Florida Statute 406.53
“Unclaimed remains of indigent person; exemption from notice to the anatomical board”
What it means
Florida Statute 406.53 applies to a board of county commissioners or its designated county department that receives a report of the unclaimed remains of an indigent person. Despite § 406.50(1), it is not required to notify the anatomical board in four situations.
First, the remains are decomposed or mutilated by wounds, or an autopsy was performed. Second, a legally authorized person or a relative by blood or marriage claims the remains for final disposition at his or her expense or, if that claimant is also indigent, in a manner consistent with the county's policies and procedures. Third, the deceased was a veteran eligible for national-cemetery burial, or the spouse or dependent child of such a veteran. Fourth, a funeral director licensed under chapter 497 certifies that the anatomical board has been notified and either accepted or declined the remains.
- Applies to a board of county commissioners or its designated county department that receives a report of an indigent person's unclaimed remains (§ 406.53).
- No notice is required if the remains are decomposed or mutilated by wounds, or an autopsy was performed (§ 406.53(1)).
- No notice is required if a legally authorized person or a relative by blood or marriage claims the remains (§ 406.53(2)).
- No notice is required for a veteran eligible for national-cemetery burial, or a veteran's spouse or dependent child (§ 406.53(3)).
- No notice is required if a licensed funeral director certifies that the board was notified and either accepted or declined the remains (§ 406.53(4)).
Text of the statute (2026)
A board of county commissioners or its designated county department that receives a report of the unclaimed remains of an indigent person, notwithstanding s. 406.50(1), is not required to notify the anatomical board of the remains if: (1) The indigent person’s remains are decomposed or mutilated by wounds or if an autopsy is performed on the remains; (2) A legally authorized person or a relative by blood or marriage claims the remains for final disposition at his or her expense or, if such relative or legally authorized person is also an indigent person, in a manner consistent with the policies and procedures of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the death occurred or the remains were found; (3) The deceased person was a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, United States Reserve Forces, or National Guard and is eligible for burial in a national cemetery or was the spouse or dependent child of a veteran eligible for burial in a national cemetery; or (4) A funeral director licensed under chapter 497 certifies that the anatomical board has been notified and either accepted or declined the remains.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 406.53.
History. s. 7, ch. 28163, 1953; s. 1, ch. 67-564; ss. 15, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 81-40; s. 10, ch. 84-114; s. 12, ch. 95-143; s. 88, ch. 95-148; s. 3, ch. 96-251; s. 44, ch. 99-8; s. 143, ch. 2004-301; s. 9, ch. 2013-138.
How it applies
The exemptions let a county skip the anatomical-board notice step that § 406.50(1) would otherwise require. When a relative claims the remains but is also indigent, the claim proceeds under the county's own policies and procedures, which a board of county commissioners may adopt under § 406.52(3).
The statute does not set the content of those policies, so the county's program is where the specifics are found.
Related sections
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 406.53 (2026) (“is not required to notify the anatomical board of the remains if”)
- Fla. Stat. § 406.50 (2026) (The notice requirement that § 406.53 exempts.)
- Fla. Stat. § 406.52 (2026) (County policies for burial or cremation of indigent persons' remains (subsection (3)).)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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