§ 23-4-10. Disposition of deceased bodies.
(a) The office of state medical examiners shall, after any postmortem examination or any autopsy, promptly release the deceased body to the relatives, representatives or domestic partners of the deceased. The cost of transporting the deceased body to a mortuary within the state of the relatives’ or domestic partner’s choice shall be borne by the state if the autopsy was required to be performed as provided in this chapter. If there are no known relatives, representatives or domestic partners, the office of state medical examiners, after reasonable public notices, shall cause the body of the deceased person to be buried. The general treasurer of the state shall have first priority in recovering the expenses of burial from the estate of the deceased person.
(b) For the purpose of this chapter, “domestic partner” shall be defined as a person who, prior to the decedent’s death, was in an exclusive, intimate and committed relationship with the decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:
(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to contract;
(2) Neither partner is married to anyone else;
(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island;
(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of death; and
(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following:
(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;
(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;
(iii) Two (2) of the following:
(A) Joint ownership of motor vehicle;
(B) Joint checking account;
(C) Joint credit account;
(D) Joint lease; and/or
(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent’s will, retirement contract or life insurance.
History of Section.P.L. 1973, ch. 169, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 306, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 369, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 385, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-4 - Office of State Medical Examiners
Section 23-4-1. - Definitions.
Section 23-4-2. - Establishment of office.
Section 23-4-4. - Jurisdiction.
Section 23-4-4.1. - Procedure for performance of autopsies against a family’s religious beliefs.
Section 23-4-5. - Chief medical examiner — Assistants and other staff.
Section 23-4-6. - State medical examiners commission.
Section 23-4-7. - Reporting of certain deaths required — Violations — Penalties.
Section 23-4-8. - Procedure for investigation of deaths.
Section 23-4-9. - Deaths in public places.
Section 23-4-10. - Disposition of deceased bodies.
Section 23-4-11. - Effects and property of deceased.
Section 23-4-12. - Compensation for recovery of body from water.
Section 23-4-13. - Establishment of fees.
Section 23-4-14. - Preservation of reports — Tabular reports.