§ 103070 Body Disposition Time Limits

Health and Safety Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that a dead body can't be kept for more than 8 days unless there's a special permit.

Key Takeaways

•A dead body can't be kept for more than 8 days without a permit.
•The local registrar can give a permit to keep the body longer.
•This applies to bodies found in the state or brought into the state.

Example

If someone dies in a hospital, the hospital can't keep the body for more than 8 days.

After 8 days, the body must be released for burial or cremation, unless the local registrar gives a permit to keep it longer.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 103070 Body Disposition Time Limits

The body of any person whose death occurs in this state, or whose body is found in the state, or that is brought in from outside the state, shall not be temporarily held pending disposition more than eight calendar days after death, unless a permit for disposition is issued by the local registrar of the registration district in which the death occurred or the body was found. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

permit for disposition local registrar eight calendar days

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 103070.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References