Who is responsible for the rotation of funeral homes when there is no previous arrangement for body disposition?

The county coroner is responsible for the rotation of funeral homes when there is no previous arrangement for body disposition. This responsibility stems from the coroner's role in overseeing the handling of deceased individuals, particularly in situations where a death is unexpected or unarranged. When families have not selected a specific funeral home in advance, the coroner must ensure that the deceased is treated with respect and that the logistical aspects of the body’s disposition are managed appropriately. This may involve contacting local funeral homes and assigning the responsibility of care to one of them, operating within a rotation system to ensure fairness and equitable distribution of cases.

This structured approach helps maintain order and accountability in the process, as well as ensures that all funeral homes remain engaged and available to serve the community in their time of need. Other parties, such as state officials or family members, do not typically hold this specific responsibility, nor do the funeral homes themselves unilaterally decide among themselves without oversight.