Who can legally authorize cremation?
An authorizing agent is a person that has the authority to grant the funeral home permission to cremate the deceased. The following are listed in the order of the preference of signers. Authorizing agents for cremation are: (a) a spouse; (b) a majority of adult children; (c) a parent; (d) a close relative of the deceased; or (e) in the absence of the person or persons listed above; a personal representative, public administrator, the deceased through a pre-need authorization, or others as designated by board rule may authorize.
