Cremation Permit Portal
Beginning July 1, 2026, all cremation permit requests must be submitted using the online cremation permit portal. Requests will not be accepted by email or fax after June 30, 2026.
- Payment is required at the time of request, and we accept credit/debit card (service fee applies) or ACH (electronic check – no fee).
- We can only accept permit requests for Dallas County. There will be no refunds issued for permits requested that are not in Dallas County or duplicate requests for the same permit.
- The death certificate worksheet must be uploaded into the portal for a cremation permit.
Additional Information:
Funeral Release Form
A funeral release form is a document that authorizes the release of a deceased person's remains to a funeral home. Once identification and examination of the body are complete, your loved one will be released to the funeral home of your choice, usually within 24 to 48 hours. The funeral home director arranges for transport of the body to the funeral home and obtains the documents necessary for burial or cremation. The Medical Examiner’s office is not permitted to recommend a funeral home. The family should discuss this matter; the person who is the legal next-of-kin (spouse, children of age, parents, siblings – in this order) must sign a funeral release form for the funeral home to claim your loved one and any property. A request form is located below and on our Forms page.
Non-Communicable Disease Letter
Funeral Homes can email requests to swifs.reports@dallascounty.org if a non-communicable disease letter is needed. A request form is located below and on our Forms page.
For Non-Dallas County Medical Examiner cases, you will need to request a non-communicable disease letter from the Dallas County Health Department at (214) 819-2000. The letter will be available for pickup at:
