# Claiming the remains of someone who died indigent **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 26, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653 "2014-11-26T04:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/1 "2014-11-26T04:58:35Z")
A friend of mine has a problem. When my friends come to me with these situations they are hoping that my internet skills can help them with, I always do my best; however I’m not sure how to approach this one. Maybe there’s somebody here who works in a position where they can help me answer this. My friend’s significant other passed away about five years ago. Although she had someplace she was staying, she was basically broke and what they call indigent. She had family upstate somewhere and when she passed away I was in contact with the coroner’s office on behalf of my friend because he was going crazy wanting to know what was going to happen to her remains. We gave the coroner all the information my friend had on the names and locations of her next of kin. Last we heard, they were having trouble getting hold of any relations. My friend is wondering: 1. What happens to an unclaimed body? (natural causes) 2. I assume the remains are cremated – how long are these remains held? Is there any possibility that he could claim them? —and 3. They were together as a couple for more than seven years, but were not married. Does this give him status as someone who would be allowed to claim the remains? Would they even tell him whether or not her body was ever claimed? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/2 "2014-11-26T05:38:32Z")
It sounds like your friend was in contact with the people that had the body after her death, what happened? Did he just not call back the next day, week or month to find out what happened with the search for relatives? Why not call back the agency you all were talking with five years ago? What did they have to say? I imagine as to what would happen in the case of your three questions would vary from state-to-state and even within a state. Some states may cremate and store them in the basement, some may bury in a potter’s field, some places may be glad to have someone, anyone, show up to remove cremains they’ve had stored for years. If this was a case local to my tri-state area, I’d go hit up one of the funeral directors I’m acquainted with (even if they weren’t involved) and ask for their help. If the government isn’t helping you, maybe a local funeral director in the area the remains were handled in may be able to get you on the trail. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/3 "2014-11-26T14:00:58Z")
This reminds me of a documentary I saw a few years ago, _A Certain Kind of Death_. It examines what happens to a person who dies with no next of kin in Los Angeles County. I saw it at a film festival but it’s also on YouTube. It’s a fascinating look at something most people don’t know or think about. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ErooOhzE268/hqdefault.jpg "A Certain Kind Of Death - Documentary") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErooOhzE268) [http://acertainkindofdeath.com](http://acertainkindofdeath.com) [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a\_certain\_kind\_of\_death\_2003/](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_certain_kind_of_death_2003/) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/4 "2014-11-26T15:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > In the United States, the disposition of an unclaimed body depends on where it goes unclaimed. > > Thirty-six states assign the responsibility to counties, townships or cities; some jurisdictions put money aside every year, but most don’t. Fourteen states, including Oregon, and the District of Columbia take on the task, covering costs with general revenue or Medicaid. … > > Every state requires that unclaimed bodies first be offered to the largest medical school or a special office that distributes the bodies to schools of medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, mortuary science or others that use cadavers. > **[Disposition of unclaimed bodies in U.S. varies by state, jurisdiction](https://www.oregonlive.com/special/2009/06/disposition_of_unclaimed_bodie.html)** > > Sunday, June 14, 2009 Disposition of unclaimed bodies in U.S. varies by state, jurisdiction In the U.S., reimbursements to funeral providers for arrangements can range from about $200 to as much as $2,500 By Anne Saker The Oregonian More... ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/5 "2014-11-26T15:44:01Z")
Where did your friend and his SO live? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/6 "2014-11-26T16:00:26Z")
There have been several really interesting articles about Hart Island, where unclaimed bodies from New York City are buried. It’s an island where they dig massive trenches and have prisoners from nearby Riker’s Island bury the bodies. > **[The invisible island where New York buries its poor and unidentified](https://theweek.com/articles/455693/invisible-island-where-new-york-buries-poor-unidentified)** > > Nearly one million people are buried in mass graves off of the Bronx. But the city prefers you know nothing about it. Project where they try to help people claim and identify the bodies from Hart Island: > **[The Hart Island Project.](https://hartisland.net)** > > Since 1980, 75,063 people have been buried in mass graves on Hart Island. The Traveling Cloud Museum is a collection of their stories. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/7 "2014-11-26T16:22:32Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > . . . Last we heard, they were having trouble getting hold of any relations. > > My friend is wondering: . . . . When was ‘last we heard?’ And why is he wondering five years later? I would think in any case the probate court in whatever jurisdiction would have records on her disposition, and those are usually open to the public. If they couldn’t find a next of kin, they would probably appoint ‘someone’ to handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-the-remains-of-someone-who-died-indigent/705653/8 "2014-11-26T21:59:42Z")
Did the friend and his SO present themselves as married under common law? At the time, did they live in one of the places where [common law marriages](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage) are recognized. If so, he may be able to claim the remains that way.