Resources
A reference library for end-of-life planning
Glossary terms, planning checklists, and pointers to where to find official regulatory and support information.
Glossary
Alkaline Hydrolysis
A water-and-alkali based process that breaks down soft tissue, leaving bone fragments — also called water cremation or resomation.
Columbarium
A structure with individual niches for storing urns containing cremated remains.
Conservation Easement
A legal agreement, typically held by a land trust, that permanently restricts development on a piece of land.
Cremated Remains
The processed bone fragments remaining after cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, commonly referred to as "ashes."
Embalming
The chemical preservation of a body, typically using formaldehyde-based fluid, to temporarily slow decomposition for viewing.
Green Burial Council
An independent North American nonprofit that certifies cemeteries and providers meeting defined green and conservation burial standards.
Natural Organic Reduction (NOR)
The formal legal term for human composting — controlled decomposition of a body into soil.
Vault / Grave Liner
A concrete or metal container placed around a casket in the ground to prevent settling — required by many cemeteries, not by state law.
Vitrification
The process cryonics providers use to attempt to convert tissue into a glass-like state using cryoprotectants, intended to reduce ice-crystal damage.
Direct Cremation
Cremation performed without a viewing or funeral service beforehand, typically the lowest-cost disposition option.
Planning checklist
- 01Decide which category of method interests you — established, emerging, or experimental — and read the relevant guide on our Burial Methods page.
- 02Confirm legal availability of your chosen method in your specific state, province, or country by contacting a local funeral or cemetery regulatory authority.
- 03Request an itemized price list from any funeral home or provider you're considering — in the U.S., this is required under the FTC Funeral Rule.
- 04Discuss your wishes with family in advance, and put preferences in writing where your jurisdiction allows.
- 05Consult a licensed attorney or financial advisor for any estate, insurance, or pre-payment questions — IceBurial does not provide legal or financial advice.
Where to find official information
- Your state, provincial, or national funeral and cemetery regulatory board — for licensing and legal requirements.
- Your national environmental protection agency — for sea burial and ash scattering regulations.
- A licensed grief counselor or support organization — for emotional support during loss, which is outside IceBurial's scope.
- A licensed attorney — for estate planning, advance directives, and burial instructions with legal force.