Reporting agencies and funeral homes

Forms

Body release

• Licensed funeral director – Next of kin authorization for removal (online form)
• Licensed funeral director – Next of kin authorization for removal (PDF, 1MB)

Courtesy hold

Funeral homes may request to temporarily store a body at the Medical Examiner’s Office. There is a fee charged for this service.

• Decedent identification form

Death reporting, hospice and cremation

• Death reporting procedures (PDF, 1MB)
• Hospice pre-registration
• Cremation approval (PDF, 1MB)
• Parental consent for fetal cremation form
• Advance directives (health care directives website)

With rare exceptions, the Medical Examiner’s Office no longer accepts paper or faxed cremation approvals. All requests for cremation authorization must be filed and approved in the Minnesota Department of Health Registration & Certification (MRC) system.

Referral autopsy

Decedent identification and autopsy referral forms are required on all referral cases. Submit forms to the Medical Examiner’s Office prior to the transport of the body.

• Decedent identification form
• Autopsy referral form

Funeral home fees

The Medical Examiner’s Office charges certain fees to funeral homes. These fees are established by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in accordance with Minnesota Statute 390.15.

Body bag: $40 (plus tax)

Body bag fees are charged on cases the medical examiner takes custody of the body.

Cremation authorization: $50

Cremation authorization fees are charged on all cases, including those receiving county assistance.

Letter of non-contagion: $50

Funeral homes may request a letter of non-contagion when the medical examiner certifies the death.

Courtesy hold: $250 up to 7 days

$60 for each additional day.