65-1764. Effect of authorizing agent's representations; liability regarding the refusal to accept a dead human body; to cremate a dead human body or the authorized cremation of a dead human body. (a) An authorizing agent signing a cremation authorization form shall be deemed to warrant the truthfulness of any facts set forth in such cremation authorization form, including the identity of the deceased whose remains are sought to be cremated and such authorization agent's authority to order such cremation. Any person signing a cremation authorization form as an authorizing agent shall be personally and individually liable for all damage occasioned thereby and resulting therefrom. A crematory operator, crematory operator in charge, embalmer, assistant funeral director or a funeral director may rely upon the representations of the authorizing agent in the cremation authorization form.

(b) A funeral director, assistant funeral director or crematory operator in charge shall have the authority to arrange the cremation of a dead human body upon the receipt of a cremation authorization form signed by an authorizing agent. A funeral director, assistant funeral director, embalmer, crematory operator or crematory operator in charge who pursuant to a cremation authorization arranges a cremation, cremates a dead human body then releases or disposes of the cremated remains shall not be liable for such acts.

(c) A funeral director, assistant funeral director, crematory operator or crematory operator in charge who refuses to arrange a cremation, to accept a dead human body or to perform a cremation shall not be liable for refusing to arrange, to accept the dead human body or to perform the cremation until they receive a court order or other suitable confirmation that the cause of the refusal has been settled. Circumstances causing such a refusal may include:

(1) Awareness of a dispute concerning the cremation of the dead human body; or

(2) a reasonable basis for questioning any of the representations made by the authorizing agent; or

(3) any other lawful reason.

History: L. 2001, ch. 183, § 5; L. 2010, ch. 131, § 11; July 1, 2011.