Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/22/title22sec2843-A.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 01:55:40+00:00

Document:
If a person who has the right of custody and control under this subsection does not exercise the rights and responsibilities of custody and control within 4 days after the death of the subject, custody and control belong to a person from the next lower level of priority as established in paragraphs A to C.
If a person who has custody and control under this subsection does not complete decision making regarding final disposition within 30 days after taking custody and control, a funeral director or practitioner of funeral service who has physical possession of the remains or dead body may bury the remains or dead body at the expense of the funeral director or practitioner.
A person who has been charged with murder, as described in Title 17-A, section 201, or manslaughter, as described in Title 17-A, section 203, subsection 1, paragraph B, forfeits the right of custody and control provided under this subsection; and a funeral director or practitioner of funeral service who is aware of the charges may not release the remains or a dead body to that person who has been charged with murder or manslaughter. If the charges against the person are dismissed or the person is acquitted of the charges before the final disposition takes place, the person regains the right of custody and control in the same position of priority established in this subsection.
The remains or a dead body is considered abandoned if no one takes custody and control of the remains or dead body for a period of 15 days. A funeral director or practitioner of funeral service who has physical possession of abandoned remains or an abandoned dead body may bury or cremate the remains or dead body. The funeral director or practitioner of funeral service may embalm or refrigerate abandoned remains or an abandoned dead body without authorization. A certificate of abandonment that indicates the means of disposition must be filed in the municipality where the death occurred.
3. Estranged spouse or domestic partner. Notwithstanding subsection 2, if the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner and the subject were estranged at the time of death, the spouse or domestic partner may not have custody and control of the subject's remains. In these cases, custody and control belong to the next of kin following the spouse or domestic partner.
4. Court determination. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the court of probate for the residence of the deceased may award custody and control to the person determined by the court most fit and appropriate to carry out the responsibilities of custody and control, and may make decisions regarding the subject's remains if those having custody and control can not agree. The following provisions apply to court determinations under this subsection.
5. Wishes of subject. If the subject has left written and signed instructions regarding funeral arrangements and disposal of the subject's remains, the person having custody and control shall abide by those wishes to the extent that the subject paid for those arrangements in advance or left resources for the purpose of carrying out those wishes.
6. Effect of payment by others. Except to the degree it must be considered by the court under subsection 4, paragraph D, the fact that a person other than the subject has paid or agreed to pay for all or part of arrangements does not give that person a greater right to custody and control than that person would otherwise have.
7. Authority of personal representative. The personal representative of the estate of the subject does not, by virtue of being the personal representative, have a greater right to custody and control than the person would otherwise have.
8. Immunity. A party, including but not limited to a funeral director or practitioner of funeral service, who, in good faith, acts upon the instructions of the party having custody and control is not liable for having carried out those instructions, may not be held civilly or criminally liable and is not subject to disciplinary action for acting in accordance with those instructions.
9. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 7/1/19) Application. This section does not apply to the disposition of the remains of a deceased person under chapter 709. This section does not diminish or otherwise alter the authority of a medical examiner or other official authorized under chapter 711. This section does not alter the rights and obligations of the decedent's next of kin under Title 18-A.
9. (TEXT EFFECTIVE 7/1/19) Application. This section does not apply to the disposition of the remains of a deceased person under chapter 709. This section does not diminish or otherwise alter the authority of a medical examiner or other official authorized under chapter 711. This section does not alter the rights and obligations of the decedent's next of kin under Title 18-C.
10. Funeral director or practitioner of funeral service. The following provisions apply to the actions and liability of a funeral director or practitioner of funeral service, cemeteries and crematories and their employees.
1993, c. 609, §1 (NEW). 2003, c. 672, §§19,20 (AMD). 2009, c. 159, §1 (AMD). 2009, c. 601, §§28, 29 (AMD). 2011, c. 387, §§1-3 (AMD). 2015, c. 188, §1 (AMD). 2015, c. 208, §1 (AMD). 2017, c. 38, §1 (AMD). 2017, c. 70, §1 (AMD). 2017, c. 101, §3 (AMD). 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §49 (AMD). 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §31 (AMD).

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