Whether you need to transport a loved one to another state or are wondering how to ship remains internationally, our Lakewood and Tacoma team manages every detail with care. From transportation, paperwork and coordination with the receiving funeral home, we guide your family every step of the way.
Speak with a caring local director, day or night.
110+ Years Serving Tacoma Families
100,000+ Families Served
When a loved one dies away from home, or your family wants them laid to rest in another state or country, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Many families come to us wondering how to ship remains internationally and need someone to guide them through the process with care and compassion.
Shipping and forwarding remains means preparing your loved one for travel, completing the required paperwork, coordinating transportation and working directly with the receiving funeral home until they arrive safely. As a forwarding funeral home serving Lakewood and Tacoma, we coordinate transportation with funeral homes across the country and around the world. Our Lakewood team regularly assists military families near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, families relocating across the country and those returning loved ones to their home country. We also honor every family’s faith and traditions, with support for Cultural and religious funerals when local services are part of the journey. You can explore All funeral services to learn about the care we provide. Here’s what to expect, step by step.
Every transport we arrange from the Lakewood and Tacoma area follows a careful process designed to protect your loved one and keep your family informed. Whether the destination is another state or another country, we manage the paperwork, transportation and coordination, including international requirements, so you never have to navigate the process alone.
One phone call starts everything. We speak with the legal next of kin, gather the destination details, including the receiving funeral home, city and state or country, and obtain the authorizations needed to begin.
Our team brings your loved one into our care 24 hours a day, every day. Care is provided at our Lakewood funeral home, where we prepare every detail with dignity and respect before the journey begins.
We carefully prepare your loved one for transportation. Most airlines and many destination countries require embalming and a sealed transport container, which we arrange on your behalf. For some families, Cremation services offer a simpler option for shipping cremated remains internationally, and we are happy to explain every choice.
International transportation requires detailed paperwork, and we handle it for you. This may include certified death certificates, transit or disposition permits, embalming certificates and, when required, a consular mortuary certificate from the destination country’s embassy or consulate, including certified translations when needed.
Whether we are shipping remains to another country or transporting a body to another state, we coordinate directly with approved air carriers and the receiving funeral home. We confirm your loved one’s safe arrival and keep your family informed throughout every stage of the journey.
We understand that families worry about a loved one traveling such a long distance. Our team follows a carefully documented chain of custody, with verified identification at every transfer, so you can feel confident your loved one is accounted for and cared for from departure through arrival.
1915Â Founded
110+ Years Serving Tacoma Families
100K+ Families Served
24/7 Always Available
If your loved one needs to be transported to another state or another country, you do not have to manage the details alone. Our Lakewood and Tacoma team is available 24 hours a day to begin the process and guide your family from the very first call. Has a death occurred?
We’re available 24 hours a day.
Every family’s situation is different. Whether your loved one is traveling across the country, returning to another country or arriving here from another funeral home, we tailor every arrangement to your family’s wishes and traditions while managing the details from beginning to end.
Families often ask us how to ship remains internationally after a loved one dies far from home. We prepare your loved one for travel, complete the required documentation, coordinate transportation and work directly with the receiving funeral home to ensure a safe arrival.
Whether you need to arrange transportation today or are planning ahead for the future, our Lakewood and Tacoma team is here to manage every detail with compassion and care. Learn more about Plan ahead or call us any time, day or night, to begin the process.
We’re here for you during this difficult time.
(253) 243-0105