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Proposed storage fee for unclaimed decedents draws legal review
Summary
County staff proposed charging a storage fee when next of kin are contacted but fail to arrange disposition; the coroner’s office cited RCW holding requirements and said Lewis County adopted a similar policy in 2024; staff asked legal for review before final action.
A county staff member identified as Dana presented a policy draft to charge a storage fee when next of kin are contacted and do not make timely disposition arrangements for decedents.
Dana described the office’s due‑diligence process and cited state law that requires the county to hold unclaimed bodies for a fixed period. "We have to hold them for 45 days before we can take care of them," Dana said, referencing the relevant RCW provision the office follows during searches for relatives.
The proposal is targeted at cases where relatives have been contacted and decline to act, not situations where staff cannot locate any next of kin. Dana said Lewis County implemented a similar approach in February 2024 and that the county’s draft aims to encourage timely family response and avoid placing financial burden on taxpayers. Staff emphasized cases would be handled on a case‑by‑case basis; if a relative comes forward after disposition, the county could seek reimbursement for cremation costs.
Legal review: commissioners asked that the county prosecutor’s or county counsel’s office review the draft; staff said legal had been consulting and would finalize wording prior to any board action.
