Handling Ashes After Cremation: Complete Guide to Urns, Keepsakes & Memorial Options

The safest and only legal way to ship cremated ashes within the United States is through the United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail Express.

As of 2025, USPS is the only carrier authorized to transport cremated remains domestically. FedEx and UPS will not ship ashes.

At Magnolia Cremations, we partner directly with USPS to ensure your loved one’s remains are handled with the highest level of care and compliance.

Here's How We Make It Safe and Stress-Free:

• Flat Rate of $125 — no hidden fees
  
  

• Overnight Priority Express delivery to anywhere in the continental U.S.
  
  

• Full tracking + signature confirmation so you always know where the package is
  
  

• No special urn required — most standard cremation containers are accepted
  
  

• Dignified, regulation-compliant packaging that meets USPS requirements and protects against damage or loss

💡 Tip: Shipping is often easier and less stressful than traveling with ashes, as airlines have strict container rules and security screenings.

Why Families Choose Shipping Over Traveling With Ashes:

• No need to pass through TSA or worry about flight restrictions
  
  

• Fast and trackable delivery to your destination
  
  

• Allows multiple family members in different locations to receive portions for memorials

Next Step:

If you need to send your loved one’s ashes safely, call Magnolia Cremations or start arrangements online. Our team will prepare everything for you, from paperwork to secure packaging, so you can focus on honoring their memory, not on mailing logistics.

Yes, you absolutely can share a loved one’s ashes among multiple family members.

Many families choose to divide a loved one’s ashes so multiple people can keep a portion close, honor them in different ways, or hold memorials in separate locations. This is more common than you might think, and it can be a comforting way to ensure each person feels connected.

At Magnolia Cremations, we make the process simple, respectful, and entirely guided by your wishes.

How it Works:

1. Request during cremation authorization — You’ll have the option to let us know if you’d like the ashes divided.
   
   

2. Handled with care — Our team follows your instructions with minute attention to detail.
   
   

3. Returned in your choice of containers — We can provide:
   
   

   • Full-size urns
     
     

   • Keepsake urns (smaller containers for portions of ashes)
     
     

   • Memorial jewelry such as necklaces, pendants, or bracelets
     
     

   • Scattering tubes for separate ceremonies

💡 Already have your own urns or jewelry? We’ll gladly fill them for you safely and professionally.

Why Families Choose to Divide Ashes:

• To allow multiple households to keep a meaningful memorial
  
  

• To honor different wishes for scattering or keeping remains
  
  

• To hold services in various locations for friends and extended family

Next Step:

If you’d like to explore options for sharing ashes, call Magnolia Cremations or start arrangements online. We’ll walk you through every detail so you can focus on honoring your loved one, knowing everything is handled with care.

Choosing the right urn size is an important part of honoring your loved one’s memory. The goal is to select a vessel that comfortably holds all of the cremated ashes, and possibly small keepsakes, without being too small.

Step 1: Decide the urn’s final resting place

Before thinking about measurements, consider where the urn will be placed:

• Displayed at home — Choose a design that reflects your loved one’s personality.
  
  

• Buried in a cemetery plot — Some cemeteries require the urn to fit inside an urn vault.
  
  

• Placed in a columbarium niche — Check the niche’s exact height, width, and depth.
  
  

• Shared among family — Opt for multiple smaller keepsake urns or memorial jewelry.

Step 2: Use the standard size formula

The funeral industry uses a simple rule of thumb:

• 1 pound of body weight before cremation = 1 cubic inch of urn capacity

Examples:

• Adult weighing 200 lbs → urn should hold at least 200 cubic inches

💡 Note: An urn can be larger than necessary, but never smaller. Extra space can be used for small mementos, letters, or photos.

Step 3: Choose the urn type

• Full-size urn — Holds all the remains of one adult
  
  

• Keepsake urn — Holds a portion of the remains; ideal for sharing
  
  

• Companion urns — Matching urns each designed for partners or spouses
  
  

• Memorial jewelry — Holds a symbolic amount of ashes for daily wear

At Magnolia Cremations, we guide you through these choices, ensuring you have the right size and style for your needs. Whether you’re selecting for an adult or a child, our team will help you with measurements and provide respectful handling every step of the way.

Yes, you can fly with cremated ashes, but you’ll need to follow TSA guidelines and your airline’s rules to ensure a smooth experience.

TSA requirements for traveling with ashes

1. Use a TSA-approved urn
   
   

   • Must be X-ray scannable — no metal or stone urns.
     
     

   • Acceptable materials: wood, plastic, biodegradable urns.
     
     

   • 💡 If your urn isn’t compliant, Magnolia Cremations can transfer ashes to a TSA-approved container at no extra cost.
     
     

2. Carry-on only
   
   

   • Cremated remains cannot be checked as luggage.
     
     

   • Keep the urn in your carry-on bag to ensure you stay with it at all times.
     
     

3. Bring documentation (recommended, even if not required)
   
   

   • Death Certificate
     
     

   • Cremation Certificate
     
     

   • These can help at security or with airline staff.

If you don’t have the documents

• Contact the funeral provider — we or the original funeral home may have copies.
  
  

• Order from Vital Records
  
  

  • VitalChek.com — fast, secure online ordering
    
    

  • County or State Health Department — especially if the death occurred in another state
    
    

Next Step: 

If you’re planning to travel with ashes, call Magnolia Cremations before your trip. We’ll walk you through TSA rules, airline requirements, and the safest ways to carry your loved one with you.