Because some things should never be a mystery.
RetURN.org ID: A lasting ID that keeps a person’s wishes with their remains.
If you’re holding cremated remains and don’t know what to do with them, RetURN.org can help.
Learn about your options, or put a permanent RetURN.org ID on an urn so whoever has it in the future knows whose remains they are and what was wanted.
What Is a RetURN.org ID?
A RetURN.org ID is a permanent label attached to an urn or container holding cremated remains. Scan it to learn:
- What’s inside: Confirmation that the container holds cremated remains.
- Whose remains they are: The person’s name and identifying information.
- What they wanted: Their first choice for their ashes, plus a backup if that isn’t possible.
- Other important details: Information about the funeral professional and/or cremation provider.
All without opening the container.
More than 20 million homes in America currently have cremated remains.
Why every container of stored cremated remains needs a RetURN.org ID
The confusion is real:
- An urn on a thrift store shelf. A Reddit user reported finding an urn containing human remains for sale for $4.99.
- Remains left in an empty home. A funeral director described a realtor finding cremated remains in a closet during renovations. Someone working on the property had suggested throwing them in a dumpster.
- An unfamiliar substance inside a secondhand lamp. A buyer asked whether a bag discovered inside a lamp contained human or animal remains. They later concluded it was sand, illustrating how difficult it can be to know what you’ve found.
Some people open unfamiliar containers to find out what’s inside and still don’t know what they’re looking at. Even when they recognize cremated remains, identifying the person and learning their wishes can be another matter entirely.
A RetURN.org ID keeps their identity and wishes with them, wherever the container goes.
Order a RetURN.org IDDesigned to Last More Than 100 Years
- Dimensions
- 2 inches × 0.75 inches
- Process
- Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum
- Image
- Sealed beneath the anodized surface rather than printed on top
- Adhesive
- High-performance permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive that reaches full strength within approximately 48 hours of application
- Bonds to
- Metal, ceramic, wood and plastic; flat, contoured or textured surfaces
Their identity and wishes,
all in one place.
Every RetURN.org ID links to an online profile that identifies whose cremated remains are inside, their first choice for what should happen to them, and an alternative if that isn’t possible.
The profile can also include information about the funeral home, cremation provider and urn manufacturer, helping anyone who cares for the remains understand their wishes and find the right people to help.
The profile stays connected to the urn through its RetURN.org ID, so this information can be found years or even generations from now.
See a sample profile
Order or Activate Your RetURN.org ID
Receive a RetURN.org ID by mail, including activation.
Buy a new RetURN.org IDActivate the RetURN.org ID that came with the urn.
Activate a RetURN.org IDOne-time payment. No subscriptions or renewals.
Set Up Your RetURN.org ID Profile In Minutes
- 1
Activate the RetURN.org ID.
Using the camera on your phone, scan the QR code on the activation sheet. It is linked to your RetURN.org ID. Or visit RetURN.org/activate and enter your RetURN.org ID and activation code.
- 2
Add profile information.
Add the name of the person whose cremated remains the RetURN.org ID will identify, along with any wishes or details someone who finds the urn should know. Setting it up for yourself? Add your own information and wishes. You can change it for 30 days after you activate it.
- 3
Attach the RetURN.org ID to your container.
Remove the backing from your RetURN.org ID and press it firmly onto the urn for 30 seconds. The adhesive reaches full strength in about 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a RetURN.org ID?
A RetURN.org ID is a permanent unique identifier for cremated remains.
Place it on an urn or other container, register it, and add the information you want connected to the remains. Anyone who has the container years from now can scan the QR code to see the information and wishes you chose to share.
Why would I put a RetURN.org ID on an urn?
Because urns can stay in families for decades.
They get inherited. They move from house to house. The person who knew the story may no longer be around. Labels and paperwork can become separated from the remains.
The RetURN.org ID gives the container a permanent connection to the information someone may need later.
Can I use it on an urn I already have?
Yes.
The RetURN.org ID is designed for existing urns as well as new ones.
How much does a RetURN.org ID cost?
It depends on whether you need the RetURN.org ID itself, or only need to activate one you already have.
$29.99 for an urn you already own. That is the RetURN.org ID mailed to you, activation included.
$19.99 to activate a RetURN.org ID that is already on the urn, as urns can arrive with a RetURN.org ID on it.
Either way it is one payment. There is no subscription and no renewal.
What happens if someone scans the RetURN.org ID?
They are taken to the RetURN.org profile connected to that specific RetURN.org ID.
They do not need an account to view the information that has been made available to them.
Can I change the information later?
For 30 days after you activate the RetURN.org ID, yes. Enter the RetURN.org ID and its activation code, or have us email you a link, and change anything on its page.
After that the page stays as it is. If something needs to change, use Request a change on the RetURN.org ID’s page and our support team will check who is asking and make the change.
Have another question?
View the full FAQ →How can we help you?
Every option for the ashes is explained here at no cost, and there’s no deadline to decide.
Not ready to decide? Put a RetURN.org ID on the urn so whoever has it next knows whose remains they are and what was wanted. $29.99, one time.
