Crematory Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a crematory business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for stand-alone crematories, direct cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, and pet cremation providers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services and volume.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Liability (Mishandling of Remains) | Covers wrong-remains, delay, and mishandling claims — GL usually excludes them. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers injuries to visitors and families at your facility. | Core | |
| Property / Retort Equipment | Covers the building, retorts, and refrigeration. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers operators facing burns and lifting injuries. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers removal vehicles transporting the deceased. | Core | |
| Equipment Breakdown | Covers retort, burner, and cooler breakdowns. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers emissions, mercury, and odor claims — excluded from GL. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income | Replaces income while retorts are down after a covered loss. | Prevalent | |
| Contractual Liability | Confirms indemnities in funeral home contracts are covered. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for class actions over mishandled remains. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by crematories is mishandling of remains. Wrong-remains, delayed, and improper cremation claims are emotional-distress claims that general liability often excludes, and they can involve many families at once — a Georgia crematory case settled for $80 million, paid by the operator's insurer. Carry professional liability that names mishandling of remains, add an umbrella, and keep an ID tag and signed custody log with every body.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your crematory coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Crematory Insurance · Crematory Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a crematory business need?
The core coverages for a crematory business are Professional Liability (Mishandling of Remains), General Liability, Property / Retort Equipment, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, Commercial Auto. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my crematory coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.