(a) Subject to Subsections (b) and (c) and unless barred by Section 692A.007 or Section 692A.008, an anatomical gift of a decedent‘s body or part for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education may be made by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the order of priority listed:
(1) an agent of the decedent at the time of death who could have made an anatomical gift under Section 692A.004(2) immediately before the decedent’s death;
(2) the spouse of the decedent;
(3) adult children of the decedent;
(4) parents of the decedent;
(5) adult siblings of the decedent;
(6) adult grandchildren of the decedent;
(7) grandparents of the decedent;
(8) an adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent;
(9) the persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death;
(10) the hospital administrator; and
(11) any other person having the authority to dispose of the decedent’s body.
(b) If there is more than one member of a class listed in Subsection (a)(1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (9) entitled to make an anatomical gift, an anatomical gift may be made by a member of the class unless that member or a person to which the gift may pass under Section 692A.011 knows of an objection by another member of the class. If an objection is known, the gift may be made only by a majority of the members of the class who are reasonably available.

Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 692A.009

  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) A person may not make an anatomical gift if, at the time of the decedent’s death, a person in a prior class under Subsection (a) is reasonably available to make or to object to the making of an anatomical gift.