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What Happens to Unclaimed Human Remains in Canada?

When a person dies, it’s up to their family members or next of kin to claim the body. Doing so is necessary for funeral homes in Brampton to proceed with any arrangements for burial or cremation. However, unclaimed bodies are a common occurrence for a number of reasons.

What happens to unclaimed human remains in Canada? This guide explains the protocols in place should a deceased person’s body go unclaimed for an extended period of time.

Reasons Why a Body Goes Unclaimed

 

People who die in Canada with no next of kin or estate plan can go on to be an unclaimed body. In some cases, the next of kin refuses to take responsibility for the body, and it, therefore, goes unclaimed to sit in a morgue. Another reason why some human remains go unclaimed is if they are not identifiable after an investigation.

While family members typically serve as claimants for the deceased, people other than relatives can take responsibility for the body. Other examples of eligible claimants include:

  • Neighbors
  • Friends
  • Religious organizations
  • Charities

Laws Dictate What Happens to Unclaimed Human Remains in Canada

 

Depending on your location in Canada, different rules may be in place regarding unclaimed bodies. The key difference lies in the amount of time that must pass before a body is officially deemed unclaimed. For example, here in Ontario, the Office of the Chief Coroner will keep a body in its possession for ten days, waiting for someone to claim it.

If the body remains unclaimed after ten days, officials will launch an investigation trying to identify the deceased or their next of kin. The investigation includes a number of measures, such as:

  • Speaking to police and government agencies
  • Contacting social workers
  • Going through personal belongings to find identifiers
  • Searching for patient medical records

Burials Take Place After Processing

 

Once officials undergo all formal processing for an unclaimed body, they move forward with a burial. Unclaimed remains are not embalmed nor cremated. This protocol is in place for a number of reasons.

First, funeral directors don’t want to disrespect anyone’s religious or cultural beliefs, as some faith traditions don’t practice cremation. A burial at a common site for all unclaimed bodies makes it easier for someone to transfer remains. Say a claimant later comes forward and decides to bury the deceased in a different location. This would not be possible if officials cremated the body.

Unclaimed remains are often buried at a government-owned cemetery or site near the outskirts of major cities. This is to keep burial costs low.

Knowing what happens to unclaimed human remains in Canada, it’s important to have your final wishes in place through a legal will. This ensures you can have a proper burial service or cremation rather than be listed as an unclaimed body.

Brampton Crematorium & Visitation Centre can guide you through the planning process so your final arrangements are what you want. Contact us at (905) 458-2222 to learn more.

 
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