Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 5-511

Current with changes from the 2024 legislative session from Chs. 2 through 1049, effective on or before 6/1/2024
Section 5-511 - Reliance on authorizing agent's representations; duty to investigate; filing to become authorizing agent
(a) A practitioner and an operator of a crematory 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 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 § 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 § 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 § 5-509(c) of this subtitle.

Md. Code, HG § 5-511