34-26-78. Court determination against statutory precedence--Considerations.
Notwithstanding §§34-26-74 to 34-26-77, inclusive, the court of the county where the decedent resided may award the right of disposition to the person determined by the court to be the most fit and appropriate to carry out the right of disposition, and may make decisions regarding the decedent’s remains if those sharing the right of disposition cannot agree. The following provisions apply to the court’s determination:
(1)If the persons holding the right of disposition are two or more persons with the same relationship to the decedent, and they cannot, by majority vote, make a decision regarding the disposition of the decedent’s remains, any of the persons or a funeral home with custody of the remains may file a petition asking the court to make a determination in the matter;
(2)In making a determination under this section, the court shall consider the following:
(a)The reasonableness and practicality of the proposed funeral arrangements and disposition;
(b)The degree of the personal relationship between the decedent and each of the persons claiming the right of disposition;
(c)The desires of the person or persons who are ready, able, and willing to pay the cost of the funeral arrangements and disposition;
(d)The convenience and needs of other families and friends wishing to pay respects;
(e)The desires of the decedent; and
(f)The degree to which the funeral arrangements would allow maximum participation by all wishing to pay respect;
(3)In the event of a dispute regarding the right of disposition, a funeral home is not liable for refusing to accept the remains or to inter or otherwise dispose of the remains of the decedent or complete the arrangements for the final disposition of the remains until the funeral home receives a court order or other written agreement signed by the parties in the disagreement that decides the final disposition of the remains. If the funeral home retains the remains for final disposition while the parties are in disagreement, the funeral home may embalm or refrigerate and shelter the body, or both, in order to preserve it while awaiting the final decision of the court and may add the cost of embalming and refrigeration and sheltering to the final disposition costs. If a funeral home brings an action under this section, the funeral home may add the legal fees and court costs associated with a petition under this section to the cost of final disposition. This section may not be construed to require or to impose a duty upon a funeral home to bring an action under this section. A funeral home and its employees may not be held criminally or civilly liable for choosing not to bring an action under this section; and
(4)Except to the degree it may be considered by the court under subsection (2)(c), the fact that a person has paid or agreed to pay for all or part of the funeral arrangements and final disposition does not give that person a greater right to the right of disposition than the person would otherwise have. The personal representative of the estate of the decedent does not, by virtue of being the personal representative, have a greater claim to the right of disposition than the person would otherwise have.
Source: SL 2022, ch 113, §5.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 34 - Public Health and Safety
Chapter 26 - Custody And Disposition Of Bodies And Body Parts
Section 34-26-1 - Personal right to direct disposition of body and bodily parts.
Section 34-26-2 - Autopsy authorized.
Section 34-26-3 - Dissection authorized by decedent during life.
Section 34-26-4 - Dissection authorized by spouse or next of kin.
Section 34-26-7 - Dissection authorized by legislative enactment.
Section 34-26-9 - Receipt and record of bodies received by medical school.
Section 34-26-11 - Use of unclaimed bodies by medical school--Burial of remains.
Section 34-26-12 - Autopsies at hospitals for the mentally ill.
Section 34-26-13 - Unauthorized dissection of body as misdemeanor.
Section 34-26-14 - Right to custody of dead body--Coroner's custody pending inquest.
Section 34-26-15 - Burial within reasonable time required.
Section 34-26-18 - Failure to make burial as misdemeanor--Civil liability for treble expenses.
Section 34-26-19 - Provisions applicable to parts of body.
Section 34-26-21.1 - Department of Public Safety distribution of information on organ donation.
Section 34-26-47 - Hospital protocol for identifying potential organ donors.
Section 34-26-47.1 - Discrimination in organ transplant process prohibited.
Section 34-26-48 - Short title.
Section 34-26-49 - Definitions.
Section 34-26-50 - Applicability.
Section 34-26-51 - Who may make anatomical gift before donor's death.
Section 34-26-52 - Manner of making anatomical gift before donor's death.
Section 34-26-53 - Amending or revoking anatomical gift before donor's death.
Section 34-26-54 - Refusal to make anatomical gift--Effect of refusal.
Section 34-26-55 - Preclusive effect of anatomical gift, amendment, or revocation.
Section 34-26-56 - Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part.
Section 34-26-58 - Persons who may receive anatomical gift--Purpose of anatomical gift.
Section 34-26-59 - Search and notification.
Section 34-26-60 - Delivery of document of gift not required--Right to examine.
Section 34-26-61 - Rights and duties of procurement organization and others.
Section 34-26-62 - Coordination of procurement and use.
Section 34-26-63 - Sale or purchase of parts prohibited.
Section 34-26-64 - Other prohibited acts.
Section 34-26-67 - Donor registry.
Section 34-26-68 - Effect of anatomical gift on advance health care directive.
Section 34-26-69 - Cooperation between coroner and procurement organization.
Section 34-26-71 - Uniformity of application and construction.
Section 34-26-72 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
Section 34-26-73 - Disposition of body of deceased servicemember.
Section 34-26-74 - Contracts for disposition--Funeral--Burial.
Section 34-26-75 - Right to control--Order of precedence.
Section 34-26-76 - Forfeiture of right.
Section 34-26-77 - Affidavit--Designation by decedent.
Section 34-26-78 - Court determination against statutory precedence--Considerations.
Section 34-26-79 - Funeral service agreement-- Disposition authorization—Reliance upon content.
Section 34-26-80 - Funeral homes--Limitation of liability--Acting in good faith.