The Law Library Staff prepares "Research Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) for the convenience of our users to provide access to a variety of sources addressing particular points of law. These are general legal information sources, and are not to be construed as a substitute for personal legal advice from an attorney. Please seek legal counsel to help you determine the applicability of any of the information in these resources to your specific situation. The Law Library makes no recommendation as to whether you should purchase any services offered by the websites contained in this FAQ.
CEMETERIES:
Relevant Ohio Revised Code Chapters:
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Chapter 155.04 (Approved headstones at graves of soldiers)
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Chapter 317.25 (Records of soldiers' graves)
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Chapter 517 (Township Cemeteries)
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Chapter 759 (Municipal Cemeteries)
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Chapter 1715.02 (Sale of cemetery grounds no longer usable)
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Chapter 1715.03 (Transfer of cemetery land to cemetery association)
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Chapter 1721 (Cemetery Associations)
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Chapter 4767 (Cemetery Registration)
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Chapter 5709.17 (Exemption of property of memorial or cemetery associations or veterans' organizations)
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Chapter 5901 (Veterans' Services Commissions) (5901.16-37 regulate veterans' graves)
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter
1301:13 (Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission)
Ohio Cemeteries: A Consumer Guide from the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Ohio State Bar Association Law You Can Use: State
Law Regulates Most Ohio Cemeteries
The Ohio Genealogical Society: Guide
to Cemetery Reference Sources: The OGS provides a directory of cemeteries
and information on reading, researching, or preserving cemeteries.
Interment.net: A free online database of burial records from cemeteries around the world.
FUNERAL HOMES & DIRECTORS, CREMATORIES, ETC.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter
4717 (Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Crematories)
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter
4717 (Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Crematories)
The The State of Ohio Board of Embalmers
and Funeral Directors is a government body that regulates the industry.
The Ohio Funeral
Directors Association is the directors' own industry group.
Preneed funeral and services contracts are governed by several Ohio Revised
Code chapters:
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Chapter 1733.51 ([Cemetery Associations] Preneed Cemetery Merchandise and Services Contract)
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Chapter 3905.45 (Payment of funeral or burial expenses policy)
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Chapter 3905.451 (Funeral or burial goods or services coverage not subject to preneed provision)
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Chapter 4717.31 - .36 (Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Crematories)
CORONERS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY
Ohio Revised Code Chapter
313 (Coroner) specifies statutory requirements for coroners.
The Ohio State Coroner's Association provides information for the public, elected officials, and law enforcement.
CRIMES AND UNLAWFUL OR DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS RELATING TO CEMETERIES, FUNERALS, ETC.
Relevant Ohio Revised Code Chapters:
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Chapter 2909.05 (Vandalism)
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Chapter 2923.162 (Discharge of Firearm On or Near Prohibited Premises)
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Chapter 2927.01 (Abuse of a Corpse)
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Chapter 2927.11 (Desecration)
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Chapter 3767.30 (Picketing or Protest During Funeral or Burial Service Prohibited)
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Chapter 4112.02 (Unlawful Discriminatory Practices), specifically (H)(14), prohibiting discrimination in providing burial rights
MORTALITY STATISTICS
Life Tables from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mortality
Tables from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
IRS Section 7520 Actuarial
Tables
Life
Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100
Period Life Table from
the Social Security Administration
Mortality and Other Rate Tables from the
Society of Actuaries
UK Government Actuary's Department Compensation for Injury and Death (Ogden
Tables)
Ohio Department of Health: Mortality
Statistics: Leading Causes of Death
National Center for Health Statistics: National
Vital Statistics System Mortality Data
Infoplease.com - Mortality: provides various statistics on deaths by age,
state, major causes, and population brackets.
Ohio Administrative Code Mortality Tables:
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3901-3-17: New annuity mortality tables for use in determining reserve liabilities for annuities
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3901-6-10.1: Smoker/nonsmoker mortality tables
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3901-6-10.2: Gender blended mortality tables
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3901-6-11: Recognition of 2001 Commissioners' standard ordinary (CSO) mortality table
DEATH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER RECORDS
Ohio Revised Code Chapter
3705 (Vital Statistics) governs the recording of deaths.
The Ohio Department of Health provides information
on obtaining Death Records.
The Ohio Death Certificate
Index from the Ohio Historical Society sells copies of death certificates
from (1913-1944).
Ancestry.com (Fee based service)
provides a social security death index for information on individuals who were
born from 1875 to present and whose deaths were reported to the U.S. Social
Security Administration.
The Cleveland Public
Library and many public libraries provide a wealth of genealogy information.
ANATOMICAL GIFTS
Two Revised Code chapters specify how anatomical gifts may be made:
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Chapter 2108 (Human Bodies or Parts Thereof)
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Chapter 1713 (Educational Corporations): sections 1713.34-42 regulate how educational institutions may use bodies
The Donate Life Ohio site hosts a
central site for Ohio organ and tissue donations.
The Ohio
Bureau of Motor Vehicles enables you to register to be an organ and tissue
donor.
Four regional nonprofit organ procurement organizations coordinate locating
gifts:
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LifeBanc (Cleveland)
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Life Connection of Ohio (northwest and west central Ohio)
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LifeCenter Organ Donor Network (Cincinnati)