---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-42. Disinterment by coroner without good grounds.
collection: code
id: 31-21-42
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-21-42 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-42
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-42.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21-42/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=881
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-21.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / DEAD BODIES / OFFENSES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-21-42. Disinterment by coroner without good grounds.

If any person makes affidavit to facts to authorize the coroner to disinter a body or the coroner does so of his own motion and such affidavit is made or disinterment carried out without good grounds or from malice or mischief, the person so swearing or the coroner so officiating shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In such cases, all circumstances shall be considered by the coroner’s jury; and, if it believes there were reasonable grounds for the disinterment at the time it took place, it shall be its duty to acquit.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 568; Code 1868, § 632; Code 1873, § 591; Code 1882, § 591; Penal Code 1895, § 417; Penal Code 1910, § 410; Code 1933, § 88-9921; Code 1933, § 88-2712, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1.

## Cross References

Authority of coroner and medical examiner to disinter bodies, § 45-16-45.