Indigent Cremation

The unexpected death of a relative requires multiple decisions to be made in a short amount of time, including where to find the funds for arrangements. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) will hold a decedent for 30 days while the family finds funding and makes arrangements with a funeral home or crematory. There are different disposition options to consider, outside of a traditional burial service, such as direct cremations and whole-body donation. Funding sources can range from relatives, insurance, state funded public aid and programs, Veterans benefits, social service agencies, crowd funding or a combination. Finding the option that works best for your family and honors the decedent is paramount in this process. 

If the family has not been able to finance disposition arrangements within 30 days of the death, the MEO’s Indigent Disposition Program can assist. An indigent investigation is required to ensure that any available avenues for funding have been exhausted. If approved, disposition is limited to cremation with an opportunity to retrieve the cremains within a year for a fee determined by County ordinance. If the legal next of kin is unable to pay the fee and can provide documentation of financial hardship, the fee can be waived at the MEO’s discretion. 

Please contact Rebeca Perrone, Indigent and Family Services Manager, at 312-997-4480 for questions about Indigent Cremation or the Indigent Disposition Program.