New Jersey Jurisprudence Practice Exam

Where is an application for a disinterment filed?

1. In the municipality where the body was originally buried

2. In the municipality where final disposition is to take place

3. At the county courthouse

4. At the local health department

The correct answer is: In the municipality where final disposition is to take place

An application for disinterment is filed in the municipality where the final disposition is to take place, as this location governs the procedures and regulations regarding the removal and subsequent reburial or other dispositions of human remains. This option acknowledges the connection between the relocation of the remains and the jurisdiction that will oversee the new burial or disposal site. It ensures that local laws and health regulations are followed in both the disinterment and reinterment processes. Filing in the municipality where the body was originally buried would not be appropriate since the focus is on where the remains will be relocated, not their initial burial site. Filing at the county courthouse typically involves legal documents and proceedings, but it does not specifically address the logistics of disinterment, which are handled at the municipal level. Similarly, while the local health department may have an interest in health regulations surrounding burials, the application itself is primarily a matter of local jurisdiction pertaining to the site of final disposition. Thus, filing in the municipality where the new disposition is to occur ensures compliance with all relevant local regulations and oversight.