Funeral & Burial

The Trustee’s Office can provide a funeral and burial assistance for those in need.  Please see below for a listing.  Again, if you should have any questions, please contact us at (219)663-0250.

BURIAL AND FUNERALS OR CREMATIONS – The trustee shall provide a person to superintend and authorize either the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual. If it is determined that the deceased individual is a resident of another township in Indiana, the township shall notify the trustee of that township, who shall then provide a person to superintend and authorize either the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual not leaving sufficient resources (i.e.. cash, automobile, and\or real property) to defray expenses. Contributions or payment of benefits from any other source will be deducted from the township’s allowable maximum. The total cost of a burial and funeral for any deceased indigent person, including burial plot, may not exceed seven hundred ($700) dollars. The township will also require a "death certificate" and an itemized (invoice) statement from the funeral home before payment can be authorized. Under normal circumstances, the township will not authorize burial and funerals for weekends, holidays, or at other times which increases the cost. (IC 12-20-16-12)

SUPERINTEND – The legal definition of "Superintend" means to "take charge", to supervise, to manage, or to direct. Therefore, the person the township provides to superintend shall be responsible for "taking charge" and "supervising", among other things, both the selection of the funeral home and, if necessary, the cemetery for the deceased individual.

REQUEST BURIAL AND FUNERAL OR CREMATION ASSISTANCE – The township requires that a surviving member of the deceased person’s family make a formal request for "Burial and Funeral or Cremation assistance before providing a person to superintend. If there are no surviving family members, the funeral home having possession of the deceased shall formally request the assistance on behalf of the decease person. The formal request will involve the completion of a special "Request for Burial Assistance" form. The cost breakdown for burial and funeral or cremation expenses for an ADULT person are as follows if the Mortuary and Cemetery charges are not combined:

• Cemetery – Not to exceed — $250
• Mortuary charges – Not to exceed — $450
• Cremations – Not to exceed — $600

TRANSPORTATION BURIAL\EXPENSES – The township will not pay for the cost of transporting the remains of an indigent person back to Center Township unless it can be determined that the deceased was, in fact, a resident of Center Township at the time of death. Such cost must be itemized and are in addition to any mortuary payments.

SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR BURIAL – The township will neither provide a person to "Superintend" or become a participant in the burial and funeral or cremation of a deceased individual, if it is determined that the deceased person has sufficient funds, real or personal property, or other assets (with a value of $700 or more) to defray funeral expenses.

FAMILY MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION – Every effort will be made to encourage family members to financially contribute to the cost of the burial and funeral or cremation of the deceased. Contributions from family members will be deducted from the township’s maximum