Funeral Services Act

The government in British Columbia passed the Cremation, Internment and Funeral Services Act in July 2004. This act helps to form guidelines for the arrangements of those who are deceased.

Features

The Cremation, Internment and Funeral Services Act contains guidelines that dictate where a body can be buried, who is in charge of arrangements, requirements for donating remains and other laws pertaining to funeral arrangements.

Arrangements

Funeral or cremation arrangements are, first and foremost, dictated by the deceased person in a will. If the deceased did not make a will, a spouse, an adult child, adult grandchild or other responsible relative carries out the arrangements.

Licenses

Funeral directors, operators, embalmers, funeral providers and any apprentices must have a license before handling deceased bodies.

Cremations

The act states the size and type containers that may contain cremated remains and where these remains may be scattered.

Considerations

The act prohibits the disposal of bodies in areas not authorized by the government. For example, you cannot dispose of a deceased person in an area that is not certified or on land not reserved for internment under the Land Act.

References

• Funeral Service Association of British Columbia: Cremation, Internment, and Funeral Services Legislation
• British Columbia Laws: Cremation, Internment, and Funeral Services Act