Franklin County Veterans Service Commission: Indigent Veteran Burial

The commission's Indigent Burial Program buries an unclaimed or indigent veteran, and by statute a veteran's parent, spouse or surviving spouse who died without means, paying up to $1,000 toward a funeral the family arranges. The county page gives no amounts; ask before signing a funeral contract.

Also called: burial, funeral, indigent burial, unclaimed veteran, headstone, burial flag, 5901.25.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Franklin County, OHCounty

Ohio requires each county veterans service commission to contract for the burial or cremation of a veteran, or a veteran's parent, spouse or surviving spouse, who died without the means to pay, with a funeral director the family chooses, and caps the county's share at $1,000 (Revised Code 5901.25 to 5901.27; see the Ohio entry). What Franklin County says. Its Burial and Memorial page offers an Indigent Burial Program for indigent or unclaimed veterans, help getting headstones, markers, burial flags and national cemetery burial, and help with VA burial allowances and survivor benefits. It does not list the statutory family members or the $1,000 figure, so a family burying a veteran's spouse or parent should ask the commission directly, before the funeral contract is signed, since the statute has the commission contract with the funeral director. Contact [email protected] or 614-525-2500.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Franklin County Veterans Service Commission: Indigent Veteran Burial
Gate	Rule
Died without the means to pay	The commission must be satisfied the family cannot pay. The county contributes up to $1,000. No rating is needed.

Sources

Franklin County Veterans Service Commission, Burial and MemorialOfficial
Ohio Revised Code section 5901.25Official
Ohio Revised Code section 5901.26Official

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-01.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.