37-19-908. Right to rely. (1) A person who signs a funeral agreement, cremation authorization form, or other authorization for disposition must be considered as warranting the truthfulness of any facts set forth in the agreement, form, or authorization, including:
     (a) the identity of the decedent whose remains are subject to the disposition; and
     (b) the person's authority to order the disposition.
     (2) A mortician may rely on the funeral service agreement, cremation authorization form, or other authorization and may carry out the instructions of the person or persons who the mortician reasonably believes hold the right of disposition.
     (3) A mortician is not responsible to contact or to independently investigate the existence of any next of kin or relatives of the decedent.
     (4) If a class includes two or more persons who are equal in priority, a mortician may rely on and act according to the instructions of the first person in the class to make funeral and disposition arrangements if another person in the class has not provided to the mortician written notice of the person's objections to the arrangements and the mortician does not have knowledge of any objections to the arrangements by other members of the class.

     History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 208, L. 2009.