The county medical examiner, as provided in RCW 68.50.010, shall have responsibility for accepting jurisdiction for the remains of a person that are unclaimed by friends or relatives. Whenever friends, a church organization or appropriate relatives, who have legal responsibility for disposing of the remains, as identified in RCW 68.50.160, claim the body, Whatcom County will not accept jurisdiction or financial responsibility for disposition.
(Ord. 93-053 § 1)
The county medical examiner, with assistance from the county sheriff's department and/or other law enforcement agencies shall attempt to notify friends, relatives or religious organizations that may desire to claim the remains of an unclaimed body and provide for disposition. If no friends, relatives or church organization can be found to claim the body, the medical examiner shall accept jurisdiction.
(Ord. 93-053 § 2)
The county medical examiner shall provide for the disposition of the ashes of the cremated indigent remains in a common vault designed for such or may release them to friends or relatives.
(Ord. 93-053 § 4)
Whenever the medical examiner accepts jurisdiction of unclaimed indigent human remains and authorizes cremation, the organization conducting the cremation shall bill the medical examiner, who will approve the payment and forward the invoice to the county auditor for warrant preparation.
(Ord. 93-053 § 5)