Does next of kin have to identify the body?

After a death the body must be formally identified. Often a close relative is asked to do this, but this is not a requirement. When someone dies in a fire or explosion, dental records or DNA may have to be used for identification.

Does family have to identify a body?

Is it necessary for me to come to the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office to identify the body? No. In the majority of cases, visual identification is not required.

Can a funeral home not let you see the body?

Though it is never a legal requirement for viewing a body, most funeral homes will insist on embalming if an open casket viewing or funeral is planned.

Can you view a body after a postmortem?

Some organs need to be examined in close detail during a post-mortem. These investigations can take several weeks to complete. The pathologist will return the organs to the body after the post-mortem has been completed. If you wish, you’ll usually be able to view the body after the examination.

What happens if a body Cannot be identified?

An unidentified body cannot be released until a positive identity is established. Under such circumstances, the medical examiner’s office will attempt to identify the body by fingerprint comparison, dental identification or DNA comparison. Depending on the technique applied, it may take several days or more.

Who is allowed to identify a body?

FACT: It’s usually not a surprise by the time someone is asked to identify a body. The authorities are almost always certain of the body’s identity by the time they ask family, friends, or acquaintances (example: coworkers) to make it official, which allows them to prepare the identifiers accordingly.

What happens if a dead body isn’t claimed?

Unclaimed bodies are mostly cremated in the United States. Cremation lowers the cost to the government, and is more efficient for storage. The ashes are often buried in a large collective grave, or in a columbarium (above ground mausoleum for urns).

Can you view a body that hasn’t been embalmed?

Yes, a body can be viewed without embalming. If you do not opt for embalming, the funeral director can prepare your loved one’s body for a viewing before their funeral following many of the same steps – washing the person’s body, setting their features, brushing their hair and dressing them.

How long after death can a body be viewed?

The body should be embalmed within 48 hours of death if the family plans to have a public viewing of the body. Each state has its own laws regarding the length of time that can pass between death and embalming. You shouldn’t wait for more than a week before embalming.