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Procedure for Indigent Burial and Removal of Human Remains

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At the time of death for cases when there is no other resource (burial plan, burial arrangements, or family member willing to take custody of the body), the body is an "unclaimed body" for purposes of Virginia law, see Virginia Code Section 32.1-298 and Section 32.1-288.

When R. Shawn Majette is the guardian for a decedent without any family member, burial plan, or other resource, the body is an unclaimed body under the meaning of the foregoing statutes.

This is a protocol for disposition and storage of an unclaimed body pending legal proceedings to inter or otherwise dispose of the body, and may be useful for nursing homes or hospitals in and around the Richmond, Virginia area.

1. The Virginia State Morgue at the Medical Examiner's Office may take immediate custody of the unclaimed body.

Contact:

Ms. Rochelle Altholtz, Administrator
Department of Health, Office of the Medical Examiner
Commonwealth of Virginia
Phone: 804-786-1015 (vox)
raltholz@vdh.state.va.us

After normal business hours: 804-786-3174 (vox)
Fax: 804-371-8595

Click Here for Faxable Table of Information To Fax to Local Sheriff and OME [PDF]

Click Here for Virginia Sheriff Web Links (Some With Voice and Fax Numbers)

When calling, please have the following information available for the Sheriff and the Medical Examiner:

  • Date Of Birth
  • Date Of Death
  • Social Security Number
  • Copy Of Guardianship / Conservatorship Order (which should be faxed to the number given above)
  • List Of Any Known Family Members
  • Cause of death if known, and listing of any communicable diseases (HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) for the protection of the OME workers.

2. The Sheriff of the jurisdiction in which death occurred should also be notified at the same time the Virginia State Morgue is notified.

3. If the Medical Examiner does not accept the unclaimed body, obtain a written declination of the body, upon which the Sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the death occurs is responsible for proper disposition of the remains by statute.

This is a summary of the information we have (as of October 17, 2001) for specific procedures for Sheriffs' Departments in and around the City of Richmond, Virginia:

  • The Henrico County Sheriff's contact person is Valecia Davis, whose number is 804-501-5215. The Sheriff's general number (after hours) is 804-501-4571, and his fax number is 804-501-5443. The Sheriff will ask his attorney (through the Henrico County Attorney's Office) to petition for burial funds.
  • The Chesterfield County Sheriff's contact person is Major Hutton, with Court Services. His direct telephone number is 804-751-4471. The Sheriff’s general telephone phone number is 804-748-1261. His fax number is 804-748-5808. The Sheriff will ask his attorney (through the Chesterfield County Attorney's Office) to petition for burial funds. We understand that the County is notified through the State Medical Examiner’s Office of a receipt of a deceased body, and we are told (but do not warrant) that the body ultimately is delivered for services to the Morrissett Funeral Home, telephone number 804-275-7828.

    We will post other protocols as received.

Copyright, 2003.  R. Shawn Majette.  All rights reserved.
http://majette.net
Updated February 12, 2005