WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                            Ch. 517

(1) THE SPOUSE OF THE DECEDENT, IF ONE SURVIVES;
(2) AN ADULT CHILD OF THE DECEDENT;

(3)      A PARENT OF THE DECEDENT;

(4)      AN ADULT BROTHER OR SISTER OF THE DECEDENT;

(5) A PERSON ACTING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DECEDENT
UNDER A SIGNED AUTHORIZATION OF THE DECEDENT;

(6) THE GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON OF THE DECEDENT AT THE TIME OF
THE DECEDENT'S DEATH, IF ONE HAS BEEN APPOINTED; OR

(7) IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY PERSON UNDER PARAGRAPHS (1)
THROUGH (6) OF THIS SUBSECTION, ANY OTHER PERSON WILLING TO ASSUME THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT AS THE AUTHORIZING AGENT FOR PURPOSES OF
ARRANGING THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE DECEDENT'S BODY.

(D) A PERSON MAY NOT SERVE OR BE ALLOWED TO SERVE AS AN
AUTHORIZING AGENT UNDER THIS SECTION WHEN A DECEDENT HAS LEFT
INSTRUCTIONS IN A DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (A)
OF THIS SECTION THAT THE DECEDENT DOES NOT WISH TO BE CREMATED.

(E) (1) IF A DECEDENT HAS MORE THAN ONE SURVIVING ADULT CHILD,
ANY ADULT CHILD, WHO CONFIRMS IN WRITING TO A FUNERAL DIRECTOR THAT
ALL OF THE OTHER ADULT CHILDREN HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, MAY SERVE AS THE
AUTHORIZING AGENT UNLESS THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR RECEIVES A WRITTEN
OBJECTION TO THE CREMATION FROM ANOTHER ADULT CHILD OF THE DECEDENT
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE AUTHORIZATION.

(2)      IF THE DECEDENT IS SURVIVED BY BOTH PARENTS, EITHER PARENT
MAY SERVE AS THE AUTHORIZING AGENT UNLESS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR RECEIVES
NOTICE OF AN OBJECTION TO THE CREMATION FROM THE OTHER PARENT WITHIN
24 HOURS OF THE AUTHORIZATION.

(3)      IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE PERSON WITHIN THE SAME CLASS OF
PERSONS FIRST ENTITLED TO MAKE THE DISPOSITION, ANY PERSON IN THAT CLASS
MAY SERVE AS THE AUTHORIZING AGENT FOR PURPOSES OF § 5-502 OF THIS
SUBTITLE.

(F) IN THE CASE OF AN INDIGENT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHOSE FINAL
DISPOSITION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE OR ANY OF ITS
INSTRUMENTALITIES, A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR, MEDICAL EXAMINER, CORONER,
STATE APPOINTED GUARDIAN, OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH
ARRANGING THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE DECEDENT MAY SERVE AS THE
AUTHORIZING AGENT FOR PURPOSES OF § 5-502 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(G) IN THE CASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DONATED THEIR BODIES TO
MEDICAL SCIENCE OR WHOSE DEATH OCCURRED IN A NURSING HOME OR OTHER
PRIVATE INSTITUTION, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION TO WHICH THE

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