{"data":{"id":"us-nd/n.d.-cent.-code-23-06-31","jurisdiction":"us-nd","citation":"N.D. Cent. Code § 23-06-31","heading":"Cremation or other lawful disposition of a body - Authorization document - Immunity","body":"1.A legally competent adult may prepare a written statement directing the cremation or other lawful disposition of that adult's own remains pursuant to section 23-06-03. The written statement must be signed and dated by the legally competent adult and may be part of the legally competent adult's will.\n2.A document that conforms to this section authorizes a crematorium or funeral establishment to carry out the instructions of the legally competent adult who is the subject of the document. It is not necessary for a crematorium or funeral establishment to obtain the consent or concurrence of any other person when the crematorium or funeral establishment cremates or otherwise provides for the lawful disposition of a body pursuant to instructions contained in a document that conforms to this section.\n3.This section does not mandate that a crematorium or funeral establishment cremate or otherwise provide for the lawful disposition of a body pursuant to the document unless the legally competent adult who executed the document articulated and funded in a pre-need funeral service contract the legally competent adult's instructions as expressed in the document.\n4.A crematorium or funeral establishment that cremates or otherwise provides for the lawful disposition of a body in good-faith reliance upon instructions of a decedent or an individual to whom the crematorium or funeral establishment reasonably believes is entitled to control final disposition pursuant to section 23-06-03 or on an apparently genuine document executed pursuant to this section is not subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability, or professional discipline. The decision of a crematorium or funeral establishment to cremate or otherwise provide for the lawful disposition of a body in reliance on a document executed pursuant to this section is presumed to be made in good faith.","path":["Title 23 Health And Safety","Chapter 23-06 Care And Custody Of Dead"],"source_url":"https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t23c06.pdf","current_through":"2026-07-31T11:12:02","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T21:04:14Z","sha256":"ea24ce3d65ee9f42beba3a42d96e32da75ab8561991bc995b3d27cd5b972fec3","source_id":"us-nd","stale":true,"prev":"us-nd/n.d.-cent.-code-23-06-30","next":"us-nd/n.d.-cent.-code-23-06.3-01"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}