Hernando County, FL

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Disposition of Unclaimed Bodies/Indigent Cremation

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Hernando County provides cremation services for deceased unclaimed or indigent individuals who died within the geographical boundaries of Hernando County. No other services besides a simple cremation are allowed. Eligibility is based on federal poverty guidelines. Hernando County does not supplement funeral expenses.

Documentation Needed to Determine Eligibility

Photo Identification of all household members 18 years of age and older
Social security cards for all household members
Birth certificates for all household members
Bank states for all household members (Last 60 days)
Proof of Income for all household member (Last 4 weeks)
Proof of All Assets (vehicle, house, real property, stocks, cash, trust, bonds, etc.)
Copy of Wills, Insurance Policy, Pre – Burial, DD 214

Disposition of Unclaimed and Indigent Cremation Application 2024

Complete a Disposition of Unclaimed Bodies Application and submit via fax to (352) 540-4339, or mail or deliver to 621 W. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL 34601

Veterans Administration Pre-Need Determination (For veterans and eligible family members)

The VA Provides eligibility determination in a National Cemetery prior to the time of need. Through the Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility Program, upon request, individuals can learn if they are eligible for burial or memorialization in a VA nation cemetery. To find out in advance if you can be buried in a VA national cemetery click the link below.

https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility

Alternative Resources

Medcure

Contact	1 (866) 560-2525
Hours	Open 24/7
Website	https://medcure.org
Locations	Florida
Qualifications	Next of Kin (NOK) has 24 hours from the date of death to contact them in order to be screened for the program. The decedent must have died in the USA or be a naturalized citizen.
Can be disqualified due to:	BMI Trauma Hep B and Hep C HIV Recent COVID diagnosis (within the last 7 days) History of intravenous (IV) drug use
More Info	MedCure accepts donors across the continental United States, excluding only New Jersey, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Arkansas. The remains after cremation are returned within 5-7 months after acceptance into the program. The death certificate is sent to the NOK approximately 8-12 weeks after acceptance.There is absolutely no charge for cremation, death certificates or shipping – IF ACCEPTED

Science Care

Contact	1 (800) 417-3747 or contact Stephanie (rep) (602) 334-5744
Hours	Open 24/7
Website	https://www.sciencecare.com
Locations	7 locations across the USA.
Qualifications	No limitation on time to contact them post death - as long as the decedent was preserved/on ice/in a morgue. Citizenship is not a factor, as long as they died in the USA.
Can be disqualified due to:	Any contagious disease HIV Hep B and Hep C BMI too high or too low Traumatic incident or trauma to the body (i.e... Gunshot wounds, decapitation, stabbings etc.)
More Info	Can not transport out of the states of: Arkansas, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Minnesota due to governing laws. 3 programs available: Pre-Register Sudden Death Not registered -but hear about the company while in hospice and want to apply OR Power of Attorney hears about it. Can assist with organ donation and/or non-transplant donation. Next of Kin (NOK) pays for the death certificate. No charge for cremation and transportation Will receive the decedent’s remains approximately 3 weeks after acceptance in the program. Decedent is sent to the NOK via USPS or NOK can pick up from a facility near them. *A tree is planted for each donor and the Next of Kin (NOK) will receive a letter notifying them of the location of the tree.* *A legacy letter is mailed out to the NOK notifying them of what program the decedent was chosen for.*
Veterans	NOK will receive United States of America burial flag. NOK may arrange to have cremated remains interred in a VA national cemetery at no cost. Honors will be the same as those veterans buried in a casket. Can have decedent placed in a Gravesite in one of 131 national cemeteries. NOK can choose government headstone or marker. NOK will receive presidential memorial certificate. Must alert the organization that the decedent was a veteran.

United Tissue Network

Contact	1 (877) 738-6111
Hours	Open 24/7
Website	https://unitedtissue.org
Locations	Florida and Arizona
Qualifications	Accepted into the program within 10 days of death. Must be 18 years of age. Must be a US Citizen.
Can be disqualified due to:	Communicable disease TB Positive PPD HIV
More Info	Body is donated for medical research, medical training, and medical education. Program covers the cost of cremation, transportation and 2 death certificates. 2 programs available Program that NOK does not want to receive remains. Program that NOK receives remains in 6 weeks. Letter is mailed to NOK with brief overview of research the decedent assisted with – after the donation. The remains are returned in a temporary black plastic Urn. No charge for cremation, transportation, or death certificates

Anatomy Gifts Registry

Contact	1 (800) 300-5433
Hours	Open 24/7
Website	https://www.anatomygifts.org
Locations	Maryland
Qualifications	Must contact company within 7-10 business days following the death of the loved one. Must be 18 years of age. Must be a US Citizen or Naturalized US Citizen.
Can be disqualified due to:	BMI – Body Mass Index Contagious disease Hep B and Hep C Syphilis TB - Tuberculosis Positive PPD
More Info	Partial ashes are returned within 6 weeks for $35.00. Decedent is returned in a temporary urn. If not accepted into the program, alternative options are given to the NOK. A follow up letter is mailed out to the NOK (if accepted into the program) with information of how the decedent assisted with medical research.

BioGift

Contact	1 (866) 670-1799
Hours	Open 24/7
Website	https://biogift.org
Locations	Oregon
Qualifications	Must notify the company ASAP following the death of a loved one Must be a US Citizen or Naturalized US Citizen.
Can be disqualified due to:	N/A
More Info	No cost for cremation, transportation, or death certificates Receives two (2) copies of death certificates. Partial remains will be returned via US registered mail within 8-12 weeks following the donation. Death certificates are sent out 4 weeks following the return of the remains. If the NOK lives within 30 miles of the company - can have the remains returned to the NOK or cemetery. Can also have the remains scattered at sea at no charge.

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