MI HB5850

Adds new subsection (11) to MCL 700.3206 establishing priority for service members who designated a person to direct disposition of their remains under federal statute or Department of Defense policy.

Designated person (surviving spouse, adult blood relative, adoptive relative, or person standing in loco parentis) has rights to make funeral arrangements and direct body disposition if surviving spouse or blood relatives cannot be found and designated person is willing and able.

When a service member's designated person has the authority under subsection (11), subsections (2) through (8) of MCL 700.3206 do not apply, bypassing standard intestate succession priorities.

Defines "service member" as individuals described in 10 USC 1481(a)(1) through (8) and adds definition of "nominated personal representative" to subsection (12).

Amends MCL 700.3209 to allow funeral establishments to rely on Department of Defense designations under subsection (11) without civil liability for good faith reliance on those designations.