Michigan § 333.2653 - “Unclaimed body” defined; notice to persons with authority to control disposition of unclaimed body; availability of unclaimed body to department; request for notification concerning unclaimed body; time, manner, and contents of notice; release of body; notice and surrender of body to benevolent association.

(1) As used in sections 2652 to 2663, "unclaimed body" means a dead human body for which the deceased has not provided a disposition, for which an estate or assets to defray costs of burial do not exist, and that is not claimed for burial by a person, relative, or court appointed fiduciary who has the right to control disposition of the body.

(2) An official of a public institution or a state or local officer in charge or control of an unclaimed body which would have to be buried at public expense shall use due diligence to notify the persons with authority to control the interment or disposition of the unclaimed body under section 3206 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.3206. If there is no person under section 3206 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.3206, to direct the disposition of the unclaimed body in a manner other than provided by this section and sections 2655 to 2659, the unclaimed body shall become available to the department. Upon written request by the department for notification concerning unclaimed bodies coming under his or her jurisdiction, the officer, for the definite period specified in the request of the department, shall notify the department by telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail immediately following 72 hours after death, excluding Sundays and holidays, stating, when possible, the name, age, sex, religion, and cause of death of the deceased, and shall release the body according to the regulations or instructions of the department.

(3) If the deceased was a member of a religious faith maintaining a benevolent association that will provide for the burial of the deceased in accordance with the tenets of the religion, the department shall notify the benevolent association of the death of the deceased by telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail, and shall surrender the body to the benevolent association upon request.