Cemeteries

• Relevant Ohio Revised Code Chapters:

  • Chapter 517 (Township Cemeteries)
    
  • Chapter 759 (Municipal Cemeteries)
    
  • Chapter 1721 (Cemetery Associations)
    
  • Chapter 4767 (Cemetery Registration)
    
  • Chapter 5901 (Veterans' Services) (5901.16-37 regulate veterans' graves)

• Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 1301:13 (Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission)

• The Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission page is an Ohio government site. Links include cemetery registrations online, a general brochure, the relevant sections of the Ohio Revised Code, and a form to be used in making a complaint to the Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission.

• Ohio State Bar Association: Law You Can Use

  • State Law Regulates Most Ohio Cemeteries
    
  • Consumers Should Ask Questions Before Choosing Cemeteries

• North American Cemetery Regulators Associations: This organization is a membership association of governments and/or agencies that administer, regulate, and/or supervise cemeteries.

• The Ohio Genealogical Society: Ohio Cemeteries: The OGS provides a directory of cemeteries and information on "reading, researching, or preserving cemeteries."

• Interment.net: A free online database of burial records from cemeteries around the world.


Funeral Homes & Directors, Crematories, etc.
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4717 (Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Crematories)

• The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is a government body that regulates the industry.

• The Ohio Funeral Directors Association is the directors' own industry group.

• Preneed funeral and services contracts are governed by several Ohio Revised Code chapters:
  • Chapter 1111.19 ([Trust Companies] Preneed Funeral Contracts)
    
  • Chapter 1733.51 ([Cemetery Associations] Preneed Cemetery Merchandise and Services Contract)
    
  • Chapter 3905.45 Payment of funeral or burial expenses policy
    
  • Chapter 3905.451 Funeral or burial goods or services coverage not subject to preneed provision


Coroners
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 313 (Coroner) specifies statutory requirements for coroners.

• The Ohio State Coroner's Association provides information for the public, elected officials, and law enforcement.


Crimes and Unlawful or Discriminatory Actions Relating to Cemeteries, Funerals, etc.
• Relevant Ohio Revised Code Chapters:
  • Chapter 2909.05 (Vandalism)
    
  • Chapter 2923.162 (Discharge of Firearm On or Near Prohibited Premises)
    
  • Chapter 2927.01 (Abuse of a Corpse)
    
  • Chapter 2927.11 (Desecration)
    
  • Chapter 3767.30 (Picketing or Protest During Funeral or Burial Service Prohibited)
    
  • Chapter 4112.02 (Unlawful Discriminatory Practices), specifically (H)(14), prohibiting discrimination in providing burial rights




Mortality Statistics

• Ohio Department of Health: Death Statistics Page

• National Center for Health Statistics: National Vital Statistics System Mortality Data

• Infoplease.com: Mortality provides various statistics on deaths by age, state, major causes, and population brackets.

• Ohio Administrative Code Mortality Tables:

  • 3901-1-44: Smoker/nonsmoker mortality tables
    

  • 3901-1-46: Gender blended mortality tables
    
  • 3901-3-17: New annuity mortality tables for use in determining reserve liabilities for annuities
    
  • 3901-6-11: Recognition of 2001 Commissioners' standard ordinary (CSO) mortality table


Death Certificates and Other Records
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 (Vital Statistics) governs the recording of deaths.

• The Ohio Department of Health maintains an FAQ on obtaining Death Records.

• The Ohio Death Certificate Index from the Ohio Historical Society sells copies of death certificates from (1913-1944).

• A HREF="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com provides a social security death index for information on individuals who were born from 1875 to present and whose deaths were reported to the U.S. Social Security Administration.

• The Cleveland Public Library and many public libraries provide a wealth of genealogy information.

• Ohio Obituary Links provides statewide links to newspapers and other sources of obituary information.




Anatomical Gifts

• Two Revised Code chapters specify how anatomical gifts may be made:
  • Chapter 2108 (Human Bodies or Parts Thereof)
    
  • Chapter 1713 (Educational Corporations): sections 1713.34-42 regulate how educational institutions may use bodies

• The Second Chance Trust Fund hosts a central site for Ohio organ and tissue donations.

• The Bureau of Motor Vehicles maintains the Organ and Tissue Donor Registry (fourth link on the BMV page).

• Four regional nonprofit organ procurement organizations coordinate locating gifts:

  • LifeBanc (Cleveland)
    
  • Life Connection of Ohio (Toledo and Dayton)
    
  • Lifeline of Ohio (Columbus)
    
  • LifeCenter Organ Donor Network (Cincinnati)




Related FAQs from the Cleveland Law Library

• Living Wills/Durable Power of Attorney

• Ohio Trust Law

• Probate Court Functions and Related Statutes

• Elder Law

• Transfer on Death Deed




Recommended Law Library Resources

• Merrick-Rippner Probate Law, by Angela G Carlin (West Group, 2001)

• Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies, by Kenneth V. Iverson (Galen, 1993)

• Page's Ohio Revised Code Annotated Appendix: Life Tables from the National Center for Health Statistics

Created on: January 30, 2008 -