Iowa § 142.3 - 142.3 Notification of department.
Full text of Iowa Iowa Code § 142.3 — 142.3 Notification of department., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 142.3. 142.3 Notification of department.
Every county medical examiner, funeral director or embalmer, and the managing officer of every public asylum, hospital, penitentiary, or reformatory, as soon as any dead body shall come into the person’s custody which may be used for scientific purposes as provided in sections 142.1 and 142.2, shall at once notify the nearest relative or friend of the deceased, if known, and the department of health and human services, and hold such body unburied for forty-eight hours. Upon receipt of notification, the department shall issue verbal or written instructions relative to the disposition to be made of said body. Complete jurisdiction over said bodies is vested exclusively in the department of health and human services. No autopsy or post mortem, except as are legally ordered by county medical examiners, shall be performed on any of said bodies prior to their delivery to the medical schools. [S13, §4946-c; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2353; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §142.3] 2013 Acts, ch 90, §28; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §231; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §30, 137 2024 amendment effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §137 Section amended Wed Dec 10 22:56:28 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Section 142.3 (22, 2)
Source: official Iowa text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa § 142.3
What does Iowa Code § 142.3 cover?
Section 142.3 ("142.3 Notification of department.") is part of the Iowa Code, the codified statutory law of Iowa. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Iowa § 142.3?
A common citation format is "Iowa Code § 142.3" (Iowa). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Iowa law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Iowa official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Iowa attorney.
How does Iowa § 142.3 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Iowa can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Iowa.