Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 368q - Medicolegal Investigations
Section 19a-408. (Formerly Sec. 19-532). - Disposition of body after proceedings.

After the termination of all proceedings for which the body is required by the Chief Medical Examiner, the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, an associate medical examiner or an authorized assistant medical examiner, the body shall be delivered to a person or persons entitled by law to receive the same; but, if there are no such persons who will take charge of and dispose of the body, then to the proper authorities of the town in which the body is lying, whose duty it shall be to dispose of it. Whenever the deceased person has not left property sufficient to defray the expenses of disposition of the body, the same shall be paid by such town. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may take custody and coordinate the disposition of the body, including cremation or burial, of such body. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall not proceed with the disposition of such body during the twenty-one day period following the date of the pronouncement of death and during such period of time shall make a reasonable effort, including engaging the services of the law enforcement agency of the town in which the deceased person died or of such deceased person's residence to locate and contact any relatives of the deceased person. A funeral director handling the disposition of the body of such deceased person shall notify the Commissioner of Social Services in accordance with sections 17b-84 and 17b-131 for reimbursement. The cremation certificate fee for any such disposition shall be waived.

(1969, P.A. 699, S. 9; P.A. 79-47, S. 11; P.A. 22-58, S. 56.)
History: P.A. 79-47 included deputy chief medical examiner and associate medical examiners; Sec. 19-532 transferred to Sec. 19a-408 in 1983; P.A. 22-58 added provisions re disposition of bodies by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes