Elemental Cremation & Burial

AUTHORIZATION TO CREMATE

Disposition Authorization

Name of Decedent: [calc_name]

Date of Birth: [d_dob]    Date of Death: [death_dod]

Notice: This is a legal document that contains important provisions concerning cremation. Please read this entire document carefully before signing. Cremation is an irreversible and final process.

I, the undersigned (the “Authorizing agent”) hereby authorize and request ELEMENTAL CREMATION & BURIAL to direct First Cremation Services (the “Crematory”), their agents and employees, to cremate and process the human remains of the Decedent.

Schedule & Container: The Crematory may perform the cremation upon receipt of the remains, at its discretion, and according to its time schedule, as work permits, without obtaining any further authorization or instructions from me. The Crematory requires that the remains be placed in a combustible, leak resistant rigid container for cremation. The Crematory is authorized to dispose of any noncombustible residue, handles or other items attached to any cremation container.

Type of casket or cremation container:  calc_container

Type of container for cremated remains (urn):  calc_container_remains

Authority to Sign: I state, represent and warrant that I am authorizing disposition in writing pursuant to

RCW 68.50.160 : Right to control disposition of remains—Liability of funeral establishment or cemetery authority—Liability for cost.

• A person has the right to control the disposition of his or her own remains without the predeath or postdeath consent of another person. A valid written document expressing the decedent’s wishes regarding the place or method of disposition of his or her remains, signed by the decedent in the presence of a witness, is sufficient legal authorization for the procedures to be accomplished.
• Prearrangements that are prepaid, or filed with a licensed funeral establishment or cemetery authority, under RCW 18.39.280 through 18.39.345 and chapter 68.46 RCW are not subject to cancellation or substantial revision by survivors. Absent actual knowledge of contrary legal authorization under this section, a licensed funeral establishment or cemetery authority shall not be held criminally nor civilly liable for acting upon such prearrangements.
• If the decedent has not made a prearrangement as set forth in subsection (2) of this section or the costs of executing the decedent’s wishes regarding the disposition of the decedent’s remains exceeds a reasonable amount or directions have not been given by the decedent, the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person vests in, and the duty of disposition and the liability for the reasonable cost of preparation, care, and disposition of such remains devolves upon the following in the order named:
  1. The person designated by the decedent as authorized to direct disposition as listed on the decedent’s United States department of defense record of emergency data, DD form 93, or its successor form, if the decedent died while serving in military service as described in 10 U.S.C. Sec. 1481(a) (1)-(8) in any branch of the United States armed forces, United States reserve forces, or national guard;
  2. The designated agent of the decedent as directed through a written document signed and dated by the decedent in the presence of a witness. The direction of the designated agent is sufficient to direct the type, place, and method of disposition;
  3. The surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner;
  4. The majority of the surviving adult children of the decedent;
  5. The surviving parents of the decedent;
  6. The majority of the surviving siblings of the decedent;
  7. A court-appointed guardian for the person at the time of the person’s death.
• If any person to whom the right of control has vested pursuant to subsection (3) of this section has been arrested or charged with first or second degree murder or first degree manslaughter in connection with the decedent’s death, the right of control is relinquished and passed on in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.
• If a cemetery authority as defined in RCW 68.04.190 or a funeral establishment licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW has made a good faith effort to locate the person cited in subsection (3)(a) through (g) of this section or the legal representative of the decedent’s estate, the cemetery authority or funeral establishment shall have the right to rely on an authority to bury or cremate the human remains, executed by the most responsible party available, and the cemetery authority or funeral establishment may not be held criminally or civilly liable for burying or cremating the human remains. In the event any government agency or charitable organization provides the funds for the disposition of any human remains, the cemetery authority or funeral establishment may not be held criminally or civilly liable for cremating the human remains.
• The liability for the reasonable cost of preparation, care, and disposition devolves jointly and severally upon all kin of the decedent in the same degree of kindred, in the order listed in subsection (3) of this section, and upon the estate of the decedent.

______ (initials)  I have read and understood RCW 68.50.160

Mechanical Devices and Implants: Mechanical Devices and Implants in the Decedent may create a hazardous condition when placed in a cremation chamber and subjected to heat. The Crematory will not cremate any human remains that contain any mechanical device or implants such as a defibrillator, cardiac pacemaker or insulin pump. I understand that mechanical devices will be removed prior to cremation and that they will be disposed of and not returned to the family.

Jewelry and Personal Property: All clothing, jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetics or any other personal property or assistive medical devices will be cremated with the decedent unless alternative arrangements are made with ELEMENTAL Cremation & Burial.

Cremation Process

The human remains of the decedent are placed in a combustible casket or other container and delivered to the crematory. All cremations are performed individually. The cremation process begins with the placement of the casket/container in the cremation chamber where it is subjected to intense heat and flame reaching temperatures of 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately two and one-half hours, all substances are consumed or driven off; except bone fragments (calcium compounds) and metals, as the temperature is not sufficiently high enough to consume them. During the cremation process it may be necessary to open the cremation chamber and reposition the deceased in order to facilitate a complete and thorough cremation. Due to the nature of the cremation process any personal possessions or valuable materials, such as dental gold or jewelry (as well as body prostheses or dental bridgework); that are left with the decedent and not removed from the casket or container prior to cremation will be destroyed or will otherwise not be recoverable. Following an appropriate cooling period, the cremated remains are swept or raked from the cremation chamber. The Crematory makes all reasonable efforts, and uses its best efforts, to remove all of the cremated remains from the cremation chamber, but it is impossible to remove all of them, as some dust or other residue from the process are always left behind. In addition, while every effort will be made to avoid commingling, there will be inadvertent or incidental commingling of minute particles of cremated remains from the residue of previously cremated remains, and the Authorizing Agent understands and accepts this fact. After the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber, the skeletal remains often contain recognizable bone fragments. Unless otherwise specified, after the bone fragments have been separated from the other material, they will then be mechanically processed (pulverized). This process of crushing or grinding may cause incidental commingling of the remains with the residue from the processing of previously cremated remains. These granulated particles of unidentifiable dimensions will be virtually unrecognizable as human remains. After the cremated remains have been processed, they will be placed into the designated urn or container. The Crematory will make reasonable effort to put all the cremated remains in the urn or container, with exception of dust or other residue that may remain on the processing equipment. In the event that the remains do not fit into one container, the remainder will be placed in a second black plastic urn and returned to the family. The Funeral Service will deliver/dispose of the urn/container containing the cremated remains as directed by the Authorized Agent. I have read and understand this disclosure concerning the Cremation Process.

Initials __________  I have read and understood that the cremation process is irreversible.

I have the right and hereby authorize the cremation of the deceased and the disposition of the cremated remains pursuant to the regulations of the Crematory and the instructions on this form. I am not aware of any living person with a superior right to authorize the cremation of the deceased and I am not aware of any contract or instruction (including any pre-arranged funeral plan) made by the deceased objecting to cremation or providing for disposition other than by cremation. I warrant that all representations and statements contained in this form are true and correct. These statements are being relied upon by the Elemental Cremation & Burial and the crematory. I hereby state that I am [one of] the closest living next of kin of the decedent or are otherwise empowered and authorized to execute this authorization according to all state and local laws. I am aware of no objection to this cremation by the spouse, any child, parent or sibling of the decedent, or of provision of any contract or instructions made by the decedent. I have either identified or waived my rights of identification of the human remains that I released to ELEMENTAL Cremation & Burial, as the decedent. All personal property, clothing and or valuables have been removed from the remains or I hereby order them cremated with the remains, unless specified on the following page. I understand that any personal property, clothing or valuables, including dental gold, on or with the body will be destroyed in the cremation process, and therefore will not be recoverable. I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless, ELEMENTAL Cremation & Burial, First Cremation Services, their officers, directors, agent and employees, from any claim, liability, cost or expense resulting from their reliance on or performance consistent with the direction, declaration, representation, authorizations and agreements herein, including but not limited to, claims brought by any other persons claiming the right to control the disposition of the decedent or the decedent’s cremated remains.

By execution, the undersigned warrant(s) that all representations and statements contained herein are true and correct. These statements are being relied on by the Crematory and the undersigned has read and understood the provisions of this document.

Straightforward text: I, [calc_nok] authorize the cremation of [calc_name] and I’ve read and understood the information above.

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED AGENT: ________________________________________________

[calc_nok_name_relation]

 

RELEASE OF CREMATED REMAINS

 

Disposition of the cremated remains of [firstname, lastname], shall be made as instructed:

 

IN PERSON RELEASE:

 

I wish that the cremated remains to be released to the following person(s):

 

[Name1, Name1 phone]

[Name2, Name2 phone]

 

_______ Initials

 

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MAILING:

I have directed the shipment of the cremated remains of the above-named decedent to the address recorded below. Elemental Cremation & Burial is not responsible for any loss, damage or delay of delivery of cremated remains shipped via Registered Mail with the U.S. Postal Service.

Name

Mailing Address (Include City, State & Zip)

 

_______ Initials

 

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By initialing next to the appropriate box above and by my signature below I hereby certify that I have the right to direct the disposition of the remains of the above-named decedent. Additionally, I understand that in the event that the cremated remains remain unclaimed for more than 90 days, I will be contacted by certified mail at the address above. I will have 10 business days to claim the cremated remains or otherwise provide for their disposition. If I do not respond within the stated time period I hereby authorize Elemental Cremation & Burial to make disposition of the cremated remains in any legal manner and within any time period it deems appropriate. I further understand that 30 days of cremated remains storage will be provided free of charge. Past the initial 30 days I will be charged and agree to pay a $1.00 per day fee for storage until permanent disposition is made.

 

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED AGENT:  ________________________________________

[Firstname, Lastname, Relation]