Question
My father passed away last night and he wished to be cremated. We are in Montgomery, Alabama. What are the requirements for having an open coffin wake?
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Answer
Expert Barbara Repa, a Caring.com senior editor, is an attorney, a journalist specializing in aging issues, and the author of WillMaker, software enabling consumers to write their own wills, health care directives, powers of attorney, and final arrangements.
There are no specific laws or regulations that control this. Such arrangements are up to the survivors -- or must be carried out according to the wishes of the deceased, if he or she left binding wishes.
If the deceased or survivors wish to have an open casket viewing, you should be able to arrange one through a local funeral director; then arrange to have the body cremated afterward. If the first funeral director with whom you discuss these plans is unwilling to carry them out, or if the quoted price seems too high, then ask another. It may require some persistence and strength to do this type of comparison-shopping, but persevere.
And if you run into roadblocks, contact the Alabama Board of Funeral Service for help at 334-242-4049.
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