Quick answer
Augusta families can order cremation urns, pet urns and cremation jewelry from independent makers on The Memorial Market, delivered throughout Kennebec County. Maine law lets cremated remains be scattered, buried or kept in any manner not contrary to law. No Maine law speaks to rivers like the Kennebec, so get permission for the land you use and choose a quiet spot.
Last updated: · Kennebec County: 1,341 of 1,523 deaths (88.0%) were cremations in 2025. Maine CDC, 2025 resident deaths by method of disposition
Maine CDC counted 1,341 cremations among 1,523 Kennebec County deaths in 2025. A plan might mix an urn at home with a small ceremony on family land or by the water.
Maine’s statute is short and permissive, which leaves most of the detail to property owners.
Cremation urns delivered to Augusta
From ceramic vessels sized for a full adult cremation to small keepsake urns, the catalog ships to Augusta, Hallowell, Gardiner and Waterville. If ashes will be split, decide the shares before you buy so each urn fits.
Pet memorials in Kennebec County
Families mourning a dog or cat can choose a sterling pendant, a cuff bracelet, a memorial bead or a felted fur keepsake. Small keepsake urns hold a portion for a windowsill or shelf.
Cremation jewelry
Pendants and rings made with ashes are a simple way for grandchildren or out-of-state relatives to share. Order early; most makers work by hand.
Scattering near Augusta: the Kennebec and private land
Title 13, §1032 allows scattering and does not name specific places. For the Kennebec, follow general guidance: ask permission for the bank or landing you will use. On someone else’s land, the Maine CDC recommends asking the owner first, and a short written note avoids confusion later.
- River: permission for the shore access you use.
- Private land: owner’s permission, preferably written.
- Acadia: a Special Use Permit from the park.
Nearest memorial services to Augusta, ME
We don’t list a local service near Augusta, ME yet. These are the closest we do list; local providers can list their services here.
Questions families ask in Augusta, ME
Can I get a cremation urn shipped to Augusta, Maine?
Yes. Urns, pet memorials and jewelry ship to Augusta and across central Maine; see each listing for timing.
Is there a cremation memorial shop in Augusta run by The Memorial Market?
No. We are an online marketplace with no storefront in Maine; makers ship directly to you.
Can we scatter ashes in the Kennebec River at Augusta?
No specific Maine law addresses scattering in rivers. Maine law lets cremated remains be disposed of in any manner not contrary to law, so follow general guidance: get permission for the land you use for access and choose a quiet spot.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries and Crematoria
Is a permit needed to scatter ashes on private land near Augusta?
No state permit. The Maine CDC recommends getting the owner’s permission before you scatter on property you don’t own, ideally in writing.
Is it legal to scatter ashes in Maine?
Yes. Maine law (Title 13, §1032) says that after cremation, remains may be placed in a columbarium niche or a mausoleum crypt, scattered in a cemetery area, buried, or “disposed of in any manner not contrary to law.” The Maine CDC confirms that the law doesn’t name specific scattering locations.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Can we scatter ashes on private land in Maine?
Yes. The Maine CDC recommends getting permission before scattering on private property you don’t own. A written note from the owner is a good idea.
What about public land and state parks in Maine?
As of our last review (November 2026): No specific state law applies. Follow general guidance: ask the agency that manages the land before you scatter. We didn’t find a published Maine state parks policy on scattering ashes. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Can we scatter ashes in a national park?
Scattering ashes in a National Park Service unit is prohibited unless the park issues a permit or has published conditions that allow it (36 C.F.R. 2.62). Every park sets its own rules. Some issue a free permit, some charge an application fee, some allow scattering without a permit if you follow their conditions, and at least one, Grand Canyon, no longer allows it at all. In Maine, Acadia National Park requires a Special Use Permit for scattering ashes. The memorialization application fee is $55. The park has set no designated areas or exceptions.
Sources: 36 C.F.R. 2.62, Memorialization (National Park Service) · Acadia National Park, Special Use Permits (NPS) · Acadia National Park, Superintendent’s Compendium (NPS)
What about national forests?
As of our last review (November 2026): There isn’t one nationwide answer for Forest Service land. Each forest sets its own policy. Coconino National Forest in Arizona says individuals may personally spread ashes, as long as they don’t put up monuments or bury a memorial box, and as long as a paid commercial service isn’t doing it. Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming says scattering ashes is not authorized on its land at all. Call the ranger district for the forest you have in mind before you go. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Sources: Coconino National Forest FAQs (USFS) · Bighorn National Forest FAQs (USFS)
Can we scatter ashes in a lake or river?
The federal burial-at-sea permit covers only the ocean. The EPA says rivers, lakes and bays are regulated, if at all, under state law and/or the Clean Water Act, and that some states prohibit scattering in inland waters. No specific Maine law addresses scattering in lakes or rivers. Follow general guidance: ask the landowner or the agency that manages the shoreline, and choose a quiet spot.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Burial at Sea (MPRSA general permit, FAQ) · Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032
Can we scatter ashes at sea from Maine?
Ocean scattering falls under federal law. Under the EPA’s general permit for burial at sea (40 C.F.R. 229.1), cremated remains may be placed in ocean waters at least three nautical miles from land. You don’t have to apply ahead of time, but whoever carries out the scattering must report it to the EPA within 30 days, using the EPA’s online reporting tool. Only materials that break down readily in the ocean can go in with the ashes. A biodegradable urn and loose natural flowers are fine. Plastic or metal flowers, synthetic wreaths and urns that won’t break down are not. Along Maine’s island-dotted coast, measure three nautical miles from the nearest land, which can mean going well offshore. The EPA treats bays as inland waters, so ask before scattering inside a bay.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Burial at Sea (MPRSA general permit, FAQ) · 40 C.F.R. 229.1, general permit for burial at sea
Can we keep the ashes at home or divide them among family?
Yes. Maine law allows cremated remains to be disposed of “in any manner not contrary to law,” and nothing in it forbids keeping them at home or sharing them among relatives.
Sources: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13 §1032 · Maine CDC, Cemeteries & Crematoria FAQ
Do we need a permit for cremation or to move the ashes in Maine?
As of our last review (November 2026): A permit from the State Registrar or a municipal clerk is required before a body is cremated (22 MRSA §2843), and the funeral director gets it. We found no Maine rule requiring families to get a separate permit to carry the ashes afterward. Confirm with the landowner or the agency that manages the place before you go.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22 §2843 (disposition permits)
This information is general and educational, not legal advice. Laws, park rules and agency policies change, and cities or counties can add their own rules. Before you scatter, check with the landowner or the agency that manages the land or water. Last reviewed November 10, 2026.
