{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2811.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2811.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2811.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2811.1.html"}],"law_id":59378,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59378,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2811.1","catch_line":"Handling and storage of human remains","history":"2010, c. 823.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon taking custody of a dead human body, a funeral service establishment shall maintain such body in a manner that provides complete coverage of the body and that is resistant to leakage or spillage, except during embalming or preparation of an unembalmed body for final disposition; restoration and dressing of a body in preparation for final disposition; and viewing during any visitation and funeral service.B\n\nIf a dead human body is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to disposition, a funeral services establishment having custody of such body shall ensure that the dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed. A dead human body shall be maintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express permission by a next of kin of the deceased or a court order.C\n\nIf a dead human body is to be stored for more than 10 days prior to disposition at a location other than a funeral service establishment, the funeral service establishment shall disclose to the contract buyer the location where the body is to be stored and the method of storage.D\n\nFuneral services establishments, crematories, or transportation services shall not transport animal remains together with dead human bodies. Further, animal remains shall not be refrigerated in a unit where dead human bodies are being stored.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217629,"text":"Upon taking custody of a dead human body, a funeral service establishment shall maintain such body in a manner that provides complete coverage of the body and that is resistant to leakage or spillage, except during embalming or preparation of an unembalmed body for final disposition; restoration and dressing of a body in preparation for final disposition; and viewing during any visitation and funeral service.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":217630,"text":"If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to disposition, a funeral services establishment having custody of such body shall ensure that the dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed. A dead human body shall be maintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express permission by a next of kin of the deceased or a court order.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":217631,"text":"If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 10 days prior to disposition at a location other than a funeral service establishment, the funeral service establishment shall disclose to the contract buyer the location where the body is to be stored and the method of storage.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":217632,"text":"Funeral services establishments, crematories, or transportation services shall not transport animal remains together with dead human bodies. Further, animal remains shall not be refrigerated in a unit where dead human bodies are being stored.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15568,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure of Funeral Establishments","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13923,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:23","permalink":{"id":241825,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15568,"identifier":"2","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13923,"edition_id":1,"name":"Funeral Services","identifier":"28","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","permalink":{"id":241753,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13923,"identifier":"28","token":"54.1\/III\/28","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75535,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2810","catch_line":"Licensure of funeral establishments","url":"\/54.1-2810\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2810","metadata":false},{"id":59562,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2811","catch_line":"Facility requirements","url":"\/54.1-2811\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2811","metadata":false},{"id":59378,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2811.1","catch_line":"Handling and storage of human remains","url":"\/54.1-2811.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2811.1","metadata":false},{"id":62203,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2812","catch_line":"Itemized statement and general price list of funeral expenses to be furnished","url":"\/54.1-2812\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2812","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59562,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2811","catch_line":"Facility requirements","url":"\/54.1-2811\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2811","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62203,"structure_id":15568,"section_number":"54.1-2812","catch_line":"Itemized statement and general price list of funeral expenses to be furnished","url":"\/54.1-2812\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2812","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2811.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2010. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 823<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57356,"section_number":"54.1-2807.01","catch_line":"When next of kin disagree","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2807.01\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":241835,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59378,"identifier":"54.1-2811.1","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2811.1","url":"\/54.1-2811.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2811.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/2\/54.1-2811.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Handling and storage of human remains","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2811.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon taking custody<\/span> of a dead human body, a funeral service establishment<\/span> shall maintain such body in a manner that provides complete coverage of the body and that is resistant to leakage or spillage, except during embalming<\/span> or preparation of an unembalmed body for final disposition<\/span>; restoration and dressing of a body in preparation for final disposition<\/span>; and viewing during any visitation and funeral service. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to disposition<\/span>, a funeral services establishment having custody<\/span> of such body shall ensure that the dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed. A dead human body shall be maintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express permission by a next of kin<\/span> of the deceased or a court order<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 10 days prior to disposition<\/span> at a location other than a funeral service establishment<\/span>, the funeral service establishment<\/span> shall disclose to the contract<\/span> buyer the location where the body is to be stored and the method of storage. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Funeral services establishments, crematories, or transportation services shall not transport animal remains together with dead human bodies. Further, animal remains shall not be refrigerated in a unit where dead human bodies are being stored. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHANDLING AND STORAGE OF HUMAN REMAINS (\u00a7 54.1-2811.1)\n\nA. Upon taking custody of a dead human body, a funeral service establishment\nshall maintain such body in a manner that provides complete coverage of the body\nand that is resistant to leakage or spillage, except during embalming or\npreparation of an unembalmed body for final disposition; restoration and\ndressing of a body in preparation for final disposition; and viewing during any\nvisitation and funeral service.\n\nB. If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to\ndisposition, a funeral services establishment having custody of such body shall\nensure that the dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than\napproximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed. A dead human body shall be\nmaintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express\npermission by a next of kin of the deceased or a court order.\n\nC. If a dead human body is to be stored for more than 10 days prior to\ndisposition at a location other than a funeral service establishment, the\nfuneral service establishment shall disclose to the contract buyer the location\nwhere the body is to be stored and the method of storage.\n\nD. Funeral services establishments, crematories, or transportation services\nshall not transport animal remains together with dead human bodies. Further,\nanimal remains shall not be refrigerated in a unit where dead human bodies are\nbeing stored.\n\nHISTORY: 2010, c. 823.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}