# So, legally, what can you do with a corpse?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-legally-what-can-you-do-with-a-corpse/126121>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 29, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-legally-what-can-you-do-with-a-corpse/126121 "2002-08-29T16:51:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-legally-what-can-you-do-with-a-corpse/126121/1 "2002-08-29T16:51:46Z")

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In [If I dug up a body, what would it look (and smell) like](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_092.html), Cecil mentions that by law a body does not have to be embalmed. Are there are other services a mortician performs that aren’t required? Do I even need a mortician? Could I hire a taxidermist to stuff Uncle Mort and stick him on the mantle?

I assume these would vary somewhat by state, so let’s run the gamut…

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**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-legally-what-can-you-do-with-a-corpse/126121/2 "2002-08-29T23:18:08Z")

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Yeah. Like if I gave permission in my will, would it be legal for my loved ones to throw a funeral celebration and cook/eat my body?