this, from the Federal Trade Commission / Consumer Protection guide:
When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends often are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral - all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. What kind of funeral should it be? What funeral provider should you use? What are my rights as a care-taker or family member? Did the deceased have a prearranged funeral plan? If so, who is legally allowed to work with that contract obligation? Should you bury or cremate the body, or donate it to science? What are you legally required to buy? What other arrangements should you plan?
And, as callous as it may sound, how much is it all going to cost?
Each year, Americans grapple with these and many other questions as they spend billions of dollars arranging more than 2 million funerals for family members and friends.
Recent inquiries and publications about the funeral industry and the lack of oversight provided for by the Federal Trade Commision (FTC) recommend that many consumers would be wise to compare prices and services so that ultimately, the funeral reflects a wise and well-informed purchasing decision, as well as a meaningful one. read more... .... facts for consumers
this, from the Maine Revised Statutes, governing professions:
... transport of body to be cremated must be in a container.