Unless otherwise expressly provided in a declaration:
 1. It is presumed that the declarant intended to have a declaration executed pursuant to this chapter have the full force and effect of law in any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any other territorial possessions of the United States.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 144C.9

  • Declarant: means a competent adult who executes a declaration pursuant to this chapter. See Iowa Code 144C.2
  • Declaration: means a written instrument that is executed by a declarant in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, and that names a designee who shall have the sole responsibility and discretion for making decisions concerning the final disposition of the declarant's remains and the ceremonies planned after the declarant's death. See Iowa Code 144C.2
  • Designee: means a competent adult designated under a declaration who shall have the sole responsibility and discretion for making decisions concerning the final disposition of the declarant's remains and the ceremonies planned after the declarant's death. See Iowa Code 144C.2
  • State: means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. See Iowa Code 152E.3
  • Third party: includes but is not limited to a funeral director, funeral establishment, cremation establishment, cemetery, the state medical examiner, or a county medical examiner. See Iowa Code 144C.2
  • United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. A declaration or similar instrument executed in another state that complies with the requirements of this chapter may be relied upon, in good faith, by the designee, an alternate designee, and a third party in this state so long as the declaration is not invalid, illegal, or unconstitutional in this state.