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Court adopts new indigent cremation release form to prevent charges to next of kin
Summary
The commissioners adopted a policy and a signed release form to govern county-paid indigent cremations, requiring funeral homes to submit a certified form with next-of-kin information and making false statements a felony to deter improper billing practices.
County staff presented a new, four-page packet that includes an order and a two-page release form to address recurring problems with indigent cremations and to prevent funeral homes from charging families after the county pays. The policy clarifies the county's payment responsibilities, requires funeral homes to complete a standardized form with next-of-kin and contact information, and ties final payment to the submitted certification. The packet also includes statutory references and criminal penalties for false certification to deter bad actors.
Staff said they consulted with a local funeral home when drafting the form to ensure it covers common edge cases (unknown next of kin, multiple claimants, custody of cremains). Commissioners moved to adopt the new policy and form; the motion passed unanimously.
