Is it OK in MS to bury a body in your back yard? Here’s what the law says
Funeral costs are higher than ever, with a full 2025 funeral costing $8,000 in Mississippi, according to the World Population Review. Meanwhile, cremations are much cheaper, but still cost around $2,000. So, what other choices do you have when burying a loved one?
Well, a private home burial on your own property may be an option.
Let’s see if it’s legal first, though:
Is it legal to bury a body in your MS backyard?
Yes, it is legal to bury a body on your own property in Mississippi, although most bodies are buried in cemeteries in the state.
The law says that the county board of supervisors must grant permission to establish private family cemeteries. (Miss. Code § 41-43-1 (2024).)
Here’s what to do if you want to have a home burial:
“If you bury a body in your backyard, you should draw a map of the property showing the burial ground and file it with the property deed so the location will be clear to others in the future,” according to Nolo Encyclopedia.
Other things to remember about home burials in Mississippi
Here are more things to remember if you want a home burial:
- No casket is required, but the body must be in some kind of container
- Embalming isn’t necessary unless final disposition doesn’t occur within 48 hours of death, orthe body will be transported within or outside of the state and the destination can’t be reached within 24 hours of the death.
Have you or someone you know performed a home burial? Let us know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
