2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 15 - PROBATE, TRUSTS, AND FIDUCIARIES (§§ 15-1-101 — 15-24-403) › HUMAN BODIES AFTER DEATH (§§ 15-19-101 — 15-19-309) › Article 19 - TREATMENT OF HUMAN BODIES AFTER DEATH (§§ 15-19-101 — 15-19-309) › Part 1 - DISPOSITION OF LAST REMAINS (§§ 15-19-101 — 15-19-110) › Section 15-19-104 - Declaration of disposition of last remains

(1)
The declarant may specify, in a declaration, any one or more of the following:
(a)
The disposition to be made of the declarant's last remains;
(b)
The person appointed to direct the disposition of the declarant's last remains;
(c)
The ceremonial arrangements to be performed after the declarant's death;
(d)
The person appointed to direct the ceremonial arrangements after the declarant's death;
(e)
The rights, limitations, immunities, and other terms of third parties dealing with the declaration.
(2)
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2006, p. 898, § 3, effective August 7, 2006.)
(3)
(a)
(I)
The provisions of the most recent declaration shall control over any other document regarding the disposition of the declarant's last remains.
(II)
(A)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3)(a)(I) of this section, if the declarant is a member of the United States armed forces or the United States reserve forces or a member of a state National Guard called into federal service and the declarant has executed a federal record of emergency data that is valid and enforceable at the time of the declarant's death, then the federal record of emergency data shall control over any other declaration concerning the person authorized to direct the disposition of the declarant's last remains, even if the federal record of emergency data was executed prior to the execution of the most recent declaration pursuant to this part 1. The person authorized to direct disposition of the decedent's last remains pursuant to the federal record of emergency data shall do so in accordance with the provisions for the disposition of the remains and the ceremonial arrangements made by the declarant in his or her most recent declaration concerning his or her disposition and ceremonial arrangements.
(B)
For purposes of sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (II), a federal record of emergency data is valid and enforceable for any declarant who is a covered decedent at the time of his or her death, pursuant to
10 U.S.C. sec. 1481
, or any successor section concerning recovery, care, and disposition of remains.
(b)
This part 1 shall govern all current and prior declarations.
(c)
If article
135
of title
12
conflicts with this part 1, this part 1 shall govern.
(4)
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2006, p. 898, § 3, effective August 7, 2006.)
(5)
A declaration shall be signed and dated by the declarant and may be notarized or witnessed in writing by at least one adult who confirms that he or she was present when the declarant signed the declaration.
Amended by 2019 Ch. 136, § 83, eff. 10/1/2019.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 158, § 12, eff. 8/9/2017.
L. 2003: Entire article added, p. 1350, § 1, effective August 6. L. 2006: Entire section amended, p. 898, § 3, effective August 7. L. 2010: (3)(a) amended, (SB 10-047), ch. 585, p. 585, § 3, effective August 11. L. 2017: (3)(a)(II)(A), (3)(b), and (3)(c) amended, (SB 17-223), ch. 559, p. 559, § 12, effective August 9. L. 2019: (3)(c) amended, (HB 19-1172), ch. 1670, p. 1670, § 83, effective October 1.
For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act amending subsection (3)(a), see section 1 of chapter 166, Session Laws of Colorado 2010.