At the Governor’s request, the Rhode Island Department of Health launched a webpage today to inform Rhode Islanders about an existing Rhode Island general law (§ 5-33.3 1 et seq.) (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE5/5-33.3/INDEX.HTM) related to funeral planning. This law allows a person to designate any other person to be responsible for his/her funeral arrangements, regardless of their relationship. If no one is designated, Rhode Island law only allows a spouse or next of kin to make funeral arrangements.
Once designated, a Funeral Planning Agent has the authority and responsibility to make all arrangements for the person’s funeral. This includes funeral preparation and planning; decisions about funeral goods and services; decisions about the manner in which funeral services are to be conducted; and decisions about burial, and/or cremation, upon the person’s death.
A Funeral Planning Agent must be 18 years of age or older and willing and able to take on the responsibilities required. A person cannot act as a Funeral Planning Agent for more than one non-relative at a time.
To designate a Funeral Planning Agent, a person must complete the Funeral Planning Agent Designation Form. The form can be found on HEALTH’s website at http://www.health.ri.gov/lifestages/death/about/funeralplanning/. The form must then be signed and notarized.