# Health - General (GHG)

## Title 5. Death

### Subtitle 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

#### Section 5-511

(a) A practitioner and an operator of a crematory or reduction facility may rely on the representations made by an authorizing agent and are not guarantors of the reliability of those representations.

(b) A practitioner and an operator of a crematory or reduction facility have no responsibility to contact or to independently investigate the existence of any next of kin of the decedent.

(c) An individual may file a petition with the appropriate court to obtain the authority to be authorizing agent:

  (1) If the individual alleges that permitting one or more of the individuals with priority under Sec. 5-509(c) of this subtitle to authorize arrangements for the final disposition of the body of a decedent may cause substantial injustice; or

  (2) If, considering all the circumstances, an individual other than an individual with priority under Sec. 5-509(c) of this subtitle had a closer personal affinity to the decedent and should be allowed to make the arrangements.

(d) Pending the outcome of a petition filed under this section, a practitioner shall suspend any arrangements with the individuals under Sec. 5-509(c) of this subtitle.

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Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)