Maricopa County Public Fiduciary Indigent Burial

The Maricopa County Public Fiduciary is who is in charge of taking care of burial's for those with no known relatives, those unidentified, those who can not afford funerals, etc... Their website says this, "The goal of the Office of the Public Fiduciary is to afford dignity to each of those brought to its attention and to ensure that the rights and independence of each individual are preserved, regardless age or condition."

Indigent Burial -This is Maricopa County's page which provides direct information about their indigent burial program. It says the following, The Indigent Burial Program   assists in determining the proper final arrangements for decedents when there is lack of family involvement and/or income and resources are limited. Our staff members work with family and friends to determine eligibility and arrange the most appropriate disposition for the decedent. Valley contracted funeral homes participate in a rotation system coordinated by the Medical Examiner’s office. This system helps to ensure that a dignified and orderly process is followed. Members of Maricopa County Facilities Management and the Sheriff’s Office provide logistical services for proper interment. Arrangements may also be made with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona to inter indigent Veterans.

At the bottom of the web page it reads, "^*Burial responsibility falls upon the next of kin. A.R.S. § 36-831, “A person upon whom the duty of burial is imposed who omits to perform such a duty…is liable to the Person(s) performing the duty in their stead in the amount of two times the expenses the person(s) incurred in burying the body, which amount may be recovered in a civil action.”

It says the following about Unclaimed Remains - Referrals of unclaimed remains should be called in to (602) 506-5801 providing as much information as possible. If there is no known next of kin, an effort will be made to locate family and/or an investigation to decedent’s personal assets will be made to determine eligibility.