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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61241</law_id><section_number>57-27.3</section_number><catch_line>Authorization for interment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="57">Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Cemeteries</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A cemetery may accept the notarized signature of one <span class="dictionary">next of kin</span> of a decedent for the purpose of authorizing the interment or entombment, and for erecting a memorial on the grave, crypt or niche, unless the cemetery is on written notice that there exists a dispute between <span class="dictionary">next of kin</span> over such interment, entombment or memorialization. In the case of such a dispute, the cemetery shall have no obligation to perform the interment, entombment or memorialization until there is agreement of all <span class="dictionary">next of kin</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> adjudicating the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> among all necessary parties.
		For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">next of kin</span>&#x201D; means any of the following persons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the decedent&#x2019;s remains upon his death pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Person to make arrangements for funeral and disposition of remains" href="/54.1-2825/">54.1-2825</a>, the legal spouse, child over 18 years of age, custodial parent, noncustodial parent, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child, guardian of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending order of blood relationship.</p></section></text><history>2004, c. 247.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
