H-3520.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2328
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1992 Regular Session
By Representatives Winsley and Silver
Read first time 01/15/92. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.
AN ACT Relating to the right of a person to control the disposition of the person's remains; and amending RCW 68.50.160.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 68.50.160 and 1943 c 247 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:
A
person has the right to control the disposition of his or her own remains
without the predeath or postdeath consent of any other person. Any valid
written document expressing the decedent's wishes regarding the disposition of
his or her remains, signed by the decedent in the presence of a witness, is
sufficient legal authorization for the procedures to be accomplished. If
directions have not been given by the decedent, the right to control the
disposition of the remains of a deceased person((, unless other directions
have been given by the decedent,)) vests in, and the duty of interment and
the liability for the reasonable cost of interment of such remains devolves
upon the following in the order named:
(1) The surviving spouse.
(2) The surviving children of the decedent.
(3) The surviving parents of the decedent.
The liability for the reasonable cost of interment devolves jointly and severally upon all kin of the decedent hereinbefore mentioned in the same degree of kindred and upon the estate of the decedent.