1. New Funeral Law in Rhineland-Palatinate:
Unprecedented Freedom for Families
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate has just adopted a long-awaited reform to its funeral law. The legislation officially authorizes the keeping of funeral urns at home, the scattering of ashes in nature or in waterways, and the end of the obligation to bury in a coffin. This decision, which will come into effect in the fall of 2025, marks a major turning point and offers a new approach to bereaved families.
2. The context: the Friedhofszwang
In Germany, funeral law is defined by each federal state (Land). Until today, the strict rule of Friedhofszwang required that urns be placed in a cemetery or in specifically designated places (forest cemeteries, burial at sea). Keeping an urn at home or scattering ashes in nature was strictly prohibited. Rhineland-Palatinate thus became a pioneering region in Germany.
3. Key points of the reform
With this new law, several major changes are introduced:
- ✅ Families may now keep the urn at home.
- ✅ Ashes may be scattered freely in nature or in certain rivers (Rhine, Moselle, Lahn, Saar).
- ✅ Part of the ashes may be transformed into commemorative jewelry or memorial diamonds.
- ✅ The coffin obligation has been abolished: burial in a shroud is now permitted.
This evolution brings Rhineland-Palatinate closer to neighboring countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, which already allow more flexible funeral practices.
4. Opening the way to new practices
The reform allows families to further personalize funerals and to create more intimate tributes connected with nature. It also responds to a growing societal demand: finding meaning and symbolism in mourning, rather than being limited to administrative or technical constraints.
5. Tree-Urn, the choice for free scattering of ashes
With the new legal framework in Rhineland-Palatinate, families now have greater freedom in how they choose to honor the memory of their loved ones. Tree-Urn is directly aligned with this change, offering a unique and environmentally friendly alternative.
- 🌱 A biodegradable and compostable urn: made from natural cork, Tree-Urn decomposes harmoniously in the soil without leaving any trace of pollution. Within the logic of the new law, it can be considered a form of ecological scattering.
- 🌳 A tree that grows from the ashes: Tree-Urn directly integrates the cremation ashes into the root system of a young tree. Once planted, it becomes a living tribute, symbolizing the continuity of life.
- 🏡 Flexibility of use: thanks to the reform, Tree-Urn can be buried in a private garden, placed in a large pot, or installed in a natural environment (forest, meadow, clearing), as long as there are no specific legal restrictions.
Thus, Tree-Urn is not just an urn: it is a living memory experience, a way to transform grief into a meaningful, lasting, and deeply human gesture.
6. Conclusion
Rhineland-Palatinate is the first German state to pave the way for a freer and more personal approach to funerals. This historic change could inspire other regions in the coming years.
Within this new framework, Tree-Urn stands out as the ideal solution for families wishing to unite memory, nature, and respect for the environment. A tribute that does not fade but grows and takes root.
👉 Learn more about our mission at tree-urn.eu.
👉 More information about Tree Urn in Germany? Kathrin, Our German associate is at your service and will be glad to support you with all your questions and planning.
📩 Contact Kathrin: hallo@treeurn.eu
📞 Phone: +49 151 43 2626 91
✅ Version FAQ visible dans l’article
Frequently Asked Questions about Tree-Urn
1. How does Tree-Urn work?
Tree-Urn is a 100% biodegradable urn made of natural cork. It integrates cremation ashes into the root system of a young tree. Once planted, it becomes a living tribute that grows over time. Learn more here.
2. How to choose the right size for a personalized urn for ashes?
Tree-Urn comes in different sizes depending on the weight and volume of ashes. Our guide helps you choose the right urn size for adults, children, or pets. Discover the guide.
3. How to create a living memorial with a biodegradable urn?
With Tree-Urn, families can plant an urn with a young tree in a garden, forest, or other natural environment (where permitted). This creates a symbolic, ecological memorial that grows as a living memory. See how
| Federal State (Land) | Regulation on Funeral Urns |
|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Bavaria (Bayern) | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Berlin | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Brandenburg | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Bremen | Flexible – Ashes may be scattered on private land (since 2015) |
| Hamburg | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Hesse (Hessen) | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) | Flexible – From autumn 2025: urns may be kept at home, ashes may be scattered in nature and rivers (Rhine, Moselle, Lahn, Saar), jewelry/diamonds from ashes allowed |
| Saarland | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Saxony (Sachsen) | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Saxony-Anhalt | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Strict – cemetery obligation |
| Thuringia (Thüringen) | Strict – cemetery obligation |
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