RCW 68.50.300 Release of information concerning a death. (Effective until January 1, 2021.)
(1) The county coroner, medical examiner, or prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction may in such official's discretion release information concerning a person's death to the media and general public, in order to aid in identifying the deceased, when the identity of the deceased is unknown to the official and when he or she does not know the information to be readily available through other sources.
(2) The county coroner, medical examiner, or prosecuting attorney may withhold any information which directly or indirectly identifies a decedent until either:
(a) A notification period of forty-eight hours has elapsed after identification of the decedent by such official; or
(b) The next of kin of the decedent has been notified.
During the forty-eight hour notification period, such official shall make a good faith attempt to locate and notify the next of kin of the decedent.
[ 2012 c 117 § 318; 1981 c 176 § 2. Formerly RCW 68.08.320.]
RCW 68.50.300
Release of information concerning a death. (Effective January 1, 2021.)
(1) The county coroner, medical examiner, or prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction may in such official's discretion release information concerning a person's death to the media and general public, in order to aid in identifying the deceased, when the identity of the deceased is unknown to the official and when he or she does not know the information to be readily available through other sources.
(2)(a) The county coroner, medical examiner, or prosecuting attorney may withhold any information which directly or indirectly identifies a decedent until either:
(i) A notification period of forty-eight hours has elapsed after identification of the decedent by such official; or
(ii) The next of kin of the decedent has been notified.
(b) During the forty-eight hour notification period, such official shall make a good faith attempt to locate and notify the next of kin of the decedent.
(3) The county coroner, medical examiner, or prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction may release information contained in a report of death, as defined in chapter 70.58A RCW, to the media and general public.
[ 2019 c 148 § 37; 2012 c 117 § 318; 1981 c 176 § 2. Formerly RCW 68.08.320.]
NOTES:
Effective date—Rule-making authority—2019 c 148: See RCW 70.58A.901 and 70.58A.902.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.