RCW 68.50.010
Coroner's jurisdiction over remains.
The jurisdiction of bodies of all deceased persons who come to their death suddenly when in apparent good health without medical attendance within the thirty-six hours preceding death; or where the circumstances of death indicate death was caused by unnatural or unlawful means; or where death occurs under suspicious circumstances; or where a coroner's autopsy or postmortem or coroner's inquest is to be held; or where death results from unknown or obscure causes, or where death occurs within one year following an accident; or where the death is caused by any violence whatsoever, or where death results from a known or suspected abortion; whether self-induced or otherwise; where death apparently results from drowning, hanging, burns, electrocution, gunshot wounds, stabs or cuts, lightning, starvation, radiation, exposure, alcoholism, narcotics or other addictions, tetanus, strangulations, suffocation or smothering; or where death is due to premature birth or still birth; or where death is due to a violent contagious disease or suspected contagious disease which may be a public health hazard; or where death results from alleged rape, carnal knowledge or sodomy, where death occurs in a jail or prison; where a body is found dead or is not claimed by relatives or friends, is hereby vested in the county coroner or medical examiner, which bodies may be removed and placed in the morgue under such rules as are adopted by the coroner or medical examiner with the approval of the county commissioners, having jurisdiction, providing therein how the bodies shall be brought to and cared for at the morgue and held for the proper identification where necessary.
[ 2021 c 127 § 7; 1963 c 178 § 1; 1953 c 188 § 1; 1917 c 90 § 3; RRS § 6042. Formerly RCW 68.08.010.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 68 - Cemeteries, Morgues, and Human Remains
Chapter 68.50 - Human Remains.
68.50.010 - Coroner's jurisdiction over remains.
68.50.015 - Immunity for determining cause and manner of death—Judicial review of determination.
68.50.020 - Notice to coroner or medical examiner—Penalty.
68.50.032 - Transportation of remains directed by coroner or medical examiner—Costs.
68.50.035 - Unlawful to refuse burial to non-Caucasian.
68.50.040 - Deceased's effects to be listed.
68.50.050 - Removal or concealment of body—Penalty.
68.50.060 - Bodies for instruction purposes.
68.50.070 - Human remains—Disposition.
68.50.080 - Certificate and bond before receiving bodies.
68.50.100 - Dissection, when permitted—Autopsy of person under the age of three years.
68.50.101 - Autopsy, postmortem—Who may authorize.
68.50.102 - Court petition for autopsy—Cost.
68.50.103 - Autopsies in industrial deaths.
68.50.105 - Autopsies, postmortems—Reports and records confidential—Exceptions.
68.50.106 - Autopsies, postmortems—Analyses—Opinions—Evidence—Costs.
68.50.107 - State toxicological laboratory established—State toxicologist.
68.50.110 - Burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.
68.50.115 - Coroner and medical examiner liability—Release of information.
68.50.120 - Holding body for debt—Penalty.
68.50.130 - Unlawful disposal of remains.
68.50.140 - Unlawful disturbance, removal, or sale of human remains—Penalty.
68.50.170 - Effect of authorization.
68.50.185 - Individual final disposition—Exception—Penalty.
68.50.200 - Permission to remove human remains.
68.50.210 - Notice for order to remove remains.
68.50.230 - Human remains that have not been disposed—Rules.
68.50.232 - Remains—Entrusting to funeral homes or mortuaries.
68.50.240 - Record of human remains to be kept.
68.50.270 - Possession of human remains.
68.50.290 - Corneal tissue for transplantation—Presumption of good faith.
68.50.300 - Release of information concerning a death.
68.50.310 - Dental identification system established—Powers and duties.
68.50.320 - Procedures for investigating missing persons—Availability of files.
68.50.325 - Indigenous persons—Identification of remains—Spiritual practices.
68.50.900 - Effective date—1987 c 331.
68.50.901 - Application—1993 c 228.
68.50.902 - Application—Construction—1993 c 228.