Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH (§§ 41-1-1 — 41-149-NEW-003) › Chapter 43 - CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS (§§ 41-43-1 — 41-43-59) › CEMETERY LAW (§§ 41-43-31 — 41-43-59) › Section 41-43-59 - Cemetery owners authorized to disinter human remains for reinterment or transportation from cemetery under certain circumstances; immunity for claims arising from disinterment and reinterment

(1)
A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized to disinter individual remains and either reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery or deliver the remains to a carrier for transportation out of the cemetery, all pursuant to written instructions signed and acknowledged by the next of kin of the deceased person as defined in subsection (2) of this section. The costs of the disinterment and reinterment or delivery shall be paid by the next of kin.
(2)
For purposes of this section, the term "next of kin" means the following persons in the priority listed if the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older, is mentally competent, and is willing to assume responsibility for the costs of disposition:
(a)
The decedent's spouse, if the spouse has not remarried.
(b)
The decedent's children.
(c)
The decedent's parents.
(d)
The decedent's siblings.
(3)
If the person or entity that owns the cemetery has received contrary written instructions from members of the same class with the highest priority under subsection (2) of this section regarding the disinterment and reinterment of the individual remains at another location within the cemetery or delivery of the individual remains for transportation out of the cemetery, the person or entity that owns the cemetery shall act in accordance with the written instructions received from the greatest number of members of the class. If that number is equal, the person or entity that owns the cemetery shall act in accordance with the earlier written instructions unless the person(s) providing the later written instructions is granted an order from the chancery court for the county in which the cemetery is located.
(4)
A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized to disinter individual remains and either reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery or deliver the remains to a carrier for transportation out of the cemetery, all pursuant to a final order issued by the chancery court for the county in which the cemetery is located. The court may issue the order, in the court's discretion and upon such notice and hearing as the court deems appropriate, for good cause shown. The costs of the disinterment and reinterment or delivery, and the related court proceedings, shall be paid by the persons or entities so ordered by the court.
(5)
A person or entity that owns a cemetery in which dead human remains are buried or otherwise interred is authorized, at the cemetery owner's expense, to disinter individual remains and reinter the remains at another location within the cemetery in order to correct an error made in the original burial or interment of the remains. The cemetery owner shall provide written notice of the disinterment and reinterment to the last known address of the known next of kin of the deceased person as defined in subsection (2) of this section, in the priority listed, by certified mail not later than the fifth day after the date the remains are disinterred and reinterred. The notice shall indicate that the remains were disinterred, the reason for the disinterment and reinterment of the remains, and the location of the reinterred remains.
(6)
A person or entity that owns a cemetery or funeral establishment, and its employees, officers and directors, shall not be liable to any person or entity for any claims, causes of action, or damages arising out of or resulting from the original interment and the disinterment and reinterment or delivery of dead human remains made in accordance with this section, except in cases of intentional misconduct or malice.
Added by Laws, 2021, ch. 335, HB 286,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2021.