which power of attorney decides for deceased whether to cremate

by Claire Rowe 8 min read

The statute 36-3221 within the law allows the person to provide the designated agent with a health care power of attorney that authorizes the agent to perform the funeral and burial arrangements. However, one of the criticisms directed at the law is that it is confusing and its various directives are conflicting.

Full Answer

Can a health care power of attorney make funeral decisions for me?

Feb 04, 2022 · Powers of attorney lose all authority upon the person’s death who is subject to the document — also known as the principal. So, even if the document granted financial decision-making and operational authority during the principal’s life, those powers all evaporate upon the principal’s death.

What happens to power of attorney after death?

Jun 18, 2020 · A 2020 case from Arizona addresses how the decision whether to cremate someone can be made under Arizona law. The case of In Re Remains of Ghostley, 458 P.3d 116 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020) involved a dispute between Mr. Ghostley’s mother and father about who gets to decide whether to cremate in the event of a family dispute, and how the decision ...

Who can order the cremation of the deceased?

Feb 04, 2014 · The Statute bearing number 367.97501 states that an “authorizing agent” can legally order the cremation of the deceased. The confusion begins, when it defines who an “authorizing agent” is. Firstly, the authorizing agent is described as the deceased person himself, and then subsequently it is the next of kin.

Who is the executor of an estate after death?

May 26, 2019 · The POA after death ceases to have any power. Whether broad or limited, durable or non-durable, is power of attorney valid after death only grants powers while a person is alive. Following a death, the executor of the estate takes care of a person’s estate according to the term is power of attorney good after death.

How do you make sure your funeral wishes are followed?

5 Steps To Make Sure Your Funeral Plans Are FollowedWrite out your funeral plans apart from your will. ... Tell your family and share copies of your funeral plans with them. ... Pay for your funeral arrangements ahead of time. ... Create an advance directive. ... Assign a durable power of attorney.More items...•Feb 10, 2022

Who owns the body of a deceased person?

The simple answer is that no one owns your body when you die. It is an old legal principle that there is no property in a dead body. There are certain people who have a statutory duty to deal with your body on your death, in particular the hospital where you die.Feb 12, 2021

Who decides how a person is buried?

The state or local public officer responsible for arranging disposition of the deceased's remains; Any other person, including the mortician with custody of the remains, who is willing to assume the responsibility to arrange for disposition of the deceased's remains.Jun 20, 2019

Who has the right to make funeral arrangements UK?

Most funerals are arranged by the nearest relatives and if not by a close friend. If there is no one, the local or health authority will arrange a simple funeral. The person may have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted.

Does next of kin have to pay for funeral?

Does the next of kin need to pay for the funeral? The next of kin may need to take charge of arranging and paying for the funeral if the person who has died did not make a will. If the person did make a will, the executor is usually responsible for dealing with the funeral arrangements.Sep 15, 2021

Who pays for cremation if no money?

If someone dies with no money and no family who can pay for the funeral, the local council or hospital can arrange a Public Health Funeral (also known as a pauper's funeral). This usually takes the form of a short, simple cremation service.Sep 14, 2021

Who owns the deeds to a grave?

The person named on a Deed as owner of Exclusive Right of Burial in a grave also has the right to have a memorial erected on that grave. Responsibility for any memorial erected on a grave lies with the person named on the Deed pertaining to it.

Who owns ashes after cremation?

The ashes are given to the person who has applied for cremation with the funeral director. The ashes can be collected by the applicant directly from the crematorium or the applicant can nominate the funeral director to collect them on their behalf.

What is the hierarchy of next of kin?

Each jurisdiction has adopted the following broad order of those relatives of the intestate who are entitled to take: children and their descendants; then • parents; then • brothers and sisters; then • grandparents; and then • aunts and uncles.

Is next of kin responsible for funeral costs UK?

A next of kin is only legally responsible to cover or source funeral costs if they are named as the executor of the will, or if they enter into a signed contract with a funeral director to make funeral arrangements.

Is the eldest child next of kin?

A person's next of kin is typically their spouse or closest living relative. The following hierarchy determines who is the most senior next of kin (in order): spouse or domestic partner; adult son or daughter (eldest surviving takes seniority);Dec 23, 2020

Who is your next of kin legally UK?

There is no universal legal definition of next of kin in the UK, but there are particular circumstances where the phrase is used in legislation. In the Mental Health Act 2005 there is a list of family members in obvious priority order – spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle/aunt, nephew/niece.

Who can order cremation?

The Statute bearing number 367.97501 states that an “authorizing agent” can legally order the cremation of the deceased. The confusion begins, when it defines who an “authorizing agent” is. Firstly, the authorizing agent is described as the deceased person himself, and then subsequently it is the next of kin.

What is a funeral declaration in Indiana?

In July 2009, Indiana State introduced the Funeral Planning Declaration form that allows residents to specify their last wishes regarding their funeral and body disposition. It also allows them to select beforehand a designated agent who under the law possesses the legal authority to fulfill the last wishes of the deceased. For those residents who die without leaving behind any instructions and without filling out the Funeral Planning Declaration form, a previously named person or agent in the health care power of attorney will help decide on the body disposition and funerary rites of the deceased by becoming the legal custodian of the body.

What is the power of attorney in Georgia?

The state of Georgia, by the power of the Georgia Code Title 31, Chapter 36, allows a Georgia resident to appoint a designated agent for funeral arrangements and body disposition using the provision of state’s Durable Health Care Power of Attorney feature. This can be found HERE.

When did Connecticut give preference to funeral arrangements?

Connecticut. The state of Connecticut, on October 1 , 2005, enacted a law that granted a person residing in Connecticut the legally binding right to indicate their personal preference in terms of funeral arrangements and disposition of their body.

When did Illinois pass the Disposition of Remains Act?

The state of Illinois, under chapter 755 of Illinois Statutes, Estates, Disposition of Remains Act, enacted on January 1, 2006, Permits its residents to specify their own body disposition method and funeral arrangement in a legally binding written document. The law also allows them to designate an agent, who has additional authority to make decisions at his own discretion if no instructions are left behind by the person at the time of death. Click HERE for more info.

Can a funeral director honor a deceased person's wishes?

In the state of Massachusetts the last their wishes of the deceased can only be fulfilled by paying a funeral director prior to their death. The Massachusetts regulation numbering CMR 239, 3:09 specifies that in case a preneed (prepaid) contract is in effect, then the funeral director is obligated to honor it. If not, then the right of disposition of body devolves to the next-of-kin.

What is the law in Louisiana?

On the other hand the state of Louisiana has a simple and complicated law, which basically in a nutshell states that the written and notarized last Wishes of the deceased are sole deciders of the remains and funeral arrangements of the dead person.

What happens to a power of attorney after death?

Named by the will, the executor is bound by the provisions of that is power of attorney good after death.

What does a power of attorney represent?

So while a power of attorney represents a principal in life, the executor represents the principal in death. Though the executor is only required to follow the instructions laid out by the will. In the case there is no will, the intestate laws of that state decide the estate of the deceased.

What is the purpose of a power of attorney?

Limited powers are restricted to a single matter or field. The purpose of a power of attorney is to act as the person’s agent during their lifetime.

Who is the person who gives power of attorney?

The person who designates the power of attorney is known as the principal . The individual who is given legal power of attorney is called the agent. They can be given broad or limited is power of attorney good after death.

Is a POA good after death?

Whether broad or limited, durable or non-durable, is power of attorney valid after death only grants powers while a person is alive. Following a death, the executor of the estate takes care of a person’s estate according to the term is power of attorney good after death.

Does a durable power of attorney expire?

On the other hand, a durable power of attorney would continue in their role despite incapacitation. This type of power of attorney doesn’t provide authority over life or death health care decisions. And although it provides a broader range of powers, it also expires upon death.

What is a statement of burial wishes?

A statement of burial wishes can either be contained in a will, or in a separate document designating a custodian for the body...

Is a power of attorney valid after death?

A power of attorney is valid during the Principal's life and on his last breath also expires. There is an exception, in California at least, for an Advance Directive which has a section allowing the ONE post-death authority of making burial or cremation arrangements. I don't practice in your state to know without research, whether this is also the case in your state or even if you have an advance directive because you...

Does a power of attorney terminate upon death?

A person's power of attorney terminates upon his or her death, as does his health care power of attorney. You will have to work outside the framework of a power of attorney and health care proxy. Your father's attorney should have included his wishes for burial or cremation and properly advised you.

What does POA mean in a power of attorney?

The POA gave you the authority to act on his behalf in a number of financial situations, such as buying or selling a property for him or maybe just paying his bills.

What happens if you don't leave a will?

When There's Not a Will. The deceased's property must still pass through probate to accomplish the transfer of ownership, even if he didn't leave a will . The major difference is that his property will pass according to state law rather than according to his wishes as explained in a will. 3 .

Can a deceased person's bank account be frozen?

As a practical matter, most financial institutions immediately freeze the accounts of deceased individuals when they learn of their deaths. The freeze remains in place until they're contacted by the executor or administrator of the estate. If you were to attempt to use the POA, it would be denied.

Jennifer Lynn Finch

While my out of state colleagues are essentially correct, Kansas has a "right of sepulcher" law that specifically grants the power to make funeral and burial/cremation arrangements to a person holding your power of attorney for health care, provided that right is specifically listed in the power of attorney document.

Joseph Michael Pankowski Jr

A Power of Attorney terminates with the death of the person who executed it. I strongly urge you to pre-pay for your cremation because that will make sure that your wishes are followed.

Paul A. Smolinski

I do not practice law in Kansas but I would suggest that you consult with a local elder law attorney. That is IF this issue is important to you. The laws regarding burial are many. The issues that can occur at the death of any person can get sticky as people are very emotional.

Joseph Franklin Pippen Jr

Your POA is void upon death.#N#I usually suggest to my clients that they prepay#N#and sign a cremation contract and also make a statement#N#in their will desiring to be cremated.