A brief statement on why we ask for
documentation and legal paperwork - California

Ashes on the Sea, owned by Ken and Anya Shortridge, has been in existence since 1997. One of the reasons Ken started this business was the appalling story of a Cremated Remains Disposer (CRD) in the Sacramento area who took advantage of his clients in a terrible way. If you would like to learn more about this situation, you may read about it here. Ken wanted to be able to provide a service to bereaved families that would be reliable, dignified, and would provide documentation to them that the service was completed.

Since that time, California has enacted laws to protect families from unfair and unethical business practices. These laws are meant to protect against bad situations as the above. Some of the specific laws direct how long the ashes may be stored at a facility (60 days), licensing requirements for CRDs, and who has the right to handle final disposition decisions. Since once scattered, ashes (cremains) are not recoverable, this is a weighty choice, and California law demands that only the legal next of kin make this kind of decision.

Other laws were also enacted to protect families. Ashes on the Sea is in compliance with these laws, and we keep abreast of new changes as well. We file the appropriate paperwork which is discussed in the next paragraph. Unlike busy boat charter companies who may advertise burials at sea, we have the required State-issued Cremated Remains Disposer license (CRD 399) and we follow all the laws put into place to protect you. Our business is not boat charters, it is to lay to rest the ashes of your loved one in a respectable, and legal manner.

Death Certificate and Burial Permit - why necessary?

When a California death certificate is created, it states where the disposition is to occur and a VS-9 Burial Permit is issued. Often, at the time of death, families are overwhelmed – naturally – and may be unsure about where, how, when, or if they will scatter the ashes. Therefore the death certificate and permit usually state the final disposition to be at the informant's physical residence. However, when the decision is made at a later time to scatter the ashes at sea, this requires that the death certificate be amended and a new California permit to be obtained. This is one of the services we provide to our families. It is true that in some companies, this is not done, although it is important and is in accordance with the law. California is adamant about this, imposing fines of $5000.00 per incidence if these procedures are not followed.

And here is another point: Not only are the death certificate and permit a legal document, but they preserve for generations all of the information about what happened to the deceased. It is easy to see why obtaining the new documentation is legally necessary and it makes sense. For example, if a family member who was not part of the decision-making process or of a later generation wanted to find out what happened to the decedent's remains, if the documents were not in the correct order, he or she could not find out what really happened or would be misinformed.

Thank you.