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Chapter 49A

Death Inquests

Subchapter A. General Provisions

49A.001 Definitions 49A.002 When Deceased Person or Body Considered Unidentified

Subchapter B. Inquests by Justice of the Peace

49A.051 Applicability 49A.052 Independent Authority and Duties of Justice of the Peace 49A.053 Deaths Requiring Inquest 49A.054 Required Notice to Justice of the Peace; Offense 49A.055 Alternate Officials Required to Conduct Inquests; Offense 49A.056 Required Notice of Death in Penal Institution 49A.057 Authority to Act on Certain Information 49A.058 Time and Place of Inquest 49A.059 Offense: Hindering an Inquest 49A.060 Limitations on Moving Body and Physical Surroundings; Offense 49A.061 Authority to Lock and Seal Premises of Deceased Person; Liability of Estate for Expenses; Offense 49A.062 Authority to Disinter Body 49A.063 Autopsies 49A.064 Taking Samples; Limited Autopsies 49A.065 Chemical Analyses 49A.066 Liability of Person Performing Autopsy or Test 49A.067 Unidentified Body 49A.068 Cremation; Offense 49A.069 Inquest Hearing; Contempt 49A.070 Offense: Failing to Appear at Inquest Hearing 49A.071 Inquest Record 49A.072 Warrant of Arrest 49A.073 Commitment of Suspect 49A.074 Preservation of Evidence 49A.075 Office of Death Investigator 49A.076 Duty to Sign Death Certificates and Inquest Orders 49A.077 Authority to Reopen Inquest Based on Certain Information

Subchapter C. Inquests by Medical Examiner

49A.101 Creation of Office Required in Certain Counties; Authority to Establish Office 49A.102 Creation of Multi-County Medical Examiners District; Withdrawal 49A.103 Inquest Powers and Duties of Justice of the Peace Apply to Medical Examiner; Conflict of Laws 49A.104 Which Medical Examiner Required to Conduct Inquest 49A.105 Appointment and Qualification of Medical Examiner 49A.106 Employees 49A.107 Salaries 49A.108 Provision of Office Space and Laboratory Facilities 49A.109 Deaths Requiring Inquest by Medical Examiner 49A.110 Required Notice to Medical Examiner of Deaths 49A.111 Authority to Administer Oaths and Take Affidavits During Inquest 49A.112 Medical Examiner Must Authorize Removal of Body; Exceptions 49A.113 Authority to Disinter Body 49A.114 When Autopsies Required; Use of Facilities 49A.115 Limited Autopsy 49A.116 Unidentified Body: Testing, Reporting, and Disposition 49A.117 Duty to Take Charge of Body in Absence of Next of Kin or Legal Representative 49A.118 Cremation 49A.119 Reporting Cause of Death; Keeping Records; Issuing Death Certificates 49A.120 Withholding of Records Not Permitted; Exceptions 49A.121 Release of Certain Records 49A.122 Fees 49A.123 General Criminal Offense

Subchapter D. Investigations and Reports of Certain Deaths by Other Officials

49A.151 County Served by Justice of the Peace: Notice and Report of Death Occurring in Institution 49A.152 County Served by Medical Examiner: Notice and Report of Death Occurring in Institution; Offense 49A.153 County Served by Justice of the Peace: Investigation and Report of Death Occurring While Confined or in Peace Officer Custody

Subchapter E. Informed Consent for Postmortem Examination or Autopsy in All Counties

49A.201 Applicability 49A.202 Informed Consent to Postmortem Examination or Autopsy Required 49A.203 Persons Authorized to Consent to Postmortem Examination or Autopsy 49A.204 Postmortem Examination or Autopsy Consent Form 49A.205 Right to Nonaffiliated Physician Reviewing or Performing Autopsy

Subchapter F. Miscellaneous Provisions Applicable in All Counties

49A.251 Waiting Period Before Cremation; Offense 49A.252 Right of Parent of Deceased Person to View Person's Body