​N.H. Rev. Stat. § 325:40-b

TITLE XXX OCCUPATIONS
CHAPTER 325
EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS
​Section 325:40-b Care of Deceased Human Bodies. – If final disposition has not occurred within 48 hours after the funeral home obtains actual physical custody of the body, the body shall be embalmed or maintained at a temperature of under 40 degrees Fahrenheit or encased in a closed container with methods employed to prevent leakage.

What This Means for NH Families

Home funeral families who do not hire a funeral director in any capacity are NOT affected by this law.

Families that do hire a funeral director but are hoping to avoid any additional expenses or to have the body interred naturally will have to mind the clock. The onus is on the funeral home to time the 48 hours, but keep in mind that there are no funeral police.  It would behoove the next-of-kin to keep track of the time to try to avoid this arbitrary limitation if these requirements are not desired. (Most other states do not stipulate any time limits or forced expenditures.)

​Natural burial options will be limited or eliminated by being required to either chemically embalm or encase in a container as described.

• Non formaldehyde-based embalming products are accepted by many natural cemeteries, but the procedure is equally invasive. Champion Company's Enigma line of embalming fluids is the standard, used primarily for the safety of embalmers. Its effects are shorter-lasting than formaldehyde-based products. Average embalming costs are in the $700 to $900 range.
• Containers that meet the State's requirement for being leak proof are usually Ziegler cases made of metal that are use din disaster scenarios. They not allowed  for burial in natural cemeteries. Cost is usually between $5,000 and $7,000.
• Most NH funeral homes do not have refrigeration units. They rely on a cooled room for storage similar to how funeral families can do at home. Costs for storage can become exorbitant past the first day or two, sometimes more than $100 a day.