Regulating Death Care Facilities and Practitioners in Oregon

Death Care Laws

Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 97 - Rights and Duties Related to Cemeteries, Human Bodies, and Anatomical Gifts

Direct Link to Oregon Legislature

Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 830 - Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board

Direct Link to Oregon Secretary of State

Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 692 - Funeral Service Practitioners; Embalmers; Death Care Consultants; Funeral Establishments; Cemetery and Crematory Operators

Direct Link to Oregon Legislature

Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 676 - Health Professions Generally (This statute governs how the Board must handle complaints and investigations. Also, see ORS 676.150 for information on a licensee's duty to report prohibited or unprofessional conduct)

Direct Link to Oregon Legislature

Federal Trade Commision Funeral Rule, 16 CFR Part 453

Print Version of 2018 Edition
Also See: Complying with the Funeral Rule

Other Oregon State Laws Related to the Death Care Industry

This is not a complete list of all laws that pertain to death care.

Vital Statistics Laws

Estate and Inheritance Laws

Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 141, Division 35. Administration of Estates, Probate.
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 113. Initiation of Estate Proceedings. Probate Law.

See ORS 113.095 for information on persons not qualified to act as personal representatives.
See ORS 113.238 for information on notifying Department of State Lands when it appears there are no known heirs or a valid will.

Cemetery Laws

Oregon Revised Statute 308A. Land Special Assessments

See ORS 308A.125 for information on historic cemeteries within exclusive farm use zones)

Oregon Revised Statute 376. Statutory Ways of Necessity.

See ORS 376.197 for information on way of necessity to historic cemeteries.

Oregon Revised Statute 166. Public Order Offenses

See ORS 166.085 and 166.087 for information on abuse of a corpse.
See ORS 166.076 for information on abuse of a memorial to the dead.

Insurance and Trust Laws

Oregon Administrative Rules 441, Division 930. Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services - Prearrangement and preconstruction plans funded by trusts
Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 656

See ORS 656.202 and 656.204 for information on workers compensation death benefits.

Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 742 Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance.

See ORS 742.520(1); 742.524(1) and (1)(d) and 742.530(1) and (1)(a) and (1)(b) for information on auto insurance death benefits.

Medical Examiner Laws

Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 146. Investigations of Deaths, Injuries and Missing Persons.