More Tales from the Crypt: The Right of Sepulcher, Decedent's Intent and Disposition of Human Remains
Two years ago, in “Tales from the Crypt: Disposing of Human Remains in New York”, I wrote that: “[i]n New York, the disposition of remains is presumptively governed by [Public Health Law ] section 4201; and that “[a]bsent a valid written instrument appointing an agent for that purpose, section 4201 sets forth which individuals shall have priority to make decisions concerning the disposition of remains” (see “Tales from the Crypt: Disposing of Human Remains in New York”). While those statements remain true today, a recent decision by Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Joel K. Asarch addresses the extent to which a decedent’s intent governs the disposition of his remains where surviving family members have expressed conflicting views on the issue and the individual who has priority to make the decision seeks to dispose of the decedent’s remains in a manner that is inconsistent with the decedent’s expressed intentions (see Matter of Grace D., 922 NYS2d 914 [Sup Ct, Nassau County 2011]).
Although “the common-law right of sepulcher gives [a decedent’s] next of kin the absolute right to the immediate possession of a decedent’s body for preservation and burial” (Melfi v M. Sinai Hosp., 64 AD3d 26, 31 [1st Dept 2009]), Public Health Law section 4201 “sets forth a prioritized list of [individuals] who shall presumptively have the right to direct the disposition of a decedent’s remains” (see Maurer v Thibeault, 20 Misc3d 631, 632 [Sup Ct, Cortland County 2008]; Public Health Law § 4201). At the top of the list is an agent appointed in a written instrument that is duly executed in accordance with section 4201 (see Public Health Law § 4201). Absent such a written instrument, the decedent’s surviving spouse, surviving domestic partner, surviving children who are eighteen years of age or older, and surviving siblings who are eighteen years of age or older, among others, in descending order, shall have priority (see id.). No matter who ultimately has priority, however, the individual charged with making a decision concerning the decedent’s final resting place must do so in a manner that is consistent with “the moral and individual beliefs and wishes of the decedent” (id.[c]).
In Matter of Grace D., the decedent’s surviving sister and niece were at odds as to how to dispose of the decedent’s remains (see Grace D., 922 NYS2d at 915-17). On the one hand, the decedent’s sister sought to have the decedent’s remains cremated and transported to her home in Vermont, where the decedent experienced artistic and musical inspiration during his life (see id.). Although she acknowledged that the decedent never expressed any intention to be cremated, the sister explained that, upon her death, she wished to be cremated and to have the decedent’s ashes combined with her cremains (see id.).
On the other hand, the decedent’s niece expressed her desire that the decedent be buried, as he intended, in the Catholic cemetery burial plot that he had purchased for himself thirty-five years before meeting his maker (see id.). The niece testified that the decedent “was a religious man, who served as the Choir Director at a local church for several decades, and expected that he would be buried in the customary garb of a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of which he was a member” (see id.).
Noting that the decedent’s Last Will and Testament did not indicate his desire for the disposition of his remains; that there was no duly appointed agent to decide that issue; and that the decedent was survived by two sisters, including the one who sought to have his remains cremated, Justice Asarch found that the sisters would have statutory priority over all other surviving heirs to determine where the decedent’s final resting place would be (see id.). However, Justice Asarch also explained that since the decedent left a clear indication as to his wishes by purchasing a burial plot and paying for its permanent care, the court was bound to respect the decedent’s intentions (see id.). Justice Asarch, therefore, ordered that the decedent’s remains be buried in his cemetery plot, not cremated, as his sister, but not the decedent, wished (see id.).
In sum, a decedent’s testamentary intent is the paramount concern in cases concerning the disposition of human remains. To the extent that the decedent’s wishes can be ascertained, they must be honored by the decedent’s surviving relatives, most especially those who have priority to decide where the decedent’s final resting place will be.
Tales from the Crypt: Disposing of Human Remains in New York
Trusts and estates litigators often see families at their very worst, fighting over everything from money to decision-making authority, and virtually anything else imaginable. So, it should come as no surprise that there have been disputes over the disposition of human remains, which necessitated legislative action to resolve these conflicts.
New York Public Health Law section 4201 “sets forth a prioritized list of [individuals] who shall presumptively have the right to direct the disposition of a decedent’s remains” (Maurer v Thibeault, 20 Misc 3d 631, 632 [Sup Ct, Cortland County 2008]). An agent appointed in a written instrument executed in accordance with section 4201 shall have first priority (Public Health Law § 4201 [requiring, among other things, that the principal and agent sign the instrument]). Absent a written instrument, the following individuals shall have priority to control the disposition of a decedent’s remains, in descending order:
(1) “the decedent’s surviving spouse;”
(2) “the decedent’s surviving domestic partner;”
(3) “any of the decedent’s surviving children eighteen years of age or older;”
(4) “either of the decedent’s surviving parents;”
(5) “any of the decedent’s surviving siblings eighteen years of age or older;”
(6) “a guardian appointed pursuant to article seventeen or seventeen-A of the surrogate’s court procedure act or article eighty-one of the mental hygiene law;”
(7) “any person eighteen years of age or older who would be entitled to share in the estate of the decedent as specified in section 4-1.1 of the estates, powers and trusts law, with the person closest in relationship having the highest priority;”
(8) “a duly appointed fiduciary of the estate of the decedent;”
(9) “a close friend or relative who is reasonably familiar with the decedent’s wishes, including the decedent’s religious or moral beliefs, when no one either on this list is reasonable available, willing, or competent to act, provided that such person has executed a written statement pursuant to subdivision seven of this section [stating that he or she has no knowledge that the decedent executed a written instrument containing directions for the disposition of his or her remains]; or”
(10) “a chief fiscal officer of a county or a public administrator appointed pursuant to article twelve or thirteen of the surrogate’s court procedure act, or any other person acting on behalf of the decedent, provided that such person has executed a written statement pursuant to subdivision seven of this section” (id.).
The person with priority must faithfully carry out the decedent’s directions to the extent permitted by the law and the circumstances (id.).
In Maurer v Thibeault, the petitioner did something that no parent should have to do, she requested permission to determine the disposition of her deceased daughter’s remains after the daughter died under suspicious circumstances (20 Misc3d at 632-37). Although the respondent, the decedent’s husband, asserted that he should decide how his wife was laid to rest, the petitioner argued that the respondent should not be given priority because he was estranged from the decedent and, therefore, did not qualify as her “surviving spouse” under the statute (id.).
Noting that the decedent never executed a written instrument in accordance with section 4201, the court then addressed whether the respondent had priority over the petitioner as the decedent’s surviving spouse (id.). The court concluded that he did not (id.). In doing so, the court relied on evidence that established the decedent’s hatred, loathing and fear for the respondent immediately before her death (id.). The court also referenced the police report she filed against the respondent just one month prior to her death, accusing him of attacking and strangling her “to the point of unconsciousness” (id.).
Based upon those facts and the line of cases precluding a separated or estranged person from qualifying as a “surviving spouse,” the court rejected the respondent’s claim of priority (id.). The court also granted the petitioner’s request for permission to control the disposition of the decedent’s remains (id.). As the decedent’s surviving parent, the petitioner had priority to do so, since there was no written instrument, the respondent did not qualify as a surviving spouse, and the decedent had no domestic partner or child age 18 or older (id.).
In New York, the disposition of remains is presumptively governed by section 4201. Absent a valid written instrument appointing an agent for that purpose, section 4201 sets forth which individuals shall have priority to make decisions concerning the disposition of remains.
