Florida Statute 765.513
“Donees; purposes for which anatomical gifts may be made”
What it means
Three kinds of donees may receive anatomical gifts of bodies or parts, for stated purposes: (a) a procurement organization or an accredited medical or dental school, college, or university, for education, research, therapy, or transplantation; (b) an individual specified by name, for therapy or transplantation needed by that individual; and (c) the anatomical board or a nontransplant anatomical donation organization, as defined in s. 406.49, for donation of the whole body for medical or dental education or research.
If a document of gift lists several purposes without a priority order, the gift is used first for transplantation or therapy, if suitable. If it cannot be used for those, it may be used for research or education.
The Legislature declares that state public policy prohibits restrictions on the possible recipients of an anatomical gift based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, physical disability, health status, marital status, or economic status, and such restrictions are void and unenforceable.
- Procurement organizations and accredited medical or dental schools may receive gifts for education, research, therapy, or transplantation (§ 765.513(1)(a)).
- A named individual may receive a gift only for therapy or transplantation that person needs (§ 765.513(1)(b)).
- The anatomical board or a nontransplant anatomical donation organization receives whole-body gifts for medical or dental education or research (§ 765.513(1)(c)).
- Unranked purposes go first to transplantation or therapy, if suitable; otherwise to research or education (§ 765.513(2)).
- Restrictions on recipients based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, health status, marital status, or economic status are void and unenforceable (§ 765.513(3)).
Text of the statute (2026)
(1) The following persons or entities may become donees of anatomical gifts of bodies or parts of them for the purposes stated: (a) Any procurement organization or accredited medical or dental school, college, or university for education, research, therapy, or transplantation. (b) Any individual specified by name for therapy or transplantation needed by him or her. (c) The anatomical board or a nontransplant anatomical donation organization, as defined in s. 406.49, for donation of the whole body for medical or dental education or research.
(2) If multiple purposes are set forth in the document of gift but are not set forth in any priority order, the anatomical gift shall be used first for transplantation or therapy, if suitable. If the gift cannot be used for transplantation or therapy, the gift may be used for research or education.
(3) The Legislature declares that the public policy of this state prohibits restrictions on the possible recipients of an anatomical gift on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, physical disability, health status, marital status, or economic status, and such restrictions are void and unenforceable.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 765.513.
History. s. 1, ch. 74-106; s. 45, ch. 75-220; s. 1, ch. 94-305; s. 975, ch. 97-102; s. 7, ch. 98-68; s. 63, ch. 2001-226; s. 3, ch. 2009-218; s. 20, ch. 2013-138.
How it applies
Subsection (1) ties each donee category to stated purposes. A gift to a named individual is limited to therapy or transplantation that the individual needs, and whole-body gifts for education or research go to the anatomical board or a nontransplant anatomical donation organization defined in s. 406.49.
A document that lists several purposes without ranking them is applied under subsection (2). The restriction on recipient limits in subsection (3) is a statement of state public policy that voids any such restriction.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 765.513 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 765.513, Florida Senate (Supports subsections (1) to (3): donee categories, unranked purposes, and the voiding of recipient restrictions.)
- Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes (2026), s. 765.513 (Text, catchline, and History line checked against this page on 2026-10-17: Any individual specified by name for therapy or transplantation needed by him or her.)
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 406.49, Florida Senate (Subsection (1)(c) refers to the definition of a nontransplant anatomical donation organization in s. 406.49.)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
Published by the Probate.Help editorial team.How these pages are written and checked.