Sec. 18. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the following persons, in the order of priority indicated, have the authority to designate the manner, type, and selection of the final disposition of human remains, to make arrangements for funeral services, and to make other ceremonial arrangements after an individual's death:

(1) A person:

(A) granted the authority to serve in a funeral planning declaration executed by the decedent under IC 29-2-19; or

(B) named in a United States Department of Defense form "Record of Emergency Data" (DD Form 93) or a successor form adopted by the United States Department of Defense, if the decedent died while serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 1481) and completed the form.

(2) An individual specifically granted the authority in a power of attorney or a health care power of attorney executed by the decedent under IC 30-5-5-16.

(3) The individual who was the spouse of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death, except when:

(A) a petition to dissolve the marriage or for legal separation of the decedent and spouse is pending with a court at the time of the decedent's death, unless a court finds that the decedent and spouse were reconciled before the decedent's death; or

(B) a court determines the decedent and spouse were physically and emotionally separated at the time of death and the separation was for an extended time that clearly demonstrates an absence of due affection, trust, and regard for the decedent.

(4) The decedent's surviving adult child or, if more than one (1) adult child is surviving, the majority of the adult children. However, less than half of the surviving adult children have the rights under this subdivision if the adult children have used reasonable efforts to notify the other surviving adult children of their intentions and are not aware of any opposition to the final disposition instructions by more than half of the surviving adult children.

(5) The decedent's surviving parent or parents. If one (1) of the parents is absent, the parent who is present has the rights under this subdivision if the parent who is present has used reasonable efforts to notify the absent parent.

(6) The decedent's surviving sibling or, if more than one (1) sibling is surviving, the majority of the surviving siblings. However, less than half of the surviving siblings have the rights under this subdivision if the siblings have used reasonable efforts to notify the other surviving siblings of their intentions and are not aware of any opposition to the final disposition instructions by more than half of the surviving siblings.

(7) The individual in the next degree of kinship under IC 29-1-2-1 to inherit the estate of the decedent or, if more than one (1) individual of the same degree survives, the majority of those who are of the same degree of kinship. However, less than half of the individuals who are of the same degree of kinship have the rights under this subdivision if they have used reasonable efforts to notify the other individuals who are of the same degree of kinship of their intentions and are not aware of any opposition to the final disposition instructions by more than half of the individuals who are of the same degree of kinship.

(8) If none of the persons described in subdivisions (1) through (7) are available, or willing, to act and arrange for the final disposition of the decedent's remains, a stepchild (as defined in IC 6-4.1-1-3(f)) of the decedent. If more than one (1) stepchild survives the decedent, then a majority of the surviving stepchildren. However, less than half of the surviving stepchildren have the rights under this subdivision if they have used reasonable efforts to notify the other stepchildren of their intentions and are not aware of any opposition to the final disposition instructions by more than half of the stepchildren.

(9) The person appointed to administer the decedent's estate under IC 29-1.

(10) If none of the persons identified in subdivisions (1) through (9) are available, any other person willing to act and arrange for the final disposition of the decedent's remains, including a funeral home that:

(A) has a valid prepaid funeral plan executed under IC 30-2-13 that makes arrangements for the disposition of the decedent's remains; and

(B) attests in writing that a good faith effort has been made to contact any living individuals described in subdivisions (1) through (9).

(11) In the case of an indigent or other individual whose final disposition is the responsibility of the state or township, the following:

(A) If none of the persons identified in subdivisions (1) through (10) is available:

(i) a public administrator, including a responsible township trustee or the trustee's designee; or

(ii) the coroner.

(B) A state appointed guardian.

(b) If:

(1) the death of the decedent appears to have been the result of:

(A) murder (IC 35-42-1-1);

(B) voluntary manslaughter (IC 35-42-1-3); or

(C) another criminal act, if the death does not result from the operation of a vehicle; and

(2) the coroner, in consultation with the law enforcement agency investigating the death of the decedent, determines that there is a reasonable suspicion that a person described in subsection (a) committed the offense;

the person referred to in subdivision (2) may not authorize or designate the manner, type, or selection of the final disposition of human remains.

(c) The coroner, in consultation with the law enforcement agency investigating the death of the decedent, shall inform the cemetery owner or crematory authority of the determination under subsection (b)(2).

(d) If the decedent had filed a protection order against a person described in subsection (a) and the protection order is currently in effect, the person described in subsection (a) may not authorize or designate the manner, type, or selection of the final disposition of human remains.

(e) A law enforcement agency shall determine if the protection order is in effect. If the law enforcement agency cannot determine the existence of a protection order that is in effect, the law enforcement agency shall consult the protective order registry established under IC 5-2-9-5.5.

(f) If a person vested with a right under subsection (a) does not exercise that right not later than seventy-two (72) hours after the person receives notification of the death of the decedent, the person forfeits the person's right to determine the final disposition of the decedent's remains and the right to determine final disposition passes to the next person described in subsection (a).

(g) A funeral home has the right to rely, in good faith, on the representations of a person listed in subsection (a) that any other individuals of the same degree of kinship have been notified of the final disposition instructions.

(h) If there is a dispute concerning the disposition of a decedent's remains, a funeral home is not liable for refusing to accept the remains of the decedent until the funeral home receives:

(1) a court order; or

(2) a written agreement signed by the disputing parties;

that determines the final disposition of the decedent's remains. If a funeral home agrees to shelter the remains of the decedent while the parties are in dispute, the funeral home may collect any applicable fees for storing the remains, including legal fees that are incurred.

(i) Any cause of action filed under this section must be filed in the probate court in the county where the decedent resided, unless the decedent was not a resident of Indiana.

(j) A spouse seeking a judicial determination under subsection (a)(3)(A) that the decedent and spouse were reconciled before the decedent's death may petition the court having jurisdiction over the dissolution or separation proceeding to make this determination by filing the petition under the same cause number as the dissolution or separation proceeding. A spouse who files a petition under this subsection is not required to pay a filing fee.

As added by P.L.237-1995, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.102-2007, SEC.3; P.L.3-2008, SEC.185; P.L.143-2009, SEC.7; P.L.101-2010, SEC.3; P.L.94-2010, SEC.8; P.L.42-2011, SEC.55; P.L.34-2011, SEC.4; P.L.6-2012, SEC.176; P.L.190-2016, SEC.34.