Burnet County will now pay up to $800 for cremation and interment of those who have died but are unable to afford a proper burial and have no surviving relatives to take on the cost.
Commissioners approved an increase in the maximum amount the county will pay, from $300 to $800, for the cremation and transport of paupers, as provided by Section 694.002 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, which requires counties where a death occurs to provide burial or cremation services if “there is no person with a higher priority of responsibility.”
The county judge may determine a deceased individual is a pauper if the estate of the deceased has no resources to pay for interment or if the decedent’s family cannot pay for cremation because they lack the resources to pay or their identities or whereabouts are unknown, according to the county’s policy approved last month by commissioners.
Before the judge may make a determination of pauper status, the funeral home holding possession of the deceased’s remains must first attempt to contact the decedent’s family and investigate the resources available for burial, including any Veterans’ Administration, Red Cross, federal, Social Security or private insurance benefits. Family members have to be given at least 72 hours to respond to the initial attempts to contact them.
The funeral home also must make a written referral and submit an investigation form to the county judge to request pauper status determination.
If the county judge determines a pauper’s estate or family members have resources to pay some but not all of the expense of interment, a contribution towards the expense must be made or applied for by the estate or family members to the funeral home.
If the county judge determines the individual or his survivors have the ability to pay for burial expenses, he can deny cremation assistance and will send a denial in writing to the family of the deceased or the auhorizing agent at the funeral home.
Paupers cannot be cremated if a relative or friend expresses an objection to this procedure, as allowed by Section 694.002 of the Health and Safety Code, but if an objection is made, all expenses of the pauper must be paid for by the objecting individual. The funeral home must have all identified family members sign a cremation release form as well.
A pauper’s cremated remains will be returned to family members or to the funeral home to be disposed of at their discretion. However, the county will not pay for the cost of any funeral urns or containers.
“The County will pay up to $800.00 for the cremation and transport. The money will be given directly to the funeral home who provides the service;” — Section 5.04 Burnet County Policy
