A Compilation of Georgia Resources

FCAGa Indigent Burial Review

Many Georgia residents lack the financial means to arrange for or pay for a simple, dignified funeral. In the most difficult cases, the deceased’s body remains unclaimed until a local government intervenes, as required by Georgia law, to arrange an indigent burial or cremation—historically known as a “pauper’s burial.”

If you need immediate help arranging an indigent burial or cremation, click below for urgent next steps:

We receive calls from Georgia funeral consumers. The most common question is, “Where can I get help paying for the funeral for [fill in the blank] who has no money?” In truth, the options are limited and unclear. We can’t give a straight, simple answer.

FCAGa is reviewing how funeral consumers contact local officials assigned by state law to provide a dignified burial or cremation for those unable to pay and with no kin to handle their affairs after death. We will update our progress here from time to time as new information becomes available. Follow our progress by signing up to receive our email updates. 

Neglected grave site with an old wooden cross grave marker overgrown with foliage

"Poor, sick, and forgotten"

“Poor, sick, and forgotten” from the headline of the San Francisco Standard March 18, 2024

Funeral Consumers are “uniquely vulnerable” to manipulation by providers whose profits matter more than what the consumer wants or requires.

In no case is that more clear than in the case of those who have died poor and without anyone able to cover the costs of a burial or cremation.

Mullaney, A. (2024, March 18). Poor, sick, and forgotten: San Francisco scatters their ashes at the Golden Gate. *San Francisco Standard*. Retrieved from https://sfstandard.com/2024/03/18/san-francisco-unclaimed-dead-ashes-scattering/

Directory of County contacts for Indigent Burials

The officials responsible for managing indigent burials and cremations in each Georgia County are identified in this online directory. 

Note: Contact local county officials before talking with “deputy registrars” who are funeral directors.

Georgia Deputy Registrars for Disposition Permits

Title: 17. What happens when a person dies and there is no one or no money to pay for burial or cremation? Opening Paragraph: Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §36-12-5) provides for a system in place to ensure that every person who dies in Georgia has access to an appropriate final disposition. In Georgia, whenever a person dies without the ability to pay for burial or cremation, the county may cover those expenses, if: bullet 1 of 2: • the family and immediate kin are indigent and unable to provide for the decent interment of the decedent, and bullet 2 of 2: • the decedent is a pauper and destitute of the means of paying for decent interment. Paragraph: Then the governing authority of the county where the death occurred shall make available from county funds a sum sufficient to provide a decent interment for the deceased pauper, or to reimburse such person as may have expended the cost voluntarily. The governing authority of the county will determine what amount is enough. To obtain assistance with an indigent or pauper’s burial or cremation, bullet 1 of 3: • Contact the Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) for the county where your loved one resided. bullet 2 of 3: • Ask to be directed to the Indigent Burial Department. bullet 3 of 3: • A DFCS staff person will begin an investigation to verify eligibility for the county funded final disposition. Items such as insurance status, property ownership, bank accounts, and other assets may be considered in the eligibility analysis. final paragraph: If deceased qualifies, the DFCS official will discuss the options available. The deceased may be.buried or cremated. There is no funeral service. Usually, there is only a graveside service. Burials take place on limited specified dates, by the office’s designated funeral home.
Title: 17. What happens when a person dies and there is no one or no money to pay for burial or cremation? Opening Paragraph: Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §36-12-5) provides for a system in place to ensure that every person who dies in Georgia has access to an appropriate final disposition. In Georgia, whenever a person dies without the ability to pay for burial or cremation, the county may cover those expenses, if: bullet 1 of 2: • the family and immediate kin are indigent and unable to provide for the decent interment of the decedent, and bullet 2 of 2: • the decedent is a pauper and destitute of the means of paying for decent interment. Paragraph: Then the governing authority of the county where the death occurred shall make available from county funds a sum sufficient to provide a decent interment for the deceased pauper, or to reimburse such person as may have expended the cost voluntarily. The governing authority of the county will determine what amount is enough. To obtain assistance with an indigent or pauper’s burial or cremation, bullet 1 of 3: • Contact the Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) for the county where your loved one resided. bullet 2 of 3: • Ask to be directed to the Indigent Burial Department. bullet 3 of 3: • A DFCS staff person will begin an investigation to verify eligibility for the county funded final disposition. Items such as insurance status, property ownership, bank accounts, and other assets may be considered in the eligibility analysis. final paragraph: If deceased qualifies, the DFCS official will discuss the options available. The deceased may be.buried or cremated. There is no funeral service. Usually, there is only a graveside service. Burials take place on limited specified dates, by the office’s designated funeral home.

Georgia Guide to Funerals, Cremation, Burials, & other Care of the Body Affairs

Source: Georgia Department of Aging. (2019). Guide to Funeral Homes, Crematories and Cemeteries. Retrieved from:

Guide to Funeral Homes, Crematories and Cemeteries, see Page 7, Section 17

Georgia Indigent Burial Law

Georgia statutes provide that for anyone who is indigent that dies the county will pay for the burial or cremation and then be reimbursed, at least partially, by the state.

Georgia Law on Indigent (Pauper) Burial

§ 36-12-5. Interment or cremation of deceased indigents

(a) Whenever any person dies in this state and the decedent, his or her family, and his or her immediate kindred are indigent and unable to provide for the decedent’s decent interment or cremation, the governing authority of the county wherein the death occurs shall make available from county funds a sum sufficient to provide a decent interment or cremation of the deceased indigent person or to reimburse such person as may have expended the cost thereof voluntarily, the exact amount thereof to be determined by the governing authority of the county but shall not exceed the lesser of the actual costs of interment or cremation.

(b) The Department of Corrections is authorized to reimburse the governing authority of the county where expenditures have been made in accordance with this Code section for the burial or cremation of any inmate under the authority, jurisdiction, or control of the Department of Corrections; but in no case shall the governing authority of the county be entitled to reimbursement where the decedent was in the custody of a county correctional institution or other county correctional facility.

History:

Amended by 2013 Ga. Laws 208,§1, eff. 7/1/2013.
GA. Code 36-12-5 Interment or cremation of deceased indigents (Georgia Code (2024 Edition))

Stay Current with the FCAGa Indigent Burial Review

Monitor our work on behalf of those who die in Georgia without the means for dignified final arrangements. Our review of Indigent Burial policies, procedures, and practices focuses on Georgia but includes other states and countries, too. Good ideas know no boundaries.

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