---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 2414"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "2414"
heading: "Communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/2414"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 24 — National Cemeteries and Memorials"
---

# §2414. Communication between Department of Veterans Affairs and medical examiners and funeral directors

- (a) **Required Information.—** With respect to each deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) described in [subsection (b)](#b) who is transported to a national cemetery for burial, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall ensure that the local medical examiner, funeral director, county service group, or other entity responsible for the body of the deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) before such transportation submits to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) the following information:
  - (1) Whether the deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) was cremated.
  - (2) The steps taken to ensure that the deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) has no next of kin.
- (b) **Deceased Veteran Described.—** A deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) described in this subsection is a deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)—
  - (1) with respect to whom the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines that there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body of the deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1); and
  - (2) who does not have sufficient resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for the burial of the deceased [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) in a national cemetery, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–260, title I, § 103(a), Jan. 10, 2013, 126 Stat. 2419.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 112–260, title I, § 103(c), Jan. 10, 2013, 126 Stat. 2420, provided that: “Section 2414 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 10, 2013] and shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.”