What do human remains refer to?

Human remains encompass the physical body of a deceased individual as well as any remnants resulting from the process of cremation. This definition is important in the context of funeral arrangements, as it includes not only the intact body prior to burial or cremation but also the ashes or cremated remains that are preserved or scattered following the cremation process.

Understanding this distinction is vital for funeral arrangers, as it informs the handling, transportation, and legal considerations associated with both the intact body and the cremated remains in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The other options do not capture the full scope of what constitutes human remains, as they either limit the scope to living persons, stages of decomposition, or only focus on the ashes from cremation, which do not represent the entirety of human remains involved in funeral practices.