Does Illinois Require Embalming for Burial?

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:56:31 GMT

Does Illinois Require Embalming for Burial?

No. Illinois has no law requiring embalming — not for burial, not for cremation, not for any method of disposition. No Illinois statute or administrative rule requires it, for any reason or length of time.

This is useful to know simply because it means embalming is a choice, not an obligation — the same way choosing a casket or a shroud, burial or cremation, is a choice. Illinois Natural Burial's funeral directors can walk you through what Illinois law actually requires versus what's a matter of personal or family preference.

What Illinois law actually says

Embalming is still common, and many funeral homes offer it, but it's rarely necessary — refrigeration accomplishes the same purpose of preserving the body temporarily. Illinois simply has no statute putting embalming on the list of legal requirements for burial or cremation.

This is true in most states, not just Illinois. Embalming is often chosen for practical reasons — an open-casket viewing, or a longer time gap before the service — but it isn't legally required here for any reason.

No casket requirement either

The same is true for caskets: no Illinois law requires a casket for burial, and none requires one for cremation. Illinois Natural Burial can arrange for a shroud burial with no casket at our partner cemeteries .

Shroud burial , with no embalming, is entirely legal in Illinois.

What happens instead of embalming

Without embalming, INB relies on refrigeration in the time between death and the service — a simple, routine part of care that we handle as a normal step, not a special accommodation. It keeps the body in good condition for a graveside service, a visitation, or church service without altering the body the way embalming does.

A licensed funeral director is still required

No embalming requirement doesn't mean no funeral director is needed. Illinois is one of only ten states that requires a licensed funeral director to be involved in disposition, regardless of the method chosen. INB's staff members (Mat and Andrew) have been fully licensed Illinois funeral directors for many years and we can help your family arrange a natural burial , water cremation , or terramation in addition to any other funeral services that may be right for you.

What this means for green or natural burial

Because embalming has never been legally required in Illinois, choosing a shroud and foregoing embalming — the heart of natural burial — isn't a special exception or a workaround. It's simply making use of an option that's always been legally available. If you're drawn to a greener option, Illinois law isn't standing in your way.

Reviewed by: Mat Olejniczak and Andrew Ringa, Licensed Funeral Directors. Last reviewed: October 15, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes and isn't legal advice. Laws can change; contact us or consult IDFPR for current requirements.

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How Much Does a Green Burial Cost in Illinois

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:08:55 GMT

How Much Does a Green Burial Cost in Illinois?

by Mat Olejniczak and Andrew Ringa

Illinois Natural Burial's base price for a green burial is $2,535. This covers all of our professional services including transportation and legal paperwork required to file a death certificate. It does not cover any funeral service or gathering, either at the funeral home or the graveside, and it does not include cemetery charges.

Every cemetery sets its own prices. So, depending on which cemetery a family chooses, the total cost of a green burial will be between $7,195 and $15,000 (which includes INB and cemetery charges). This range covers INB professional services and the cemetery's charges for a grave and opening and closing. No concrete burial vault is required at any of our partner cemeteries.

Every family has arrangements that differ. This guide breaks the cost down piece by piece: our baseline service charge, each cemetery's fee, common add-ons like a visitation, graveside service, or weekend service, and third-party and government costs. Our goal is to provide you a number you can actually plan around, not a vague industry estimate.

INB's baseline service charge

Our starting price for a simple natural burial — no graveside service and no visitation or funeral service beforehand—is $2,535—and includes:

Basic professional services of our staff
All transportation
Washing, care, and refrigeration of the body
Shroud

This is the number to add to a cemetery's fees below to get a full picture—cemetery costs are billed separately by the cemetery and vary by location.

Cemetery costs and your all-in total

Each of our partner cemeteries sets its own fees for the grave, opening and closing, and (where it's not already included) a grave marker. Below, the "all-in total" adds our $2,535 baseline to each cemetery's charges, assuming a basic natural-stone marker starting around $1,900 (including installation) where one isn't already included.

Casper Creek is the only cemetery that offers a lower price if it is pre-paid; its at-need price applies when arrangements are made at the time of death. All four cemeteries also offer natural burial of cremated remains at a lower cost — we cover that option in a separate guide.

Common add-ons

Families often add one or more of the following, which is why two green burials can land at very different totals even at the same cemetery:

Visitation and/or funeral service at a funeral home, church, or other location: +$1,700
Graveside service: +$475
Weekend service: +$500
Private family viewing before burial or cremation: +$295
Long-distance transportation: $2 per mile beyond the first 25 miles (applies to non-local cemeteries, including Casper Creek)

Merchandise, third-party, and government fees

Several costs sit outside our service charge and the cemetery fees. None of these are included in the figures above, since they depend entirely on what a family chooses:

Merchandise: biodegradable casket, flowers, prayer cards, and other personal touches
Third-party charges: church or clergy fees, musicians, paid obituary notices, etc.
Certified copies of the death certificate: $8–$10 each, depending on location—most families order 8–12 copies, since banks, insurers, and other institutions each require their own certified copy
Coroner's cremation permit (cremation only, not required for burial): $100 in most Illinois counties, $150 in Cook County

A lower-cost green alternative: water cremation

Families weighing cost alongside their environmental goals sometimes consider water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) instead of burial:

Direct water cremation , with no service: $3,435 (professional services, transportation, and the cremation itself)
Water cremation with a memorial service at the funeral home or offsite: $4,385

The same add-ons above (weekend service, private viewing, clergy, etc.) may apply, plus death certificates ($8–$10 each), and a coroner's or medical examiner's cremation permit ($100 most counties, $150 in Cook County).

Do you need a burial vault?

No. None of our partner cemeteries require a concrete or metal vault for a natural burial. Allowing the body to return naturally to the earth, without a concrete or metal barrier slowing the process, is central to what makes a burial "green" or "natural" in the first place.

Getting an exact number

The figures here cover the vast majority of what a family pays, but every arrangement is different. If you'd like to talk it through , we're here — we're happy to walk through your wishes and put together an exact, written quote with no pressure attached.

Reviewed by: Mat Olejniczak and Andrew Ringa, Licensed Funeral Directors. Last reviewed: October 13, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes and isn't legal or financial advice. Prices reflect Illinois Natural Burial's current charges and partner cemetery fees as of the last-reviewed date above and are subject to change; contact us for a current, written quote.

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Does Illinois Require Embalming for Burial?