How Long Can You Keep Ashes at Home? No Rush, No Rules

You Brought Them Home. Now You Are Wondering How Long They Can Stay.

Maybe the funeral home handed you a box and you set it on the kitchen counter because you did not know where else to put it. Maybe you placed the ashes on a shelf with a candle and a photo and it has been there for months. Maybe it has been years.

And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question keeps surfacing. Is this okay? Am I supposed to have done something with them by now? Is there a law? A deadline? A rule I am breaking?

The short answer is no. There is no time limit. There is no law requiring you to scatter, bury, or do anything with cremated remains by a certain date. You can keep ashes at home for as long as you need to. A week. A year. A decade. Forever. It is entirely your choice.

What the Law Actually Says

In the United States, there is no federal law that prohibits keeping cremated remains at home. Once cremation is complete, the ashes become the legal property of the person who authorized the cremation, which is usually the next of kin or the individual named in the deceased's will.

You do not need a license, a permit, or any form of registration to store ashes in your home. Cremated remains are not classified as hazardous material. They are safe to keep in a bedroom, a living room, a closet, or anywhere that feels right to you.

State laws vary slightly on related matters like scattering, burial on private property, and transporting remains across state lines. But on the specific question of keeping ashes in your home, the answer is consistent across all 50 states: it is legal, and there is no expiration date.

If the ashes belong to a person whose wishes were documented in a will, the will may specify what should be done with the remains. In that case, the legal expectation is that you follow those wishes when you are able to. But even then, there is no court-enforced deadline. The law gives you room to grieve.

Cremated Remains Do Not Expire

This is the part that surprises most people. Cremated ashes are not biological in the way you might assume. They are not tissue. They are not organic matter that will decompose over time.

What remains after cremation is primarily processed bone mineral, mostly calcium phosphate. The intense heat of the cremation process, which reaches around 1,400 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, eliminates all organic material, bacteria, and anything that could break down. What you receive is a fine, mineral-based powder that is sterile and stable.

Cremated remains do not smell. They do not attract insects. They do not pose a health risk. They will not change in composition over time if stored properly. The ashes you bring home today will be the same ashes in 50 years.

The only thing that changes over time is the container. Humidity can cause ashes to clump if the seal is not tight. Containers can crack, lids can loosen, and materials can degrade. But the ashes themselves are remarkably permanent. We will talk about proper storage in a moment.

Why So Many Families Keep Ashes at Home

You are not unusual. The U.S. cremation rate is now above 60 percent and climbing. The National Funeral Directors Association projects it will continue rising in the years ahead. And a significant number of those families bring the ashes home and keep them there, sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently.

The reasons are as varied as the families themselves. Some keep ashes at home because they are not ready to let go. Some because they find comfort in the physical closeness. Some because they have not decided what to do yet and the ashes on the shelf are a form of keeping their options open. Some because scattering or burial does not feel right for their relationship or their beliefs.

All of those reasons are valid. There is no hierarchy of grief that says scattering is better than keeping, or that a ceremony is more meaningful than a quiet shelf in the bedroom.

If you are looking for ideas about what to do with ashes whenever you are ready, our guide on what to do with ashes after cremation walks through every option without pressure. And if the ashes belong to a pet, our guide to keeping pet ashes at home covers the same ground for companion animals.

How to Store Ashes Safely at Home

Proper storage is simple, but it matters. Here is what to keep in mind.

Keep them dry. Moisture is the only real concern with long-term storage. If humidity gets into the container, the ashes can clump or compact. This does not damage the remains, but it can make them harder to handle later if you decide to scatter or divide them. Choose a container with a secure, tight-fitting lid. Avoid storing ashes in damp basements or bathrooms.

Choose a stable container. The temporary container from the crematorium, usually a plastic box or bag, is fine for short-term storage. But for long-term keeping, a proper urn or vessel provides better protection. It does not need to be expensive. It needs to seal well and feel meaningful to you. Our urns to keep at home collection includes handcrafted options designed for exactly this purpose.

Keep them out of direct sunlight. Prolonged sun exposure will not damage the ashes, but it can degrade certain urn materials, especially wood and some ceramics. A shelf, mantle, or nightstand away from a window is ideal.

Keep them secure. If you have young children or pets, place the urn somewhere stable and out of reach. An accidental spill is not dangerous, but it is distressing. A high shelf, a closed cabinet, or a dedicated memorial space all work well.

Label the container. This sounds practical rather than emotional, but it matters. If you move, if something happens to you, or if the ashes are eventually passed to another family member, clear labeling ensures the remains are treated with the respect they deserve. Include the person's name, date of birth, and date of death.

What About Religious Beliefs?

Some families feel tension between keeping ashes at home and their faith tradition. Here is a brief overview of where the major traditions stand.

The Catholic Church permits cremation but prefers that ashes be buried or entombed in a sacred place such as a cemetery or columbarium rather than kept at home indefinitely. If your family is Catholic and this feels important, keeping the ashes at home temporarily while you arrange a burial or entombment is common and accepted. There is no church-imposed deadline.

Most Protestant denominations have no specific prohibition against keeping ashes at home. The decision is left to the family.

In Judaism, cremation is generally discouraged, though practices vary across denominations. If cremation has already occurred, families often seek rabbinic guidance about what comes next.

Many Hindu families traditionally immerse ashes in a sacred body of water as part of the final rites. Ashes may be kept at home temporarily until travel or timing makes immersion possible.

In Buddhism, practices vary widely. Some traditions encourage keeping ashes at home as part of an ongoing relationship with the deceased. Others prefer burial or placement in a temple.

If your faith tradition has specific expectations, that does not mean you have to act immediately. Most religious leaders understand that grief has its own pace and will work with you on a timeline that feels respectful to both your faith and your emotional needs.

When People Ask Why You Have Not Scattered Yet

They will ask. Friends, family, sometimes even well-meaning strangers who learn about the ashes on your shelf. Have you thought about what you want to do with them? Do you not think it is time? Would they not want to be set free?

You do not owe anyone an explanation. But if you want one to give, here it is: there is no timeline for this. The ashes are safe. They are not going anywhere. And you will know when you are ready, if that day comes at all.

Some people keep ashes at home for years and then one day feel a quiet pull toward a ceremony. A trip to the ocean. A garden burial on a spring morning. A lake farewell at the place they used to fish. Our guide on how to know when you are ready was written for that exact moment of recognition.

Others keep the ashes forever, and that is a complete and valid choice.

You Can Keep Some and Scatter Some

This is the option people do not always realize they have. You do not have to choose between keeping all the ashes at home and scattering all of them. You can do both.

Many families keep a small portion in a keepsake urn at home and use the rest for a ceremony. A water farewell. A garden memorial with wildflower seeds. A cruise farewell in open water. A beach ceremony at a place they loved.

Our guide on sharing ashes among loved ones explains how to divide ashes respectfully, and our multi-location memorial guide covers the logistics of holding more than one farewell.

Keeping a portion at home while releasing the rest can feel like the best of both worlds. You maintain the physical closeness, and you also get the healing that can come from a ceremony. You do not have to choose one or the other.

What Happens If You Move

You can take ashes with you when you move to a new home. There are no laws restricting the transport of cremated remains within the United States by car. Simply secure the urn in a box or bag so it does not shift during transit, and keep it in the passenger cabin rather than a moving truck where temperature and handling are unpredictable.

If you are moving to another state, the same rules apply. Cremated remains are legal to possess in every state, and no state requires you to report or register that you are bringing ashes into the state.

If you are flying, the ashes can go in your carry-on as long as the container is x-rayable. Our TSA guide for traveling with ashes covers the specifics. If you are moving internationally, check the destination country's import regulations for human remains, as requirements vary.

Creating a Meaningful Space at Home

If the ashes are going to stay, they deserve a space that feels intentional. Not hidden in a closet out of discomfort, and not sitting in the temporary crematorium box because you have not gotten around to it.

A shelf with a candle, a photo, and a small plant. A corner of the bedroom where you talk to them before sleep. A windowsill where morning light touches the urn. A mantle with their favorite book beside it.

These small acts of arrangement are a form of honoring. They say: you are still here in this home. You still matter. I have made a place for you.

If you want to build a more intentional memorial corner, our piece on small rituals in everyday grief has ideas for daily acts of remembrance that families have found grounding.

What to Include in Your Will About Your Own Ashes

If this experience has taught you anything, it may be this: write it down. If you have preferences for what happens to your own remains, include them in your will or communicate them clearly to the person who will be responsible.

Specify whether you want to be cremated. Say where you would like the ashes to go. Name the person who should make the decisions. If you want a ceremony, describe what kind. If you want ashes scattered in a specific place, say so. If you want them kept at home, that is worth stating too.

This is not morbid planning. It is a gift to the people who will one day be standing where you are standing now, holding a box and wondering what to do next. Our piece on designing a farewell ceremony can help you think through what you might want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a legal time limit for keeping ashes at home? No. There is no federal or state law in the United States that requires you to scatter, bury, or do anything with cremated remains by a specific date. You can keep ashes at home indefinitely.

Do cremated ashes decompose over time? No. Cremated remains are primarily mineral, mostly calcium phosphate, and are completely sterile. They will not decompose, smell, attract insects, or change in composition. Stored in a dry, sealed container, they will remain the same indefinitely.

Is it safe to keep ashes in my bedroom? Yes. Cremated remains pose no health risk. They are sterile and inert. Many people keep ashes on a nightstand, dresser, or shelf in their bedroom and find comfort in the closeness.

Does the Catholic Church allow keeping ashes at home? The Catholic Church permits cremation but prefers that ashes be buried or entombed in a sacred place rather than kept at home permanently. Keeping ashes at home temporarily while arranging a burial or entombment is commonly accepted. There is no church-imposed deadline.

Can I divide ashes and keep some at home while scattering the rest? Yes. Many families keep a small portion in a keepsake urn and use the remaining ashes for a water ceremony, garden burial, or other farewell. Our guide on sharing ashes among loved ones explains how to do this respectfully.

How should I store ashes to keep them safe long-term? Keep them in a dry, sealed container away from direct sunlight and humidity. A proper urn with a tight-fitting lid is ideal. Avoid damp areas like basements or bathrooms. Label the container with the person's name and dates.

Can I take ashes with me if I move to another state? Yes. There are no restrictions on transporting cremated remains by car within the United States. If flying, pack the urn in carry-on luggage in an x-rayable container. Our TSA guide covers the specifics.

What if family members disagree about what to do with the ashes? This is common, especially when a spouse and adult children have different wishes. Dividing the ashes so each person can hold their own ceremony or keep a portion can resolve the disagreement with respect for everyone involved. Our sharing ashes guide addresses this directly.

The Ashes Are Not Going Anywhere. Neither Is Your Love.

If you came to this page looking for permission, here it is. You can keep the ashes at home. For as long as you need. There is no deadline. There is no rule you are breaking. There is no one watching a clock.

And if the day comes when you feel ready to scatter them, to bury them in a garden, to release them into the ocean or a river or a lake, they will be there. Waiting. Patient. Just like the person they belonged to.

The ceremony, whenever it comes, does not need to be perfect. It needs to be yours.

With love,

Virginia