So You Want to Legally Bury a Deceased Loved One in Your Backyard in Iowa

Seems weird, doesn't it? The idea of burying a deceased loved one in your backyard? Or maybe we in a field if they were a farmer or really tied to the land. No, it's not weird to think of someone wanting their final resting place to be in one of those places. It's just weird to think of putting a dead relative... out to pasture. If you would. But in Iowa, you can. However, there are still some rules.

A coworker and I talked about this, and it led me to do my homework. First and foremost, unlike most states where it's legal to make a loved one's final resting place, Iowa requires you to get a funeral director involved. Meaning, you cannot just go to Caskets-R-Us and buy a casket, dig a hole, say some prayers, and move on. You need an expert. According to Funerals 360, the funeral director will help with everything from signing the death certificate to overseeing burial or cremation if you take that route.

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It's also worth noting, you'll also need to get a burial transit permit from a medical examiner, funeral director, or the state registrar before taking the body from the place of death to wherever you plan to have it buried. That means if your loved one died at the hospital, you can't just take the body home until the funeral director shows up.

So, this is a weird, kind of morbid subject. But it's fascinating. At least to me. Maybe it just makes your stomach turn. I get that, too. Either way, now you know. So if you ever find yourself dealing with an awkward silence at a family function, bring up that you can bury anyone in the backyard. With some help, of course.