Minnesota Statutes 525A.09 – Who May Make Anatomical Gift of Decedent’s Body or Part
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) and unless barred by section 525A.07 or 525A.08, an anatomical gift of a decedent‘s body or part for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education may be made by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the order of priority listed:
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 525A.09
- Adult: means an individual 18 years of age or older. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
- children: includes children by birth or adoption;
(9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;
(10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;
(11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;
(14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
(15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;
(16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;
(17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;
(18) "notary" means a notary public;
(19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;
(20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Majority: means with respect to an individual the period of time after the individual reaches the age of 18. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
(1) an agent of the decedent at the time of death who could have made an anatomical gift under section 525A.04, clause (3), immediately before the decedent’s death;
(2) the spouse of the decedent;
(3) adult children of the decedent;
(4) parents of the decedent;
(5) adult siblings of the decedent;
(6) adult grandchildren of the decedent;
(7) grandparents of the decedent;
(8) the persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death;
(9) an adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent; and
(10) any other person having lawful authority to dispose of the decedent’s body.
(b) If there is more than one member of a class listed in paragraph (a), clause (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (9), entitled to make an anatomical gift, an anatomical gift may be made by a member of the class unless that member or a person to which the gift may pass under section 525A.11 knows of an objection by another member of the class. If an objection is known, the gift may be made only by a majority of the members of the class who are reasonably available.
(c) A person may not make an anatomical gift if, at the time of the decedent’s death, a person in a prior class under paragraph (a) is reasonably available to make or to object to the making of an anatomical gift.