Table 1.

Main similarities and differences among national cremation laws.

Country	Request Submission	Second Post-Mortem Medical Examination	Sample Collection
Italy	Deceased person will to be cremated expressed in writing by family members	Not provided	Biological fluids and skin annexations from the body stored for ten years
United Kingdom	An executor of the deceased person or a near relative who has attained the age of 16	Not provided	None
France	Written expression of the last wishes of the deceased or a request of any person who is qualified to provide for the funeral and provides proof of his marital status and domicile	Not provided	None
Germany (Berlin)	Written declaration of intent from the deceased or the next of kin	Carried out by a doctor who has a specialization in “Forensic Medicine”, “Pathology” or “Public Health Care” or who belongs to an institute specializing in forensic medicine or pathology	None
Spain (Castilla y Leon)	Document of last wills where the interested person or a first line relative certifies the wish of that person to be cremated.	Not provided	None
Portugal	Requested while still alive, exposing the individual’s will and the clarity of not having any pending issues with justice, or, after death, the request must be made by the executor in compliance with a testamentary provision, the surviving spouse, the person who lived with the deceased in conditions similar to those of the spouses, any heir, any relative [42].	Not provided	None
Norway	Made by the person who arranges for the deceased’s funeral.	Not provided	None
United States (New York State)	Made by the legal next of kin.	Not provided	None
United States (Florida)	Made by the legally authorized person contracting for cremation services which designates her or his intentions in a signed declaration of intent.	Not provided	None
Japan	Made by the person who arranges for the deceased’s funeral.	Not provided	None