When must you bury or cremate?

• A. Within a reasonable time after death.
• B. Immediately after death.
• C. Within 24 hours.
• D. Only after autopsy.

Answer: (A)

Timing for disposition is guided by respect for the deceased and practical steps that need to happen before burial or cremation. In practice, remains should be disposed of within a reasonable time after death. This allows for the necessary steps—confirming death, obtaining any required permits, arranging transport, notifying family, and carrying out the chosen service—without unnecessary delay. If a coroner’s or medical examiner’s autopsy or investigation is required, that can extend the timeline, but when there’s no mandate for an autopsy and no other hold, a prompt disposition is expected. Immediate disposal isn’t mandated or always feasible due to these preparations, and a rigid 24-hour rule doesn’t apply universally. Likewise, disposition isn’t automatically dependent on an autopsy being performed.