Who must provide a signed authorization for cremation to be legally performed?

In Tennessee, the legal requirement for performing cremation includes obtaining a signed authorization from the next of kin. The next of kin typically refers to the closest family members, such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, who have the legal right to make decisions regarding the disposition of the deceased person's remains.

This requirement serves to ensure that the wishes of the deceased or their legal representatives are respected. It is crucial because cremation permanently alters the physical state of the body, and thus requires explicit consent from those who lawfully have the authority to give it. This also serves to protect both the family and the funeral home from potential disputes over the handling of the deceased's remains.

The other choices do not hold legal standing for authorizing cremation. For instance, while anyone who attends the funeral may have emotional ties to the deceased, they do not possess the legal authority to provide consent. Similarly, a funeral director may facilitate the process and ensure compliance with the law, but they cannot authorize cremation without the next of kin's consent. Local health departments are involved in the regulatory aspects of cremation, but they do not provide authorization for individual cases. Therefore, it is the next of kin’s responsibility to sign the authorization for cremation to