Declaration of Designee

Under Iowa law, the legal next of kin are required to assume responsibility for the final disposition of a decedent. In certain circumstances, the legally designated next of kin may be estranged from the decedent or otherwise disconnected from the immediate family, yet they retain full legal authority and responsibility for disposition decisions. This can result in undue hardship and administrative burden for surviving family members, caregivers, and funeral service providers.

To mitigate these circumstances, an individual may execute a Declaration of Designee for Disposition prior to death, thereby appointing a designated representative to exercise full legal authority over the final disposition of the decedent’s remains. This declaration must be properly notarized and presented to the funeral home, where it shall be retained as part of the official record.