H-0519.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1195
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Representatives Anderson, Sommers, Jacobsen, G. Cole, Johanson, J. Kohl and Leonard
Read first time 01/20/93. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to the right of a person to control the disposition of a 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 1992 c 108 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person has the right to control the
disposition of his or her own remains without the predeath or postdeath consent
of another person. A 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 disposition and the liability for the reasonable cost of
preparation, care, and disposition of such remains devolves upon the following
in the order named:
(((1))) (a) The surviving spouse.
(((2))) (b) The surviving
children of the decedent.
(((3))) (c) The surviving parents
of the decedent.
(d) The surviving siblings of the decedent.
(2) The liability for the reasonable
cost of preparation, care, and disposition devolves jointly and severally upon
all kin of the decedent ((hereinbefore mentioned)) in the same degree of
kindred, in the order listed in subsection (1) of this section, and upon
the estate of the decedent.
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