TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 2: EXECUTIVE BRANCH
§ 26017. Authorization for Final Disposition. (a) The funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of a dead body shall, prior to final disposition of the body, obtain authorization for final disposition of the body. The physician or pathologist when certifying the cause of death also shall authorize final disposition of the body on a form or in a format prescribed by the Registrar. (b) Prior to final disposition of a fetus, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, the funeral director, the person in charge of the institution, or other person assuming responsibility for final disposition of the fetus shall obtain from the parents authorization for final disposition. Such authorization shall be on a form or in a format proscribed by the Registrar. (c) With the consent of the physician or pathologist who is to certify the cause of death, a dead body may be moved from the place of death for the purpose of being prepared for final disposition. (d) An authorization for final disposition issued under the law of another State which accompanies a dead body or fetus brought into CNMI shall be authority for final disposition of the body or fetus in the CNMI. (e) No sexton or other person in charge of any place in which interment or other disposition of dead bodies is made shall inter or allow interment or other disposition of a dead body or fetus unless it is accompanied by authorization for final disposition. (f) Each person in charge of any place for final disposition shall include in the authorization the date of disposition and shall return all authorizations to the funeral director or person acting as such within 10 days after the date of disposition. When there is no person in charge of the place for final disposition, the funeral director or person acting as such shall complete the authorization. At the close of each month the funeral director or person acting as such shall transmit to the Registrar, in the State where death occurred, all authorizations received during the month. Source: PL 15-50, § 19.