ANSWERS: 2
  • you might just want to consult a coroner, and then stop by your local homicide division. just a thought. sorry about (if it happened) your loss.
  • Subject: Missouri Home Burials: Specific Law Question My wife just had a miscarriage at week 19 1/2, and due to rather expensive funeral arrangements, I was wondering if it were legal to perform burial of the fetus on our own, provided certain requirements are met. What has me worried is the Missouri statute (link to funeral directors requirements) http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/C300-399/3330000021.HTM or the overall law that has me worried (which I cannot find on a MO official website) 4 CSR 120-2.060 (16) A Missouri licensed funeral director shall be present and personally must supervise any disinterment, entombment, or cremation as defined in 4 CSR 120-1.040. . . . (17) An unlicensed person may transport dead human bodies from the place of death to another location or may transport dead human bodies out of this state if these services are performed under the direction of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment. 4 CSR 120-2.070 (27) No dead human body shall be buried, cremated, disinterred, interred, or cremated within this state or removed from this state, unless . . . under the direction of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment or Missouri licensed funeral director, unless otherwise authorized by law . . . from this link: http://www.funerals.org/missouriregs06.htm Assuming the hospital is authorized to turn the remains over to the parent, I will proceed to obtain a proper coffin and start burial proceedings myself if I can. I need to know if it's legal, and if I can get the doc reference to allow such. I appreciate the help thus far. Josh Poynter Answer: In MO, the statute reads, "The funeral director or person acting as such shall file the certificate of death." You would be the person acting as such. The new regs may not have been posted, but YES you may handle things yourself. A fetal death certificate is required after 20 weeks or if a weight of 350 grams. If less than that, you don't even need a death certificate. If you have trouble with the hospital releasing the baby to the family, let us know. Call Joshua Slocum or Sherry Swett at Funeral Consumers Alliance--800-765-0107. My phone number at Funeral Ethics Organization is 802-482-3437. If you are planning home burial, land not to exceed one acre must be deeded in trust and filed with the county court within 60 days. Lisa

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