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Introduced Version House Bill 4051 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

H. B. 4051

 

         (By Delegate Michael)

         [Introduced January 13, 2012; referred to the

         Committee on the Judiciary.]

 

 

 

 

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-6-22a, relating to establishing the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person; determining who has that right; setting forth how that right may be forfeited; setting forth the role of the county commission; and limiting the liability of funeral homes.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-6-22a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6. BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE EXAMINERS.

§30-6-22a. Right of disposition; preneed contract; affidavit on disposition of remains; role of county commission; liability of funeral home.

    (a) Notwithstanding section twenty-two of this article, a person who is eighteen years of age or older and of sound mind, by entering into a preneed funeral contract, as defined in section two, article fourteen, chapter forty-seven of this code, may direct the location, manner, and conditions of the disposition of the person's remains and the arrangements for funeral goods and services to be provided upon the person's death. The disposition directions and funeral prearrangements that are contained in a preneed contract is not subject to cancellation or substantial revision unless the cancellation or substantial revision has been ordered by a person the decedent has appointed in the preneed contract as the person authorized to cancel or revise the terms of the preneed contract or unless any resources set aside to fund the preneed contract are insufficient under the terms of the preneed contract to carry out the disposition directions and funeral prearrangements contained in the contract.

    (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person, the location, manner and conditions of disposition, and arrangements for funeral goods and services to be provided vests in the following, in the order named, provided that the person is eighteen years or older and is of sound mind:

    (1)(A) A person designated by the decedent as the person with the right to control the disposition in an affidavit executed in accordance with paragraph (B) of this subdivision; and

    (B) A person who is eighteen years of age or older and of sound mind wishing to authorize another person to control the disposition of his or her remains may execute an affidavit before a notary public in substantially the following form:

    “I, ________________, do hereby designate ___________________ with the right to control the disposition of my remains upon my death. I ___ have/ ____ have not attached specific directions concerning the disposition of my remains with which the designee shall substantially comply, provided that these directions are lawful and there are sufficient resources in my estate to carry out the directions.

                             ______________________________

                             Signed

State of _______________

County of ______________

    I, _________________________, a Notary Public of said County, do certify that _____________________________________, as principal whose name is signed to the writing above bearing date on the ______ day of _________, 20____, has this day acknowledged the same before me.

    Given under my hand this ______ day of ______, 20__.

    My commission expires:_______________________________

                             ____________________________

                             Notary Public”;

    (2) The surviving spouse of the decedent;

    (3) The sole surviving child of the decedent or, if there is more than one child of the decedent, the majority of the surviving children. However, less than one half of the surviving children shall be vested with the rights under this section if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving children of their instructions and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of more than one half of all surviving children;

    (4) The surviving parent or parents of the decedent. If one of the surviving parents is absent, the remaining parent shall be vested with the rights and duties under this section after reasonable efforts have been unsuccessful in locating the absent surviving parent;

    (5) The surviving brother or sister of the decedent or, if there is more than one sibling of the decedent, the majority of the surviving siblings. However, less than the majority of surviving siblings shall be vested with the rights and duties under this section if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving siblings of their instructions and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of more than one half of all surviving siblings;

    (6) The surviving grandparent of the decedent or, if there is more than one surviving grandparent, the majority of the grandparents. However, less than the majority of the surviving grandparents shall be vested with the rights and duties under this section if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving grandparents of their instructions and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of more than one half of all surviving grandparents;

    (7) The guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death if one had been appointed;

    (8) The personal representative of the estate of the decedent;

    (9) The person in the classes of the next degree of kinship, in descending order, under the laws of descent and distribution to inherit the estate of the decedent. If there is more than one person of the same degree, any person of that degree may exercise the right of disposition;

    (10) If the disposition of the remains of the decedent is the responsibility of the state or a political subdivision of the state, the public officer, administrator, or employee responsible for arranging the final disposition of decedent's remains; or

    (11) In the absence of any person under subdivisions (1) through (10) of this subsection, any other person willing to assume the responsibilities to act and arrange the final disposition of the decedent's remains, including the funeral director with custody of the body, after attesting in writing that a good faith effort has been made to no avail to contact the individuals under subdivisions (1) through (10) of this subsection.

    (c) A person entitled under law to the right of disposition forfeits that right, and the right is passed on to the next qualifying person as listed in subsection (b) of this section, in the following circumstances:

    (1) Any person charged with murder or voluntary manslaughter in connection with the decedent's death and whose charges are known to the funeral director. However, if the charges against that person are dismissed or if the person is acquitted of the charges, the right of disposition is returned to the person;

    (2) Any person who does not exercise his or her right of disposition within two days of notification of the death of decedent or within three days of decedent's death, whichever is earlier;

    (3) If the person and the decedent are spouses and a petition to dissolve the marriage was pending at the time of decedent's death; or

    (4) Where the county commission pursuant to subsection (d) of this section determines that the person entitled to the right of disposition and the decedent were estranged at the time of death. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "estranged" means a physical and emotional separation from the decedent at the time of death which has existed for a period of time that clearly demonstrates an absence of due affection, trust, and regard for the decedent.

    (d) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the county commission for the county where the decedent resided may award the right of disposition to the person determined by the court to be the most fit and appropriate to carry out the right of disposition and may make decisions regarding the decedent's remains if those sharing the right of disposition cannot agree. The following provisions shall apply to the court's determination under this subsection:

    (1) If the persons holding the right of disposition are two or more persons with the same relationship to the decedent and they cannot, by majority vote, make a decision regarding the disposition of the decedent's remains, any of these persons or a funeral home with custody of the remains may file a petition asking the county commission to make a determination in the matter;

    (2) In making a determination under this subsection, the county commission shall consider the following:

    (A) The reasonableness and practicality of the proposed funeral arrangements and disposition;

    (B) The degree of the personal relationship between the decedent and each of the persons claiming the right of disposition;

    (C) The desires of the person or persons who are ready, able, and willing to pay the cost of the funeral arrangements and disposition;

    (D) The convenience and needs of other families and friends wishing to pay respects;

    (E) The desires of the decedent; and

    (F) The degree to which the funeral arrangements would allow maximum participation by all wishing to pay respect;

    (3) In the event of a dispute regarding the right of disposition, a funeral home shall not be liable for refusing to accept the remains or to inter or otherwise dispose of the remains of the decedent or complete the arrangements for the final disposition of the remains until the funeral home receives a court order or other written agreement signed by the parties in the disagreement that decides the final disposition of the remains. If the funeral home retains the remains for final disposition while the parties are in disagreement, the funeral home may embalm or refrigerate and shelter the body, or both, in order to preserve it while awaiting the final decision of the county commission and may add the cost of embalming or refrigeration and sheltering to the final disposition costs. If a funeral home brings an action under this subsection, the funeral home may add the legal fees and court costs associated with a petition under this subsection to the cost of final disposition. This subsection may not be construed to require or to impose a duty upon a funeral home to bring an action under this subsection. A funeral home and its employees shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for choosing not to bring an action under this subsection; and

    (4) Except to the degree it may be considered by the county commission under paragraph (C), subdivision (2) of this subsection, the fact that a person has paid or agreed to pay for all or part of the funeral arrangements and final disposition shall not give that person a greater claim to the right of disposition than the person would otherwise have. The personal representative of the estate of the decedent does not, by virtue of being the personal representative, have a greater claim to the right of disposition than the person would otherwise have.

    (e) Any person signing a funeral service agreement, cremation authorization form, or any other authorization for disposition shall be deemed to warrant the truthfulness of any facts set forth therein, including the identity of the decedent whose remains are to be buried, cremated, or otherwise disposed of, and the party's authority to order the disposition. A funeral home has the right to rely on that funeral service agreement or authorization and shall have the authority to carry out the instructions of the person or persons the funeral home reasonably believes holds the right of disposition. The funeral home has no responsibility to contact or to independently investigate the existence of any next of kin or relative of the decedent. If there is more than one person in a class who are equal in priority and the funeral home has no knowledge of any objection by other members of that class, the funeral home may rely on and act according to the instructions of the first person in the class to make funeral and disposition arrangements, if no other person in that class provides written objections to the funeral home.

    (f) No funeral establishment or funeral director who relies in good faith upon the instructions of an individual claiming the right of disposition shall be subject to criminal or civil liability or subject to disciplinary action for carrying out the disposition of the remains in accordance with those instructions.




    NOTE: The Purpose of this bill is to establish the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person. The bill determines who has that right and how that right may be forfeited. The bill sets forth the role of a county commission. The bill also limits the liability of funeral homes that act in good faith.


    This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.

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