Funeral matters: wishes, rights and documents · France / Switzerland
Cremation and ashes: permission and destination dossier
A cremation dossier distinguishes the deceased’s wishes, permission for cremation and the eventual destination of ashes. France’s rules differ from Swiss cantonal arrangements, illustrated by Geneva. Assemble medical documents, any legal obstacle and the competent decision before checking the timing branch that actually applies. Urn custody and the chosen destination need their own records. Family disputes, exhumation and international body transport remain separate tasks rather than interchangeable permission routes.
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What medical documents or legal obstacle affect permission?
France: identify medical evidence, legal obstacle and any prosecutor branch separately. Switzerland: Geneva’s framework includes competent medical cremation authorisation; the preparation tool records references rather than interpreting confidential clinical findings.
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Which wishes or request support cremation?
France: connect written wishes or the authorised person’s request to R2213-34. Switzerland: retain the relevant Geneva request and documented wishes; a crematorium quotation alone establishes neither the necessary authority nor consent.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
What medical documents or legal obstacle affect permission?
France: identify medical evidence, legal obstacle and any prosecutor branch separately. Switzerland: Geneva’s framework includes competent medical cremation authorisation; the preparation tool records references rather than interpreting confidential clinical findings.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Cremation-permission and ashes-destination preparation record
Synthetic example: fictional records. Cremation-permission and ashes-destination preparation record.
Synthetic example: fictional records · Cremation-permission and ashes-destination preparation record
- Jurisdiction
- France
- Wishes and request
- Instruction V1, requester A1
- Documents and obstacle
- Certificate M1, circumstances O1
- Permission and dates
- Decision D1, chronology T1
- Urn and destination
- Custody G1, destination S1
Family disputes, exhumation and international body transport remain separate tasks rather than interchangeable permission routes.
Which competent local authority grants the permission?
France: establish the competent mayor under the actual R2213-34 circumstances. Switzerland: identify the relevant Geneva authority and official crematorium; choosing a provider does not prove that the required permission has been issued.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Which official provision helps explain this situation?
A cremation dossier distinguishes the deceased’s wishes, permission for cremation and the eventual destination of ashes. France’s rules differ from Swiss cantonal arrangements, illustrated by Geneva. Assemble medical documents, any legal obstacle and the competent decision before checking the timing branch that actually applies. Urn custody and the chosen destination need their own records. Family disputes, exhumation and international body transport remain separate tasks rather than interchangeable permission routes.
What timing rule applies to this specific procedural branch?
France: R2213-35 distinguishes calendar-day, body-entry and prosecutor-authorisation branches. Switzerland: Geneva’s specific timing conditions must be checked separately, including the minimum-period framework; neither country’s rules are copied wholesale to the other.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Preparation reference: Cremation-permission and ashes-destination preparation record
| Preparation question | Point to verify |
|---|---|
| Which wishes or request support cremation? | France: connect written wishes or the authorised person’s request to R2213-34. Switzerland: retain the relevant Geneva request and documented wishes; a crematorium quotation alone establishes neither the necessary authority nor consent. |
| What medical documents or legal obstacle affect permission? | France: identify medical evidence, legal obstacle and any prosecutor branch separately. Switzerland: Geneva’s framework includes competent medical cremation authorisation; the preparation tool records references rather than interpreting confidential clinical findings. |
| Which competent local authority grants the permission? | France: establish the competent mayor under the actual R2213-34 circumstances. Switzerland: identify the relevant Geneva authority and official crematorium; choosing a provider does not prove that the required permission has been issued. |
| What timing rule applies to this specific procedural branch? | France: R2213-35 distinguishes calendar-day, body-entry and prosecutor-authorisation branches. Switzerland: Geneva’s specific timing conditions must be checked separately, including the minimum-period framework; neither country’s rules are copied wholesale to the other. |
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
What urn identification, custody and temporary storage are planned?
France: L2223-18-1 addresses urn identification and temporary custody. Switzerland: retain urn references and actual custodian likewise; permission to cremate does not by itself determine every subsequent recipient or final destination.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Which ashes destination and local conditions are proposed?
France: L2223-18-2 provides bounded destinations for the complete ashes. Switzerland: Geneva local options and the deceased’s instructions require their own assessment; French restrictions must not be represented as a nationwide Swiss rule.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
What declaration or permission accompanies that destination?
France: nature-dispersion declaration under L2223-18-3 differs from other destination permissions. Switzerland: the Geneva-city branch requires the relevant cremation report for urn burial or deposit; retain the actual local act and conditions.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Why are family disagreement, exhumation and international transport separate dossiers?
France: cremation differs from family-dispute resolution, exhumation and international body transport. Switzerland: also distinguish unclaimed-ashes rules from those operations; one permission or custody record does not establish every separate procedure.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
What other questions arise in this file?
What medical documents or legal obstacle affect permission?
France: identify medical evidence, legal obstacle and any prosecutor branch separately. Switzerland: Geneva’s framework includes competent medical cremation authorisation; the preparation tool records references rather than interpreting confidential clinical findings.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
What timing rule applies to this specific procedural branch?
France: R2213-35 distinguishes calendar-day, body-entry and prosecutor-authorisation branches. Switzerland: Geneva’s specific timing conditions must be checked separately, including the minimum-period framework; neither country’s rules are copied wholesale to the other.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Which ashes destination and local conditions are proposed?
France: L2223-18-2 provides bounded destinations for the complete ashes. Switzerland: Geneva local options and the deceased’s instructions require their own assessment; French restrictions must not be represented as a nationwide Swiss rule.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Why are family disagreement, exhumation and international transport separate dossiers?
France: cremation differs from family-dispute resolution, exhumation and international body transport. Switzerland: also distinguish unclaimed-ashes rules from those operations; one permission or custody record does not establish every separate procedure.
Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduit
Which official references should you consult?
- Code général des collectivités territoriales : opérations funéraires : R2213-34, R2213-35, R2213-35-prosecutor, R2213-39www.legifrance.gouv.fr
- Code général des collectivités territoriales : cimetières et opérations funéraires : L2223-18-1, L2223-18-2, L2223-18-3www.legifrance.gouv.fr
- Geneva LCim K1 65 : 3A, 6silgeneve.ch
- Geneva RCim K1 65.01 : 14silgeneve.ch
- Ville de Genève : guide des proches en deuil et texte communal reproduitwww.geneve.ch
Texts cited last checked: 3 November 2026