154.30(3)(b)4.4. An individual for whom a determination is made by the probate court under par. (c) 2. b. that the individual and the decedent were estranged at the time of death. 154.30(3)(c)(c) If the individuals on the same level of priority specified in sub. (2) (a) are unable to agree on the final disposition, the probate court that has jurisdiction for the county in which the decedent resided at the time of his or her death may designate an individual as most fit and appropriate to control the final disposition. All of the following apply to a designation made under this paragraph: 154.30(3)(c)1.1. After the decedent’s death, a petition regarding control of the final disposition shall be filed with the probate court by any of the following: 154.30(3)(c)1.b.b. An individual seeking control of the final disposition who claims a closer personal relationship to the decedent than the decedent’s next of kin and who was not in the employ of the decedent or the decedent’s family. 154.30(3)(c)1.c.c. If 2 or more individuals on the same level of priority in sub. (2) (a) cannot, by majority vote, decide concerning the final disposition, any of those individuals or the funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority that possesses the decedent’s remains. 154.30(3)(c)2.a.a. The reasonableness and practicality of the proposed final disposition. 154.30(3)(c)2.b.b. The degree of the personal relationship between the decedent and each of the individuals claiming the right of final disposition, including whether the decedent was estranged from any of the individuals. 154.30(3)(c)2.c.c. Except as provided in subd. 3., the desires of the individual or individuals who are ready, able, and willing to pay the cost of the final disposition. 154.30(3)(c)2.e.e. The degree to which any proposed final disposition would permit maximum participation by family members, friends, and others who wish to pay final respects to the decedent. 154.30(3)(c)3.3. An individual’s payment or agreement to pay for all or part of the costs of final disposition, or the fact that an individual is the personal representative of the decedent, does not, by itself, provide the individual any greater opportunity to control the final disposition than the individual otherwise has under this section. 154.30(4)(4) Declining to exercise control or resigning control. An individual who is otherwise authorized to control final disposition under the order of priority of individuals specified in sub. (2) (a) or who is designated under sub. (3) (c) may accept the control, may decline to exercise the control, or may, after accepting the control, resign it. 154.30(5)(5) Liability of funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority. 154.30(5)(a)(a) If inability to agree exists among any individuals, as specified in sub. (3) (c) (intro.), no funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority is civilly or criminally liable for his or her refusal to accept the decedent’s remains, to inter or otherwise dispose of the decedent’s remains, or to complete the arrangements for the final disposition unless specifically directed to do so under an order of the probate court or unless the individuals in disagreement present the funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority with a written agreement, signed by the individuals, that specifies the final disposition. 154.30(5)(b)(b) A funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority that retains the remains of a decedent for final disposition before individuals specified in sub. (3) (c) (intro.) reach agreement or before the probate court makes a final decision under sub. (3) (c) may embalm the remains, unless the authorization for final disposition forbids embalming, or may refrigerate and shelter the remains while awaiting the agreement or the probate court’s decision and may add the cost of embalming or refrigeration and shelter, as appropriate, to the final disposition costs. 154.30(5)(c)(c) If a funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority files a petition under sub. (3) (c) 1., the funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority may add to the cost of final disposition reasonable legal fees and costs associated with the court’s review of the petition. 154.30(5)(d)(d) This subsection may not be construed to require or otherwise impose a duty upon a funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority to file a petition under sub. (3) (c) 1., and a funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority may not be held criminally or civilly liable for failing or omitting to file the petition. 154.30(5)(e)(e) In the absence of written notice to the contrary from an individual who claims control of the final disposition because of precedence under the order of priority of individuals specified under sub. (2) (a), no funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority, who relies in good faith on instructions concerning the final disposition from another individual who first claims control of the final disposition but has less precedence under the order of priority of individuals specified in sub. (2) (a), and who acts or omits to act in accordance with these instructions, is civilly or criminally liable or may be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for the action or omission. 154.30(6)(6) Liability for costs of final disposition. Notwithstanding s. 445.14, liability for the reasonable costs of the final disposition is from the declarant decedent’s estate, as specified under s. 859.25 (1). 154.30(7)(7) Jurisdiction. The probate court for the county in which the decedent last resided has exclusive jurisdiction over matters that arise under this section. 154.30(8)(8) Authorization for final disposition. 154.30(8)(a)(a) An individual who is of sound mind and has attained age 18 may voluntarily execute an authorization for final disposition, which shall take effect on the date of execution. An individual for whom an adjudication of incompetence and appointment of a guardian of the person is in effect under ch. 54 or ch. 880, 2003 stats., is presumed not to be of sound mind for purposes of this subsection. 154.30(8)(b)(b) An authorization for final disposition may express the declarant’s special directions, instructions concerning religious observances, and suggestions concerning any of the following: 154.30(8)(b)2.2. Funeral ceremony, memorial service, graveside service, or other last rite. 154.30(8)(b)3.3. Burial, cremation and burial, or other disposition, or donation of the declarant’s body after death. 154.30(8)(c)(c) An authorization for final disposition requires a representative and one or more named successor representatives to carry out the directions, instructions, and suggestions of the declarant, as expressed in the declarant’s authorization for final disposition, unless the directions, instructions, and suggestions exceed available resources from the decedent’s estate or are unlawful or unless there is no realistic possibility of compliance. 154.30(8)(d)(d) Except as provided in par. (dm), an authorization for final disposition shall meet all of the following requirements: 154.30(8)(d)1.1. List the name and last-known address, as of the date of execution of the authorization for final disposition, of each representative and each successor representative named, and be signed by each representative and each successor representative named. 154.30(8)(d)2.2. Be signed and dated by the declarant, with the signature witnessed by 2 witnesses who each have attained age 18 and who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the declarant, or acknowledged before a notary public. If the declarant is physically unable to sign an authorization for final disposition, the authorization shall be signed in the declarant’s name by an individual 18 years of age or older at the declarant’s express direction and in his or her physical presence; such a proxy signing shall take place or be acknowledged by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses or a notary public. 154.30(8)(dm)(dm) A document executed by a member of the U.S. armed forces in the manner and on a form provided by the federal department of defense that designates a person to direct the disposition of the member’s remains is a valid authorization for final disposition under this section. 154.30(8)(e)(e) If any of the following has a direct professional relationship with or provides professional services directly to the declarant and is not related to the declarant by blood, marriage, or adoption, that person may not serve as a representative under the requirements of this subsection: 154.30(8)(e)4.4. An employee of a funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority. 154.30(8)(f)(f) The department shall prepare and provide copies of the authorization for final disposition form and accompanying information for distribution in quantities to funeral directors, crematory authorities, cemetery authorities, hospitals, nursing homes, county clerks, and local bar associations and individually to private persons. The department shall include, in information accompanying the authorization for final disposition form, at least the statutory definitions of terms used in the form, and an instruction to potential declarants to read and understand the information before completing the form. The department may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of preparation and distribution. The authorization for final disposition form distributed by the department shall be easy to read, in not less than 10-point type, and in the following form: AUTHORIZATION FOR
FINAL DISPOSITION
I, .... (print name and address), being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known by this document my desire that, upon my death, the final disposition of my remains be under the control of my representative under the requirements of section 154.30, Wisconsin statutes, and, with respect to that final disposition only, I hereby appoint the representative and any successor representative named in this document. All decisions made by my representative or any successor representative with respect to the final disposition of my remains are binding.
Name of representative
Address
Telephone number
If my representative dies, becomes incapacitated, resigns, refuses to act, ceases to be qualified, or cannot be located within the time necessary to control the final disposition of my remains, I hereby appoint the following individuals, each to act alone and successively, in the order specified, to serve as my successor representative:
1. Name of first successor representative
Address
Telephone number
2. Name of second successor representative
Address
Telephone number
Suggested special directions
Suggested instructions concerning religious
observances
Suggested source of funds for
implementing final disposition
directions and instructions
This authorization becomes effective upon my death.
I hereby revoke any prior authorization for final disposition that I may have signed before the date that this document is signed.
I hereby agree that any funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority that receives a copy of this document may act under it. Any modification or revocation of this document is not effective as to a funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority until the funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority receives actual notice of the modification or revocation. No funeral director, crematory authority, or cemetery authority may be liable because of reliance on a copy of this document.
The representative and any successor representative, by accepting appointment under this document, assume the powers and duties specified for a representative under section 154.30, Wisconsin statutes.
Signed this day of
Signature of declarant
I hereby accept appointment as representative for the control of final disposition of the declarant’s remains.
Signed this day of
Signature of representative
I hereby accept appointment as successor representative for the control of final disposition of the declarant’s remains.
Signed this day of
Signature of first successor representative
Signed this day of
Signature of second successor
representative
I attest that the declarant signed or acknowledged this authorization for final disposition in my presence and that the declarant appears to be of sound mind and not subject to duress, fraud, or undue influence. I further attest that I am not the representative or the successor representative appointed under this document, that I am aged at least 18, and that I am not related to the declarant by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Witness (print name)
Signature
Address
Date
Witness (print name)
Signature
Address
Date
State of Wisconsin
County of
On (date) , before me personally appeared (name of declarant) , known to me or satisfactorily proven to be the individual whose name is specified in this document as the declarant and who has acknowledged that he or she executed the document for the purposes expressed in it. I attest that the declarant appears to be of sound mind and not subject to duress, fraud, or undue influence.
Notary public
My commission expires
154.30(8m)(8m) Remote execution. For purposes of sub. (8) (d) 2., “witnessed by” and “in the presence of” include the simultaneous remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology if all of the following conditions are satisfied: 154.30(8m)(a)(a) The signing is supervised by an attorney in good standing licensed by this state. The supervising attorney may serve as one of the remote witnesses. 154.30(8m)(b)(b) The declarant attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication. 154.30(8m)(c)(c) Each remote witness attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication. 154.30(8m)(d)(d) The declarant and each of the remote witnesses identify themselves. If the declarant and remote witnesses are not personally known to each other and to the supervising attorney, the declarant and each of the remote witnesses display photo identification.
