---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-16-29. Removal of body generally.
collection: code
id: 45-16-29
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-16-29 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-16-29
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-16-29.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-16-29/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=455
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.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / CORONERS / DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-16-29. Removal of body generally.

No person shall move or authorize the removal of any body from the place where the same is found until the investigation is completed and such removal is authorized by the coroner or medical examiner present at such investigation; or, if no such coroner or medical examiner is present, the peace officer shall authorize such removal; provided, however, that this Code section shall not apply to the removal of a body where the death occurred while the person was a patient of a hospice licensed under Article 9 of Chapter 7 of Title 31. If the death resulted from an accident involving the operation of civil aircraft, no body shall be removed until authorized by the representative of the National Transportation Safety Board or the Federal Aviation Administration.

## History

Ga. L. 1960, p. 1009, § 9; Ga. L. 1985, p. 843, § 7; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1073, § 3; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1735, § 3; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1421, § 9.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1997, p. 1421, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Georgia Forensic Sciences Act of 1997’’’.