If you’ve seen The Big Lebowski, you know that scattering Donny’s ashes were quite the event.  Our first bit of advice, know which ways the wind blows.

Many families will choose to do an ash scattering at a place that has special meaning, or another beautiful outdoors location. There are many locations where people scatter ashes of a loved one - below we describe some of the most common ones.

• Scattering Gardens - a number of memorial parks, cemeteries, and churches throughout Washington now have designated areas on their property where people can scatter ashes (typically called a ‘scattering garden’). If this is of interest, a quick internet search can typically provide multiple options nearby where you live.

• Private Property - As with many other states, Washington has no state laws restricting scattering ashes in your yard or on other property that you own. However, be sure to get permission If you’re looking to scatter ashes on a property owned by another person or organization.

• Public Land - With its beautiful coastline and pristine mountains, Washington is home to some of the most amazing natural landscapes in the country. When scattering on public land in Washington, many families will simply proceed as they wish using their best judgement. In addition, the Washington State Department of Licensing permits ashes to be scattered on state trust uplands if you receive permission first.

• Federal Land - Many people will decide to do an ash scattering of a loved one in a National Park or on other federally owned land. Almost all of our National Parks allow people to scatter in designated areas and with their permission. As each National Park has their own rules and regulations related to scattering, it’s a good idea to reach out to the park where you plan on scattering before the event date.

• In the Pacific - With Washington’s long and beautiful coast, scattering ashes at sea is extremely common. There many different boating services that can do this for you – a simple internet search will pull up multiple options at each port in Washington. Before scattering at sea, it’s important to keep in mind that U.S. federal law requires that cremated ashes are scattered at least three nautical miles from shore. Furthermore, the U.S. EPA needs to be notified within 30 days of doing a scattering at sea – a quick internet search can find the necessary forms for this.

• On Waterways - Washington’s State Department of Licensing states that cremated ashes can be scattered on “public navigable waters under state control, including Puget Sound… rivers, streams, and lakes.”

• From an Airplane - In Washington, as with most of the other states, no state laws exist that restrict scattering ashes from the sky. However, whoever performs the scattering from above needs to hang on to the urn or other receptacle used to hold the ashes for the scattering - federal aviation law doesn’t allow any objects to be dropped from the sky that could potentially cause harm on people or property.