
When it comes to the physical duty of separating ashes, some find it a comforting act of closure while others might be emotionally overwhelmed. A good solution is to put one person in charge of the task and invite others to be present.
Ashes are safe to handle, as the cremation process renders them sterile and non-toxic. Although there is no risk in terms of infectious disease, you can wear a face mask and disposable gloves if you wish to avoid direct contact. Work on a flat surface and reduce air flow that might disturb the ashes. Keep a sheet of butcher paper or plastic underneath your workspace, and use a small spoon and funnel to more easily transfer ashes into keepsake urns or jewelry.
Once ashes have been divided and sealed into jewelry, there are no federal, state or local laws that restrict the wearing of that jewelry. Likewise, you are free to store, display or travel with a small keepsake urn of your loved one’s ashes.
Today there are many traditional and not-so-traditional ways to preserve a small amount of a loved one’s ashes. If a keepsake urn or pendant is not the right fit, there are companies that can press ashes into gemstones and artisans who can incorporate ashes into paintings, blown glass or even vinyl records.
Regardless of what you decide to do with your loved one’s ashes, the team at Simple Cremation is here to help.