Tennessee Funeral Service Laws Rules & Regulations (LRR) Practice Exam

What should be done with the excess cremains if they do not fit in the urn?

1. They should be kept in the funeral home

2. They should be scattered

3. They should be placed in a temporary urn

4. They should be buried

The correct answer is: They should be placed in a temporary urn

The appropriate action for excess cremains that do not fit in the urn is to place them in a temporary urn. This practice is beneficial because it provides a respectful and practical solution for managing the additional cremains while allowing families the time to decide on a more permanent arrangement. By using a temporary urn, it ensures that all of the cremains are kept together safely and honorably until the family can make a further decision regarding their final disposition. Utilizing a temporary urn also aligns with the expectations of the family, as they may wish to keep all of their loved one’s remains together for personal reasons. This option maintains the dignity of the remains and allows for a thoughtful process about how to handle excess cremains appropriately. Other options such as scattering or burial might not address the immediate need to contain the additional cremains or could go against the family's wishes or the legal requirements of the institution. Keeping them in the funeral home might also not be ideal due to potential issues with space and the need for the family to have access to their loved one’s remains.