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Washington Crematory Documentation Requirements: What Operators Must Keep on File

August 7, 2025 • 3 min read

A practical guide for Washington State crematories on the paperwork and logs you’re required to collect, verify, and retain.

Washington Crematory Documentation Requirements (2025 Guide)

Washington is friendly to modern disposition methods (cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction), but it’s strict about paperwork and recordkeeping. Here’s the no-fluff rundown of what you need to collect, verify, and retain to stay compliant.

1) Authorization to control disposition

Before anything else, you must have a legally valid authorization from the person with the right to control disposition (or a pre-signed directive from the decedent). Washington law spells out the priority list and recognizes self-directed, witnessed authorizations. Keep this document in the case file. ([Washington State Legislature][1])

2) Death registration + Burial-Transit (Disposition) Permit

You may not proceed to final disposition until:

  • The report of death is filed/registered with the local registrar, and
  • You (or the funeral director/establishment or authorizing person) have obtained a burial-transit permit authorizing final disposition.

You must deliver that permit to the crematory before performing the reduction. (This also governs reinterment/disinterment scenarios.) ([Washington State Legislature][2], [Findlaw][3])

Notes on cremated remains & permits

A local registrar may issue a burial-transit permit specifically for the disposition or transport of cremated remains, including remains held 45+ days. Keep any such permits with the case file. ([Washington State Legislature][4], [Legal Information Institute][5])

3) Identification & chain of custody

Washington requires positive ID all the way through:

  • On intake: Do not take custody of unidentified human remains. Verify that identification is attached to the container/shroud or remains. ([Washington State Legislature][6])
  • At the chamber: A metal identification disc or tag identifying the crematory must go into the chamber and stay with the remains through processing and packaging. Simultaneous reductions are prohibited unless you have written authorization from the authorizing agent(s). ([Legal Information Institute][7])

4) Required logs & permanent records

Washington’s Funeral & Cemetery Board and WAC 308-47 are explicit about your logs.

Crematory log (daily operations)

At minimum, your crematory log must include: ID tag number; name of deceased; date of death; date remains received; cremation container type; date of burial-transit permit; date of cremation. ([Washington State Department of Licensing][8])

Permanent case record (per WAC 308-47-065)

You must keep a permanent record for each reduction, covering (paraphrased):

  • Name of deceased; date/place of death
  • Burial-transit permit disposition date
  • Date of delivery to facility
  • Name & relationship of authorizing agent(s)
  • Name of entity contracting with you
  • Start date of the reduction process
  • Operator name
  • Packager name
  • Date of packaging
  • Date of release of reduced remains and to whom; and/or date & location of final disposition

(Additional temperature-duration records apply to natural organic reduction.) Keep these as your permanent file.

5) Packaging & post-reduction labeling

After reduction, remains must be packaged in a sealable container as ordered/supplied, and the metal ID disc/tag must remain with the remains. Label packages accordingly and store per rule. ([Washington State Legislature][9])

6) Refrigeration log (if you refrigerate)

If you refrigerate remains (instead of embalming), keep a refrigeration log with: name; date/place of death; who placed into refrigeration and when; who removed and when. Washington also restricts how long remains can be out of refrigeration absent disposition. ([Washington State Department of Licensing][8])

7) Where these rules live (and who enforces them)

  • Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) + Funeral & Cemetery Board oversee licensing and compliance. Their site also summarizes recordkeeping expectations and links to current rulemaking. ([Washington State Department of Licensing][10])
  • Core authority comes from Title 68 RCW (Human Remains) and Chapter 70.58A RCW (Vital Statistics) plus Chapter 308-47 WAC (procedures, identification, recordkeeping). Bookmark the full chapter for updates. ([Washington State Legislature][11])

Quick compliance checklist (copy/paste)

  • ☐ Authorization on file from proper authorizing agent or decedent’s witnessed directive (RCW 68.50.160)
  • ☐ Death registered & burial-transit permit obtained before reduction (RCW 70.58A.200/.210)
  • ☐ Intake ID verified; ID affixed to container/shroud/remains (WAC 308-47)
  • ☐ Metal ID disc/tag with crematory ID placed in chamber and retained through packaging (WAC 308-47)
  • ☐ Crematory log completed (ID tag, deceased name, death date, received date, container type, permit date, cremation date)
  • ☐ Permanent case record completed (all items required by WAC 308-47-065)
  • ☐ Packaging/labeling done; ID disc/tag stays with remains (WAC 308-47-060)
  • ☐ Refrigeration log maintained when used (per DOL guidance/WAC 308-48-030 reference)