2013 District of Columbia Code
Division I — GOVERNMENT OF DISTRICT
Title 7 — HUMAN HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY
Subtitle A — GENERAL
Chapter 2 — VITAL RECORDS
Section 7-214 — Final disposition of dead body or fetus.

(a) The funeral director or person acting as such or person who first assumes custody of a dead body, before he or she may dispose of the body, must have: (1) Authorization for final disposition of the body from the next of kin; and (2) a death certificate. If the body is to be cremated, authorization for cremation must also be obtained from the Medical Examiner.
(b) Before final disposition of a dead fetus, regardless of the duration of pregnancy, the funeral director, the person in charge of the institution, or other person responsible for final disposition of the fetus, shall get authorization from the next of kin for final disposition.
(c) A dead body shall be removed from the place of death for the purpose of being prepared for final disposition only under the following conditions:
(1) Upon the consent of the medical examiner or the treating physician who certifies the cause of death; or
(2) In the case of an expected death at a decedent's place of residence, at the time of death upon the consent of a treating physician or a registered nurse working in general collaboration with the treating physician who signs the pronouncement of death section of the death certificate in accordance with § 7-211.
(d) Authorization for final disposition of a dead body or fetus brought into the District, issued by another state and accompanying the dead body or fetus, is sufficient authority for final disposition in the District.
(e) A sexton or person in charge of a place for interment or other disposition of dead bodies may not inter or allow interment or other disposition of a dead body or fetus unless it is accompanied by authorization for final disposition.
(f) Each person in charge of a place for final disposition shall include the date of disposition in the authorization and shall sign and return the authorization to the funeral director or person acting as the funeral director, within 10 days after the date of disposition. Where there is no person in charge of the place for final disposition, the funeral director or his or her designee shall endorse the authorization. At the close of each calendar month the funeral director or the person acting as the funeral director shall transmit to the Mayor all endorsed authorizations received during the month.
(g) Authorization for disinterment and reinterment is required before disinterment of a dead body or fetus. The authorization may be issued by the Registrar to a licensed funeral director or person acting as such, upon proper application.

History
(Oct. 8, 1981, D.C. Law 4-34, § 15, 28 DCR 3271; Mar. 13, 1992, D.C. Law 9-180, § 2(c), 39 DCR 8078.)

Annotations
Prior Codifications. 1981 Ed., § 6-214.

Legislative History of Law 4-34. For legislative history of D.C. Law 4-34, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-201.

Legislative History of Law 9-180. For legislative history of D.C. Law 9-180, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 7-201.