Suwannee County: National Cemetery Check for Unclaimed Veterans

Florida law sends unclaimed remains to the anatomical board unless an exception applies; see the Florida entries. Suwannee County wrote the veteran exception into its own code in Ordinance 2025-06, adopted April 1, 2025, now section 38-1. The exception. Whoever holds unclaimed remains that are to be buried or cremated at public expense must notify the anatomical board unless, among other reasons, "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." The search. Before disposition the holder must make a reasonable effort to identify the person and contact relatives, and to "Determine whether the deceased person is eligible under 38 C.F.R. § 38.620 for burial in a national cemetery as a veteran of the armed forces and, if eligible, to cause the deceased person's remains or cremated remains to be delivered to a national cemetery." A reasonable effort "includes contacting the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, the county veterans service office, or the regional office of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs." Where the anatomical board declines remains, the county court may order burial or cremation, and every such order is recorded in the Official Records. For families. A family that cannot pay for a veteran's funeral can ask Suwannee County Veterans Services, 386-688-6085, about VA burial benefits and national cemetery eligibility.