Montana § 37-19-706 - Disposition Of Cremated Remains

§ 37-19-706. Disposition Of Cremated Remains

Disposition of cremated remains. (1) The person arranging the cremation shall require the authorizing agent to provide a signed statement that specifies the ultimate disposition of the cremated remains, if known. (2) The authorizing agent is responsible for specifying the disposition of the cremated remains. If, after a period of 90 days from the date of cremation, the authorizing agent has not specified the ultimate disposition or claimed the cremated remains, the crematory or person in possession of the cremated remains is responsible for disposition of the cremated remains and may then dispose of the cremated remains in any manner permitted by law. A record of the disposition must be made and kept by the crematory operator. This subsection applies to all cremated remains in the possession of a crematory or other party. (3) Except with the express written consent of the authorizing agent, a person may not: (a) dispose of or scatter cremated remains in a manner or in a location that commingles the cremated remains with those of another person. The provisions of this subsection (3) do not apply to the scattering of cremated remains from individual containers over public waterways or by air or to the scattering of cremated remains in an area located in a dedicated cemetery and used exclusively for that purpose. (b) place cremated remains of more than one person in the same closed container. (4) Cremated remains must be delivered to the individual specified by the authorizing agent on the cremation authorization form. (5) A representative of the crematory and the individual receiving the cremated remains shall sign a receipt indicating the name of the deceased and the date, time, and place of the delivery. The crematory shall retain a copy of the receipt, and the original must be given to the authorizing agent. After this delivery, the cremated remains may be transported, in this state, without a permit and disposed of in accordance with this chapter.