57-27.3 - Authorization for interment. - Virginia Statutes

§ 57-27.3. Authorization for interment.

A cemetery may accept the notarized signature of one next of kin of adecedent for the purpose of authorizing the interment or entombment, and forerecting a memorial on the grave, crypt or niche, unless the cemetery is onwritten notice that there exists a dispute between next of kin over suchinternment, entombment or memorialization. In the case of such a dispute, thecemetery shall have no obligation to perform the interment, entombment ormemorialization until there is agreement of all next of kin, or a court orderadjudicating the issue among all necessary parties.

For purposes of this section, "next of kin" means any of the followingpersons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any persondesignated to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent's remainsupon his death pursuant to § 54.1-2825, the legal spouse, child over 18 yearsof age, custodial parent, noncustodial parent, siblings over 18 years of age,guardian of minor child, guardian of minor siblings, maternal grandparents,paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternalsiblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending orderof blood relationship.

(2004, c. 247.)