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AG Opinion – Is the Sheriff Required to Dispose of all Unclaimed Human Remains in their Jurisdictions?
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The conclusion of the matter is no. The sheriffs of Virginia are only required to dispose of unclaimed human remains involved in a death investigation by the medical examiner. Only after remains are unclaimed and the body was the subject of a death investigation by the medical examiner is the Sheriff required to dispose of the remains. For full details, please read the opinion.