1.    The dead body of a human being must be disposed of by the person charged with that duty within eight days after the death of such person except when any of the following occur:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 23-06-04

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

a.    The right to dissect the body is expressly conferred by law. b.    The body is being carried through this state.

c.    The body is being removed from this state for the purpose of final disposition in some other state.

d.    A permit is obtained from the local health officer or the department of health and human services allowing a longer time during which the body need not be disposed. The permit shall state the additional length of time during which the body need not be disposed.

e.    The body is being stored for an extended period of time in a vault determined suitable by the department of health and human services, but the body may not be stored in a vault for a period of more than eight days during the months of June through October unless a permit is obtained from the local health officer or the department of health and human services.

2.    The date of final disposition must be the date of the committal service or date of placement in a storage vault or school of medicine.