Handling of bodies and cemetery regulations

The handling of bodies and cemetery regulations are subject to rules that aim to protect public health, human dignity and the proper conduct of funeral practices. 
This section provides members of the public, local authorities and funeral homes with useful information on these matters. 

What to do after someone dies

You must report the death, either directly or indirectly, through a designated person or the funeral home, to the local civil registry where the death occurred. The registry office will then send the death record to the registry office of the deceased’s place of residence for updating purposes. A death must be reported within 24 hours (except in special cases, such as judicial investigations or accidents) by a family member, a designated person or the funeral home, attaching the medical record of death and the ISTAT form (both completed by the certifying doctor). This is necessary to obtain the death certificate (certificato di morte), which is required for all subsequent procedures (Presidential Decree 285/1990, Art. 23). 

Only engage licensed funeral homes 

Only funeral homes registered with the local authority or licensed by the Region are allowed to handle and transport human remains, to ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations while transporting and storing a body.

If the deceased has left last instructions
If the deceased has expressed specific wishes (e.g. regarding cremation, burial or other matters), the funeral home and civil registry must be informed, in writing, before the funeral/burial operations. The medical examiner certifying the death, or the health authorities, must be informed of any special arrangements, especially in the case of cremation, since they may require specific authorisation (Presidential Decree 285/1990).
If the deceased has left no last instructions
If the deceased has left no specific wishes in writing, decisions about the funeral and burial are made by the next of kin (in order of priority: spouse, children, parents). If no family members can be found, or if they fail to make a decision, the local authority or designated guardian will step in to ensure that the procedures are carried out correctly (Presidential Decree 285/1990).

Your rights as a family member

You have the right to receive clear and transparent information – from the local authority and funeral home – regarding the timeframes, procedures, costs, paperwork and applicable rules, which must be explained to you in a clear and comprehensive manner.
You may consult the local burial and cremation regulations, which lay down the procedures for burial, transport, cremation and other related matters.
This information can be found on the municipal website or at the competent municipal offices (civil registry, population services). If the deceased has left no specific instructions, decisions regarding cremation, burial or scattering of the ashes are made by family members, first and foremost by the spouse.
You have the right – and duty – to know whether the funeral home is licensed, uses appropriate means of transport, and complies with health regulations.
If in doubt, contact the municipal offices or your ASL.

Funerals and burials are an essential public service, linked to public health, personal dignity and compliance with health regulations. Local authorities, funeral homes and the professionals involved must operate transparently and in a coordinated manner, complying with the relevant legislation.


In particular, the local authority must:
●    plan, build and maintain cemeteries, in accordance with regional and national regulations, ensuring adequate burial space and providing the necessary health and safety conditions;
●    adopt and consistently update its burial and cremation regulations, to provide clear guidance to the public, businesses and healthcare professionals;
●    maintain cemeteries and ensure that they are kept clean and safe, for public health reasons. Continuous maintenance prevents deterioration, accidents and environmental contamination;
●    keep burial records up to date and ensure that all operations (burial, transport, cremation) can be traced, to prevent irregularities, abuse and critical health situations.

Funeral homes offer a sensitive and controlled public service. Regional Regulation No. 8/2015 sets out the minimum requirements for operating in a regular manner.


Funeral homes must:

  • be duly registered with the local authority. Registration is subject to meeting specific organisational, health and hygiene, logistical and professional requirements , as specified in Regional Regulation 8/2015;
  • use suitable licensed means of transport, which must be periodically disinfected, compartmentalised and approved by the health authorities;
  • ensure adequate staff training, by holding certified courses on hygiene, biological risks, health and safety, and rules of conduct towards family members. Training activities must be documented and updated;
  • manage all documentation correctly, including:
    • death certificates
    • clearance from the medical examiner or judicial authority
    • transport and burial/cremation authorisations
  • ​ ​​​comply with biological risk prevention protocols, providing for the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfection procedures at every stage of the funeral and burial process (from collection to dressing, transport and delivery of the deceased)

Proper management of funerals and cemetery activities covers three areas of prevention: health, to prevent the spread of infectious agents; the environment, to prevent contamination of soil, air and water; training, to ensure that staff are adequately prepared and comply with regulations, thereby protecting public health.