Florida · St. Johns County
What to do when someone dies in St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is home to about 334,928 people. Everything below applies county-wide.
If you cannot afford burial or cremation in St. Johns County, call the St. Johns County Social Services (Board of County Commissioners) first, before signing anything with a funeral home. If the person was a veteran, free burial benefits may cover even more.
Indigent / Unclaimed Cremations
St. Johns County Social Services (Board of County Commissioners)
When they answer, say: "I need to apply for burial assistance for a family member." It is okay if you do not have documents ready. They will tell you what to bring.
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Step 1 of 5 · If money is tight
St. Johns County burial assistance
Do not sign anything with a funeral home before you call. In many counties, signing first disqualifies the family.
St. Johns County program
Indigent / Unclaimed Cremations
St. Johns County Social Services (Board of County Commissioners)
200 San Sebastian View, Suite 2300, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (opens in Google Maps)
Official program pageWho qualifies
The county handles cremation for people who die in St. Johns County when the family cannot pay. A person counts as indigent when the household income of the person who died was under 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. A separate unclaimed category applies when no legally responsible person has accepted responsibility for the body.
| Income | Household income of the person who died must be under 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. |
|---|---|
| Residency | The person must have died in St. Johns County. |
What it covers
Cremation. The county page does not say what else is covered, any dollar limit, or whether remains are released to the family, so ask when you call.
Documents to bring
- Photo ID of the person who died
- Photo ID of the relative or legally authorized representative
- Social Security card of the person who died
- Bank statements for the month before death for all household members
- Income verification for the month before death for all household members
- Completed Indigent / Unclaimed Cremation Services Application
How to apply
Gather the documents, fill out the Indigent / Unclaimed Cremation Services Application from the county page, and bring everything to a Social Services office. A case specialist reviews the file and may ask for more documents. Call 904-209-6140 with questions. Offices: 200 San Sebastian View Suite 2300 in St. Augustine (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), Hastings Library, and two apartment community sites on set days.
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Step 2 of 5 · If they served
Was the person a veteran?
This can replace the county program
You may be able to skip the county program entirely. Veterans can receive a free gravesite, headstone, and perpetual care at a national or state veterans cemetery, plus a VA burial allowance of up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths.
Veteran burial help in St. Johns CountyFrom our free tools
Housing costs weighing on the family too?
Check what housing assistance the household may qualify for, including Section 8 vouchers, in a few minutes. Free, no signup.
Check housing help at CheckMyVoucher.com4
Step 4 of 5 · The paperwork
Death certificates in Florida
Where copies come from
Certified copies come from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics (official site). Order online, by mail, or in person. VitalChek is the only contracted online vendor. Mail requests go to Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042, with a check or money order, never cash. Fees vary by county, commonly around $10 to $12 per certified copy, plus a $5 non-refundable search fee on every order. Normal processing for deaths from 2009 to now is 3 to 5 business days plus shipping, and rush processing costs an extra $10.
Order about 10 certified copies. Banks, insurers, Social Security, vehicles, and property will each want one.
Know your rights
Every funeral home must follow these rules
Federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule) protects you. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
- They must give you prices over the phone. Refusing is a federal violation. Call two or three homes; prices for identical services can differ by thousands on the same street.
- Embalming is rarely required by law. If someone claims it is legally required, ask them to show you the law. Direct cremation and immediate burial never need it.
- You can decline anything in a package. You have the right to an itemized price list and to buy only what you choose.
- You can buy a casket anywhere. The funeral home must accept it without charging a handling fee.
Full rules: the FTC Funeral Rule. If a funeral home breaks them, you can report it to the FTC.
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Step 5 of 5 · If you need more
Beyond the county, more help
Where families find the rest
- Dial 211 for local charities, churches, and county funds with money available right now.
- Ask local churches directly. Many congregations have benevolence funds for funerals even for non-members.
- Ask the funeral home about a payment plan or a simpler package. Direct cremation is usually the lowest-cost professional option, and prices vary widely between providers in the same city.
- Considering a fundraiser? Read crowdfunding a funeral: what works.
- And take care of you. Grief is not a checklist. If you are struggling, call or text 988 (free, 24/7) to talk to someone, and most hospices offer free grief support groups to the whole community, no connection to their patients required.
Right now
The first 48 hours
Nothing else on this page matters until these are done. Everything not on this list can wait, and most of it should.
- 1Get the pronouncement. Hospital or hospice handles it; at home, call 911.
- 2Ask one person to help. Making calls should not all be on you.
- 3Look for written wishes or prepaid arrangements before agreeing to anything.
- 4Money tight? Call the county FIRST. Signing with a funeral home first can disqualify you.
- 5Secure the home, pets, vehicles, and any dependents.
- 6Start one folder for every paper you receive. You will need it constantly.
- 7Banks and insurance can wait. That is week one, not today.
Questions families ask
Straight answers
Who pays for a funeral in St. Johns County if the family has no money?
St. Johns County's assistance program (Indigent / Unclaimed Cremations) can cover a basic burial or cremation for families who qualify. Call 904-209-6140 before signing anything with a funeral home.
Does Social Security pay anything when someone dies?
Yes. An eligible surviving spouse or child can claim a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment by calling 1-800-772-1213, and monthly survivor benefits are often available too.
What if the person who died in St. Johns County was a veteran?
Veterans may qualify for free burial in a national or state veterans cemetery plus a VA burial allowance, which can matter more than any county program. See our St. Johns County veteran page for details.
How many death certificates do I need?
Most families need about 10 certified copies for banks, insurance, and property. In Florida, order through the funeral home or the state vital records office.
How much does a funeral usually cost?
A traditional funeral with burial commonly runs $7,000 to $12,000. Direct cremation is usually the lowest-cost professional option, often $700 to $2,000, and prices vary widely between providers in the same area, so it pays to call two or three. Every funeral home must give you prices over the phone under the FTC Funeral Rule.
I have power of attorney. Can I still use it?
No, and this surprises almost everyone: a power of attorney ends the moment the person dies. After death, authority passes to the executor named in the will, or to a court-appointed administrator when there is no will. Funeral decisions belong to the next of kin in the order set by state law, usually spouse first, then adult children, then parents, then siblings.
Nobody had power of attorney. Is that a problem?
For after-death decisions, no. Power of attorney only matters while someone is alive. The next of kin can make funeral decisions right away, and the estate is handled through the will or, without one, through the state's simple next-of-kin rules. See our guide on what happens when there is no will.
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Step 3 of 5 · Money owed to you
The Social Security $255 payment
Who can claim it
A surviving spouse who was living with the person who died, or a spouse or child eligible for benefits on the deceased person's record.
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office. You must apply within 2 years of the death. The funeral home often reports the death to SSA, but the survivor must apply for the payment.
Full guide: the $255 death payment, explained