Senate passes legislation to provide legal protections for funeral plans

Senator Brian Schoenjahn speaks about the legislation

The Iowa Senate passed legislation this week to allow Iowans to create a legal document indicating what they want done with their bodies when they die. This includes ensuring what kind of ceremony, if any, you want to have performed upon your death.




Currently, there is no provision in Iowa law that legally requires survivors to honor your wishes about what you want done with your remains after you die. Thus, even though you may have told family members what type of funeral you desire, once you die, family members are not legally bound to respect your wishes.

Senate File 473 would change that. If this bill becomes law, you will be able to execute a legally binding document indicating what type of services you want upon your death and the person you choose to carry out your wishes.

The bill was drafted by a working group of legislators and approximately 30 representatives from the Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Iowa State Bar Association.