Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: It feels wrong to mail the ashes. How do we get them to you? 

 A: We don't like the idea of putting a stamp on someone you love and sending them down a conveyor belt at the post office. Instead, we make arrangements to meet with you and pick-up the ashes then escort them personally to the ash scattering site.   

Q: Does the cost include cremation? 

A: No. But we can work with your funeral director or crematorium to pick-up the ashes.   

Q: Are you licensed and insured?  

A: Yes. We are insured by Acord Insurance for $1,000,000 in liability. We are also licensed according to the state laws. For instance, in Alaska, I have to be licensed as a Mortician while in Hawaii, I simply need a business license.    

Q: Where can the ashes be scattered? 

A: The local, state and federal laws about ash scatterings vary from state to state. During our planning process, you select an area and I check the laws, request permissions and/or obtain the proper permits. For instance, some National Parks have no regulations while others don't allow ash scatterings at all. Others may require a permit. For ash scatterings in the sea such as the Inside Passage of Alaska, the Islands of Hawaii or the Gulf of Mexico, the EPA has parameters and requires notification of the ash scattering within thirty days of the event.     

Q: What does this cost?  

A: The price for an Ash Scattering service depends on a number of things such as the location to pick-up the ashes, the location to scatter the ashes and even the time of the year.  For instance, one recent Ash Scattering service was requested for Denali. The mountain. Near the peak. I had to charter a plane to land on the glacier as close to the top of the tallest mountain in North America and then snow-shoe my way to a quiet place for the service. Another service was planned for the Alabama Gulf Coast. The cost of these two services ranged from $3,850 to $8,900 based on the difficulty and location.    

Q: Do you carry the ashes with you on a flight?  

A: Yes. If you don't already have a TSA approved urn, I bring one with me and transfer the ashes to a TSA approved urn. That allows the TSA to scan the urn without opening the urn and disturbing the ashes. I then put it in my carryon luggage as approved by the airline. I never put the ashes in a checked bag. They stay with me the whole flight and on any other modes of transport to the ash scattering site.     

Q: What kind of paperwork do I need to provide?  

A: The TSA and airline regulations require me to have copies of the death certificate and certificate of cremation. I can mail these back to you, if requested, after the service.     

Q: Can we accompany you?  

A: Sure. After I check the regulations for the scattering site, I can provide the details. Then I can either meet you at your home airport or at the destination airport and we can proceed from there.     

Q: We get a portrait and a video?  

A: Yes. As part of the remembrance package, you will receive a full-size (normally 20x30) canvas print of the ash scattering site along with a tribute video of footage from the ash scattering service.     

Q: The ashes have been in my closet for years. Can you still provide us a service?  

A: Certainly. It doesn't matter how much time has passed since the cremation. As long as you have the proper paperwork, I will be able to carry out the ash scattering service and you will get a portrait to hang on the wall to remember your loved one.    

Q: Other than Alaska, where else do you scatter ashes? 

A: We currently offer our services in Alaska, Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico. But if you request to have ashes scattered in another area of the United States, please reach out to us and we will do what we can to accommodate the request. At this time, we are also exploring the idea of offering international service to countries such as Ireland, England and Spain.