Do I have to embalm the body before burial or cremation?

Do I have to embalm the body before burial or cremation?

Dan Redmond (Cemetery and Funeral Inspector, California Department of Consumer Affairs ) gives expert video advice on: What services do most funeral homes offer?; Do I have to embalm the body before burial or cremation? and more...

You do not have to embalm the body before cremation or burial. That's a personal choice by either the family or the decease. If they're making a pre-need arrangement, they may choose before death that they want to be embalmed, but that is not something that is required in any way.