What is the term for the legal right to decide on body disposition after death?

The term "right of disposition" specifically refers to the legal authority an individual has to decide how to handle the remains of a deceased person. This includes making decisions about burial, cremation, or other forms of body disposition. The right of disposition is typically granted to the next of kin or a designated individual, as outlined in state laws. In the context of funeral service, it encompasses the entire process and reflects the legal rights that come into play after death regarding how the body will be treated and memorialized.

Other terms, while related to the handling of a deceased person, do not encapsulate the entirety of legal rights involved in body disposition. For example, the right of memorialization pertains specifically to the creation of memorials or tributes and does not include the decisions about the body itself. Similarly, the right of burial is focused on burial practices and does not account for other options like cremation, while the right of cremation is limited to that specific choice rather than encompassing all potential methods of disposition. Thus, the right of disposition is the most comprehensive and accurate term in this context.