Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 440 - Department of safety and professional services.
440.78 - Cremation requirements.

440.78 Cremation requirements.
(1) Documentation. A crematory authority may not cremate the human remains of a decedent unless the authority has received all of the following:
(a) A completed authorization form.
(b) A copy of the cremation permit issued under s. 979.10 (1) (a).
(c) If a report for final disposition of a human corpse is required under s. 69.18 (3), a copy of the report.
(2) Holding facility.
(a) Upon accepting delivery of human remains, a crematory authority shall place the human remains in a holding facility until they are cremated, except that, if the crematory authority obtains knowledge of a dispute regarding the cremation of the human remains, the crematory authority may, until the dispute is resolved, return the human remains to the person who delivered the human remains or the funeral establishment or other business entity with which that person is affiliated, neither of which may refuse to accept the human remains.
(b) A crematory authority shall restrict access to a holding facility to authorized personnel.
(3) Caskets and other containers.
(a) A crematory authority may not require human remains to be placed in a casket before cremation or to be cremated in a casket.
(b) Unless a crematory authority obtains the prior written consent of the person directing the cremation, and except as provided in par. (c), a crematory authority shall cremate with human remains the casket or other container holding the human remains or destroy the casket or other container.
(c) A container may be used to hold human remains that are to be cremated only if the container is composed of readily combustible materials that are resistant to leakage and spillage, has the ability to be closed for complete covering of the human remains, is sufficiently rigid to provide ease in handling, and is able to protect the health and safety of crematory personnel.
(4) Viewings or other services. A crematory authority may not cremate human remains before the date and time specified in an authorization form under s. 440.73 (8).
(5) Simultaneous cremation. A crematory authority may not simultaneously cremate the human remains of more than one decedent within the same cremation chamber unless the crematory authority receives the prior written consent of the person directing the cremation of each decedent.
(6) Residue removal. Upon completion of each cremation, a crematory authority shall, insofar as practicable, remove all of the cremated remains from the cremation chamber.
(7) Containers for cremated remains. A container may be used to hold cremated remains only if all of the following are satisfied:
(a) Except as provided in sub. (8), the container is a single container of sufficient size to hold the cremated remains.
(b) The container may be closed in a manner that prevents the entrance of foreign materials and prevents leakage or spillage of the cremated remains.
(8) Excess remains; additional container. If cremated remains that a crematory authority recovers from a cremation chamber do not fit within the container that the person who directed the cremation has selected, the crematory authority shall return the remainder of the human remains in a separate container to the person who directed the cremation or to that person's designee.
(9) Identification system. A crematory authority shall maintain an identification system that ensures the identity of human remains throughout all phases of the cremation process.
(10) Construction of a crematory.
(a) Any person who constructs a crematory or converts a building or other structure to a crematory shall comply with the rules of the department and shall receive department approval in writing of the plans and specifications prior to construction or conversion. The department may promulgate rules governing the location, material, and construction of any crematory. Any municipality may enact ordinances governing the construction of a crematory that are at least as stringent as this subsection.
(b) The department shall supervise construction of any crematory and conversion of any building or other structure to a crematory. No person may modify departmental construction or conversion requirements without written approval of the department. No crematory authority may operate a crematory unless the department certifies in writing that construction or conversion complied with approved plans.
History: 2005 a. 31; 2015 a. 237 s. 54.

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