FAQ

These are distinct processes serving different goals. You can be both an organ donor and a whole-body donor. Organ donation involves transplanting tissues or organs from deceased individuals. To register as an organ donor, visit https://donatelife.net/.

Lamplight’s whole-body donation occurs after death and doesn’t involve organ transplantation. It provides essential human specimens for medical research, education, and product development beyond medical schools. This option is compatible with organ donation and can be chosen by most individuals, regardless of organ donor eligibility.

Absolutely! These acts of generosity can coexist to make a profound impact.

Although Lamplight doesn’t do organ & tissue transplantation, we coordinate with you and the organ donation program.

Very rarely. Lamplight strives to accept all donors, but there are a few circumstances in which we must respectfully decline a donation. These include:

• The donor has been embalmed
• The donor is under 18 years old
• A valid Healthcare Power of Attorney (HPOA) explicitly declines anatomical gifts
• We are unable to obtain legal authorization from the appropriate next of kin or designated legal representative

In every case, we do our best to support the family and offer guidance, even when donation is not possible.

Unlike other programs and aside from the list above, we accept all adult donors into our program regardless of size, advanced age, medical conditions, social history, or donor condition.

Whether your loved one’s remains are suitable for use in medical education, scientific research, forensic training, or the development of anatomical skeletons, we honor every donor equally.

Because of your generous donation, LLDS absorbs the cost of reasonable transportation costs, filing the death certificate, and providing cremation. However, the family is responsible for purchasing certified copies of the death certificate, shipping costs for the return of belongings and cremains.

If you’ve already engaged a funeral home or other service provider, Lamplight will do our best to negotiate and cover those costs—we have a strong track record of success. However, we can’t guarantee the rates set by third-party providers, so you may be responsible for any charges that exceed standard trade service rates.

Please note: Any optional or value-added services (such as viewings or memorials) are not covered by Lamplight and will be your responsibility.

As of 2025, Lamplight Donor Services proudly serves the following regions:

• Illinois – Statewide coverage
• Missouri – Most of the state (please call to confirm service in your area)
• Indiana – Northwest Indiana only
• Iowa – Quad Cities area only

Respect and dignity are paramount throughout every step of the donation process.

A donated body is first transferred to our facility, where it undergoes assessment and testing to determine suitability for donation. If viable, the donor is then transported to one of our partner facilities for surgical procurement, ensuring their gift has the greatest possible impact on medical research and education. In cases where a donor is determined to be non-viable, they are respectfully transported to a partner facility for cremation.

Donor specimens are sent to medical and research programs around the world and are cremated upon completion of their use. To expedite the return of cremated remains, the ashes from the first returned specimen are boxed and shipped to the authorized next-of-kin.

Absolutely! However, a vast majority of funeral homes do not allow memorials without embalming taking place. Unfortunately, embalming prevents body donation with Lamplight. We can suggest funeral homes that offer visitation options without embalming. Just inform us if a visitation is planned, and we’ll help you coordinate with them.

Lamplight is unable to cover the costs for any type of memorial service, as well as transportation required for the memorial and any other related expenses.

Yes, families typically receive 15–100% of the cremated remains, depending on the type of donation. Returns are made 3–13 months after donation, unless you opted for skeletonization or forensic study. Lamplight will contact you to confirm shipping and payment details.

Generally, remains are returned in a bag inside a plastic or cardboard container, packaged in a shipping box. If you prefer an urn, you may purchase one and ship it to: Lamplight Donor Services
℅ [Donor Name] 33W480 East Fabyan Parkway, Suite 105
West Chicago, IL 60151

Please notify us when the urn is sent so we can confirm delivery and prepare accordingly.

If you choose not to receive the remains, they will be stored for at least 5 years. After that, they may be respectfully comingled and scattered.

Lamplight offers a completely optional opportunity for donors to be preserved as a full or partial skeleton for use in anatomical education. If you do not opt in, your donation will still be accepted for medical research and education.

Skeletal donations are provided exclusively to educational institutions and programs.

Please note: Due to the extended period of use, cremated remains from skeletal donations are not returned to families.

Forensic donation is completely voluntary and not required for participation in Lamplight’s program. If you do not opt in, your donation will still be accepted for medical research and education.

By opting in, you authorize Lamplight to consider your donation for forensic science research. These donations support training at research facilities, which help professionals learn how to locate, recover, and analyze human remains. This process may involve outdoor exposure to natural elements such as weather, plants, animals, soil, and burial. Cremated remains from forensic donations are typically returned 1 to 3 years after donation.

Please note: Due to environmental exposure, the amount returned is often 0% to 15%, though sometimes more. Lamplight will make every reasonable effort to return what is available.