Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 68.50 - Human Remains.
68.50.185 - Individual final disposition—Exception—Penalty.

RCW 68.50.185
Individual final disposition—Exception—Penalty.

(1) A person authorized to dispose of human remains may not perform or cause to be performed final disposition of more than one human remains at a time unless written permission, after full and adequate disclosure regarding the manner of disposition, has been received from the person or persons under RCW 68.50.160 having the authority to order final disposition. This restriction does not apply when equipment, techniques, or devices are employed that keep human remains separate and distinct before, during, and after the final disposition process.
(2) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

[ 2019 c 432 § 25; 2005 c 365 § 143; 1987 c 331 § 61; 1985 c 402 § 3. Formerly RCW 68.08.185.]
NOTES:

Effective date—2019 c 432: See note following RCW 68.05.175.


Legislative finding—1985 c 402: "The legislature finds that certain practices in storing human remains and in performing cremations violate common notions of decency and generally held expectations. In enacting this legislation, the legislature is reaffirming that certain practices, which have never been acceptable, violate principles of human dignity." [ 1985 c 402 § 1.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington

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.

68.50.090 - Penalty.

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.

68.50.104 - Cost of autopsy.

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.

68.50.108 - Autopsies, postmortems—Consent to embalm, cremate body, or make final disposition—Time limitation.

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.

68.50.160 - Right to control disposition of remains—Liability of funeral establishment or cemetery authority—Liability for cost.

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.

68.50.220 - Exceptions.

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.

68.50.330 - Identification of body or human remains by dental examination—Comparison of dental examination records with dental records of dental identification system.

68.50.645 - Skeletal human remains—Duty to notify—Ground disturbing activities—Coroner determination—Definitions.

68.50.900 - Effective date—1987 c 331.

68.50.901 - Application—1993 c 228.

68.50.902 - Application—Construction—1993 c 228.

68.50.903 - Severability—1993 c 228.

68.50.904 - Short title—1993 c 228.