Hailey Tran
In the US, 1% of all deaths—or roughly 34,000 bodies per year—go unclaimed. This is a growing issue, with the opioid epidemic and an increasing number of nursing home residents contributing to the rise. While there are no federal protocols for handling unclaimed bodies, states have their own guidelines. In some cases, funeral homes and coroners will search for next of kin, but they are not obligated to claim the body. If no next of kin is found, the body may be cremated or buried, with the county often bearing the cost.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of unclaimed bodies in the US per year | 34,000 |
| Primary characteristics of people with unclaimed bodies | Low income, estranged from family |
| Reasons for unclaimed bodies | No next of kin, inaccurate records, opioid epidemic |
| Responsibility for unclaimed bodies | States, counties, funeral homes, morgues |
| Disposition of unclaimed bodies | Burial, cremation, donation to medical science |
| Cost of burial | ~$3,000 |
| Cost of cremation | $500 |
| Reimbursement for indigent burials | $1,100 |
| Time to removal of bodies from morgue after incentive | 8.8 days |
| Time taken to find next of kin | Months |
| Storage of cremated remains | Funeral homes, cemeteries |
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What You'll Learn
Funeral homes may store unclaimed bodies in a 'cremation closet'
In the United States, when a body goes unclaimed, it becomes the responsibility of the government. However, the laws and regulations for handling unclaimed bodies vary across states. In some cases, funeral homes may store unclaimed bodies in a cremation closet.
Funeral homes often struggle with what to do with the unclaimed ashes of the dead, especially with the rise in popularity of cremation. While state regulations specify how long funeral homes are required to store a person's ashes, many funeral directors opt to store unclaimed ashes indefinitely in the hope that family members may someday be located. These ashes are typically kept in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box or in other simple containers until a family selects an urn. In some extreme cases, funeral homes may store ashes for decades.
Funeral homes may have what is known as a "cremation closet," a non-public area where the unclaimed cremated remains are stored as they wait for a more permanent interment. In Massachusetts, state law allows funeral establishments to scatter unclaimed cremated remains in a designated cemetery area after 12 months. However, even with this law in place, some funeral directors may choose to hold onto the unclaimed ashes rather than dispose of them.
The increase in unclaimed bodies has led to challenges for morgues and funeral homes, which are tasked with finding the next of kin, a time-consuming and challenging process. In some cases, funeral homes may pay for the burial of unclaimed bodies with money provided by the state, or store the bodies in refrigerated spaces until family members can be located.
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Hospitals may try to identify next of kin
Hospitals and funeral homes may try to identify the next of kin of unclaimed bodies. This is partly done to handle the growing number of unclaimed bodies. Coroners and funeral home directors search through public records, look at police records, and place ads to find family members of the deceased. They may also enlist the help of genealogists and investigators to locate the next of kin. This process can take months to complete. In some cases, interested third parties may step forward to claim the body, and the courts will decide which applicant will be granted the rights to the remains.
In some cases, the next of kin may be located, but they are not obligated to claim the body. When this happens, the next of kin is asked to approve that the county handle the disposal of the body and forfeit claiming the remains in the future. This is also the case if the next of kin agrees to claim the body initially but then fails to follow through.
Some counties report that a large number of nursing home residents account for unclaimed bodies because records don't show the next of kin or haven't been accurately updated. Additionally, it is common for the bodies of those who die in rehab centers to go unclaimed. In these cases, funeral homes and hospitals play a crucial role in trying to identify the next of kin.
In the case of cremated remains, funeral homes typically store them in a non-public area known as the "cremation closet" while waiting for a more permanent interment. The Oregon State Hospital, for example, has thousands of cremated remains in storage and recently published an online searchable database to help identify next of kin.
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Bodies may be donated for medical science
Bodies may be donated to science, a process that allows medical researchers and educators to practice, learn, and develop new techniques that improve and save lives. Donation programs are available at institutions such as Mayo Clinic and Science Care. These programs generally cover the costs associated with donation, including transportation, cremation, death certificates, and permits.
To be accepted into a body donation program, donors must typically meet certain criteria and undergo a medical screening process. For example, Science Care accepts donors with various chronic conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. However, factors such as location, consent, and legal issues may impact final acceptance.
Once accepted into a program, the donor or their next of kin will be contacted to coordinate the transportation of the body to the designated facility. It is important to note that donation programs have specific requirements regarding the condition and timing of body donation. For instance, Mayo Clinic requires that the body be in their care within 48 hours of death and has criteria regarding autopsy, decomposition, and embalming.
After the donation is received, the body is used for medical research, surgical training, and education programs. Any tissue not utilized may be cremated, and the ashes returned to the designated recipient upon request. The entire process can take between 6 to 15 months, after which memorial services can be held to honor the donor.
Body donation is a valuable option for those who wish to contribute to medical advancements, even after their passing. It is a selfless act that can pave the way for future generations to live longer and healthier lives.
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Veterans' unclaimed bodies may be buried by third-party groups
In the United States, unclaimed bodies are a common occurrence, with about 1% of all deaths in the country involving an unclaimed body, which equates to roughly 34,000 unclaimed bodies every year. This figure is also rising. Unclaimed bodies are typically those of people with low incomes or those who are estranged from their families.
When it comes to veterans, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) works with veteran service groups, funeral industry partners, public administrators, and other concerned citizens to ensure the dignified burial of unclaimed veterans. The VA provides monetary benefits to assist with the burial of unclaimed veterans, including reimbursements for the purchase of a casket or urn, transportation to a national cemetery, and a burial allowance.
Veterans are also eligible for burial in a VA national, state, or tribal veterans cemetery, and may receive a government headstone, marker, or medallion, a US burial flag, and a presidential memorial certificate. Additionally, some veterans are eligible for burial and plot interment allowances.
The process of determining eligibility and arranging burial for unclaimed veterans involves contacting the National Cemetery Scheduling Office to determine if the decedent is a veteran and eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. State or tribal veterans cemeteries also offer burial options for eligible veterans.
The VA has also eliminated the requirement for caskets to have a gasketed seal as part of the required minimum specifications for reimbursement, and will pay $1,313 for a casket or $152 for an urn that meets the required minimum specifications. Any individual or entity that pays for the transportation of an unclaimed veteran's remains to a national cemetery for burial may apply for reimbursement of costs using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. This form can also be used to apply for a burial allowance, which is available to any individual or entity that pays for the costs associated with preparing the remains of an unclaimed veteran for burial or inurnment.
In some states, unclaimed bodies are donated for medical science, while other states allow for the unclaimed bodies of veterans to be buried by third-party groups.
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Bodies are sometimes cremated or buried by the county
The handling of unclaimed bodies varies across the United States, with no federal protocols in place. The responsibility often falls on individual counties to outline their own procedures for determining what qualifies as an unclaimed body and how to manage it. Counties have the authority to allocate funds for the burial or cremation expenses of individuals who pass away within their jurisdiction without the means to pay for funeral arrangements.
In some counties, unclaimed bodies are cremated or buried by the county. For instance, in Tennessee, if a body is unclaimed after 96 hours, the chief medical examiner is notified. If the examiner does not demand the body within 72 hours, it is either buried or cremated as per state law. Similarly, in Los Angeles County, unclaimed bodies are cremated after 90 days if no next of kin come forward.
In Massachusetts, state law permits funeral establishments to scatter the cremated remains of unclaimed bodies in designated cemetery areas after 12 months. Funeral homes may also have a "cremation closet," a non-public area where unclaimed cremated remains are stored until a more permanent solution is found. While governments may not have an emotional interest in the unclaimed dead, funeral homes generally treat the remains on their premises with respect and diligence in attempting to locate next of kin or arranging a burial.
The increasing number of unclaimed bodies has raised concerns in several counties. Factors such as the opioid epidemic and deaths in rehab centers have contributed to this issue. To address this, some counties have implemented incentive programs to expedite the removal of unclaimed bodies from morgues and reduce the average length of time they are stored there.
While cremation is generally a more affordable option, it requires a signature from the next of kin in some states. As a result, funeral directors may opt to pay for burial expenses using state funds or store the body in refrigerated spaces in the hopes of locating family members.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals and funeral homes try to find the next of kin to claim the body. If they are unsuccessful, the body will be stored in a morgue or refrigerated space until a family member is found or until the body is cremated or buried. Some counties allow unclaimed bodies to be donated to medical science.
The length of time varies depending on the county and state. In some places, the body must be claimed by next of kin within 90 days, after which it will be cremated. In other places, the body must be claimed within 96 hours, otherwise, it will be cremated or buried.
The costs of an unclaimed body are usually covered by the local government. In some cases, funeral directors are reimbursed by the state for indigent burials.
