Right after it happens
Can the body be cremated right away?
Short answer
Not immediately. California requires a 24-hour waiting period after death before cremation. The cremation permit and death certificate must be filed first. A direct cremation provider handles all of this — your job is to make the first call.
What this usually means
Not immediately. California requires a 24-hour waiting period after death before cremation. The cremation permit and death certificate must be filed first. A direct cremation provider handles all of this — your job is to make the first call.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.