What happens to a person who passes away and has no life insurance, money or family that can help?
I know a lady in extremely poor health. She has no insurance, no savings, house, etc. She has 1 son who is 28 but can’t hold a job longer than 2 to 3 weeks at best and expects mom to help him with everything. She has 1 living brother who lives far away from here and doesn’t talk to her because he doesn’t agree with the way she allows her son to drain her of everything. My question is–if she would pass away, who would be responsible for her burial? How would it be paid for? Her son doesn’t even own a car. He drives hers and it isn’t paid for yet. This lady rents a room and only owns a bed, chair and lamp. Not much to sell!!!!
Does anyone know what happens in a case like this? This is in the state of Iowa.
My name is Katy and I am Hirby's Financial Guru with 20 years of experience and expertise in financial markets, insurance and tax strategies. I'm inspired by those who pursue their financial goals and I am here to help. 
My name is Tom and I am Hirby's Legal expert specializing in Real Estate and Injury Law. I have over 15 years of experience helping people online with legal advice and strategy.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
In Baltimore, MD, unclaimed bodies may end up as crash dummies:
http://www.examiner.com/a-533427~Baltimore_s_unclaimed_bodies_have_useful_future.html
"The Anatomy Act of 1832 legalized the use of the bodies of unclaimed poor people — those who would have to be buried at government expense – by licensed anatomy schools. This law was a major model for state laws in the United States. Iowa passed its first Anatomy Act in 1872, for example, after a grave-robbing incident at the newly opened UI Medical School in Iowa City in 1870. This act allowed unclaimed bodies to be used legally for dissection in the medical schools in the state. In the 1960s and 1970s, the voluntary donation of bodies to medical schools replaced the use of those who died unclaimed."
http://www.uiowa.edu/~c016136/LectureOutlines/VesaliusOutline.htm
In the future, they may be going to a "body farm" to support research at the Univ. of Northern Iowa:
http://fp.uni.edu/northia/article2.asp?ID=4649&SECTION=1
But for now, the county is responsible for giving them a "pauper’s grave". No pomp, no circumstance. I believe the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (medical examiners) call the shots on this:
"Deaths that have an impact on the “public’s interest” are routinely investigated by the County Medical Examiners under the guidance of the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner. Deaths affecting the public’s interest include…6) Unclaimed/unidentified bodies."
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/do/common/pdf/med_examiner/general.pdf
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
i believe that the county or state would cremate her body. if her son claims it, he is responsible for burial. but since he doesn’t have any money to bury her, he probably won’t. if no one claims the body by a certain time, it will be cremated (burial is expensive so they won’t pay for it) and her ashes will be disposed.
update: i googled "unclaimed bodies in ohio" and i got the link below to an article talking about people who refuse to claim family members because they don’t have money for burials. in ohio, some counties do bury the unclaimed and some cremate them.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
The state will probably bury or cremate her at tax payers expense and then take all of her stuff to recoup some of the costs. Pretty sad, but true.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
She’ll get a cardboard box, in a grave marked only by a number, in the county’s indigent cemetery.
As an option she could donate her body to a local medical school.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
LEGALLY?? The county president is suppose to pay for a private funeral expense….that’s the truth! they are to bury them and at a cheap, inexpensive funeral. depending on where u live u may want to contact your county officials
September 16th, 2010 at 7:26 am
Life insurance with cash value don’t pay out cash value when you die! They say its a good way to build savings! How is that so if you lose it all and it doesn’t go to anyone when you die? People say you can borrow it. Why do I want to borrow my own money that I paid for? Cash value = scams!