What is required prior to transporting a body?

Prior to transporting a body, it is essential that the body is covered and shielded from public view. This requirement serves multiple purposes related to dignity, respect, and legal obligations. Ensuring that the remains are not exposed during transport helps maintain the solemnity of the situation, protects the privacy of the deceased and their family, and adheres to the guidelines necessary for appropriate handling and transportation.

While embalming can be part of the process, it is not universally required, especially in cases where the body is being transported for a short distance or in circumstances where the timing permits natural preservation. Similarly, cremation is not a prerequisite for transport; rather, a body can be transferred directly to a burial location or to a funeral service without first undergoing cremation. Notification of transport costs to the family is a crucial aspect of transparency in funeral services but does not constitute a legal requirement for bodily transport itself. Therefore, covering and shielding the body stands out as the critical requirement in this scenario.