Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 4717 | Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Crematories
Section 4717.27 | Disposing of Cremated Remains.

Effective: September 29, 2017
Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly
(A) The authorizing agent who executed the cremation authorization form authorizing the cremation of a decedent under section 4717.24 of the Revised Code or the cremation of body parts under section 4717.25 of the Revised Code is ultimately responsible for the final disposition of the cremated remains of the decedent or body parts.
(B) If the cremation authorization form does not contain instructions for the final disposition of the cremated remains of the decedent or body parts, if no arrangements for the disposition of the cremated remains are made within thirty days after the completion of the cremation, and if the cremated remains have not been picked up within that thirty-day period by the person designated to receive them on the authorization form or, in the absence of such a designated person, by the authorizing agent, the crematory facility or the funeral home holding the unclaimed cremated remains, at the end of that thirty-day period, may release or deliver them in person to, or cause their delivery by a method described in division (I) of section 4717.26 of the Revised Code that is acceptable under that division to, the person designated to receive them on the cremation authorization form or, if no person has been so designated, to the authorizing agent.
(C)(1) If the cremation authorization form does not contain instructions for the final disposition of the cremated remains of the decedent or body parts, if no arrangements for the final disposition of the cremated remains are made within sixty days after the completion of the cremation, and if the cremated remains have not been picked up by the person designated on the authorization form to receive them or, in the absence of such a designated person, by the authorizing agent, the crematory facility or the funeral home holding the unclaimed cremated remains may dispose of the cremated remains in a grave, crypt, or niche, by scattering them in any dignified manner, including in a memorial garden, at sea, by air, or at any scattering grounds described in section 1721.21 of the Revised Code, or in any other lawful manner, at any time after the end of that sixty-day period.
(2) If the cremation authorization form specifies the manner of the final disposition of the cremated remains, or if within sixty days after the completion of the cremation the authorizing agent makes arrangements for the final disposition of the cremated remains, and if either the arrangements have not been carried out within that sixty-day period because of the inaction of a party other than the operator of the crematory facility or the funeral home holding the unclaimed cremated remains, or the authorizing agent fails to pick up the cremated remains within that sixty-day period, the crematory facility or the funeral home holding the unclaimed cremated remains may dispose of the cremated remains in a grave, crypt, or niche, by scattering them in any dignified manner, including in a memorial garden, at sea, by air, or at any scattering grounds described in section 1721.21 of the Revised Code, or in any other lawful manner, at any time after the end of that period.
(3) If cremated remains of a decedent who was eighteen years or older at the time of death are unclaimed under divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, the crematory facility or the funeral home holding the cremated remains shall, before disposing of the unclaimed cremated remains, notify the secretary of the United States department of veterans affairs of the name of, and other identifying information related to, the decedent. If, within sixty days of the notification, the secretary of the department of veterans affairs notifies the crematory facility or funeral home that the decedent was a veteran who is eligible for burial in a national cemetery under the control of the national cemetery administration and that the secretary agrees to provide for the cost of the transportation and burial of the unclaimed cremated remains in a national cemetery, the crematory facility or funeral home shall follow the directions of the secretary and arrange for the burial of the unclaimed remains in the national cemetery at the secretary's expense. If the secretary does not assume the right to direct the burial of the unclaimed remains within sixty days of the notification by the crematory facility or funeral home, the crematory facility or funeral home may carry out the disposition of the unclaimed remains under divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section.
(4) When cremated remains are disposed of in accordance with division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, the authorizing agent who executed the cremation authorization form authorizing the cremation of the decedent or body parts under section 4717.24 or 4717.25 of the Revised Code is liable to the crematory facility or the funeral home for the cost of the final disposition, which cost shall not exceed the reasonable cost for disposing of the cremated remains in a common grave or crypt in the county where the cremated remains were buried or placed in a grave, crypt or niche, or scattered.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, no person shall do either of the following:
(a) Dispose of the cremated remains of a dead human body or body parts in such a manner or in such a location that the cremated remains are commingled with those of another decedent or body parts removed from another decedent or living person;
(b) Place the cremated remains of more than one decedent or of body parts removed from more than one decedent or living person in the same urn or temporary container.
(2) Division (D)(1) of this section does not prohibit any of the following:
(a) The scattering of cremated remains at sea or by air or in a dedicated area at a cemetery used exclusively for the scattering on the ground of the cremated remains of dead human bodies or body parts.
(b) The commingling of the cremated remains of more than one decedent or of body parts removed from more than one decedent or living person or the placement in the same urn or temporary container of the cremated remains of more than one decedent or of body parts removed from more than one decedent or living person when each authorizing agent who executed the cremation authorization form authorizing the cremation of each of the decedents or body parts removed from each of the decedents or living persons under section 4717.21, 4717.24, or 4717.25 of the Revised Code authorized the commingling of the cremated remains or the placement of the cremated remains in the same urn or temporary container on the authorization form.
(c) The commingling, by the individual designated on the cremation authorization form authorizing the cremation of the decedent or body parts to receive the cremated remains, other than a funeral director or employee of a cemetery, or by the authorizing agent who executed the cremation authorization form, after receipt of the cremated remains, of the cremated remains with those of another decedent or of body parts removed from another decedent or living person or the placing of them by any such person in the same urn or temporary container with those of another decedent or of body parts removed from another decedent or living person.