Sec. 20-230d. Disposition of unclaimed cremated remains by funeral directors. Notice requirements.

(a) If the cremated remains are not accepted by a person in accordance with the requested disposition of the cremated remains on the form required by section 20-230c or by the person designated to take custody and control of the cremated remains, the funeral director may dispose of such cremated remains by: (1) Burial in a cemetery, (2) storage in a crypt of a mausoleum or columbarium, (3) scattering, (4) burial in a memorial garden, (5) storage at the funeral home, or (6) such other method identified in the signed form required by section 20-230c, provided the funeral director has complied with the notice requirements of subsection (b) of this section. Upon such disposal of the cremated remains, the funeral director shall notify, in writing, the registrar of vital records of the town where the death occurred, of the manner in which the cremated remains were disposed. Such written notice shall be attached to the cremation permit.

(b) If, because of the failure of the person responsible for accepting the cremated remains or the person designated to take custody and control of the cremated remains to accept such remains, a funeral director or embalmer possesses cremated remains for more than one hundred eighty days after the date of cremation, such funeral director or embalmer shall provide notice, by certified mail, to (1) the person who signed the form required by section 20-230c, and (2) (A) the person responsible for accepting such remains, or (B) the person designated to take custody and control of the cremated remains, if different from the person signing the form. Such notice shall provide that if the cremated remains are unclaimed for more than ninety days from the date of mailing of such notice, the remains will be disposed of in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any cremated remains in the possession of a funeral director on July 1, 2005, may be disposed of in the manner specified in subsection (a) of this section, provided the funeral director has made a reasonable attempt to notify the person who had custody and control of the remains of the deceased or a relative of the decedent. Such notice shall provide that if the cremated remains are unclaimed for more than one hundred eighty days from the date of mailing of such notice, the remains will be disposed of in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(P.A. 05-81, S. 2; P.A. 06-195, S. 14.)

History: P.A. 05-81 effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-195 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring funeral director to provide written notice of manner in which cremated remains were disposed to registrar of vital records of town where death occurred, rather than town from which cremation permit for deceased was issued, effective June 7, 2006.