If you’re reading this because someone you love just passed and there’s no money, start here: you have options, and you have a little more time than it feels like.

This guide is for right now. We’ll be honest along the way, including about what won’t help.

First, slow down for one hour

You don’t have to sign anything tonight. A hospital, hospice or nursing home will usually hold the body for a short time while the family decides.

Use that time to make three calls:

Family members who might share the cost.
Two or three funeral homes or cremation providers, to ask for prices.
The county, if money is the main problem (more on that below).

Know your rights when you ask for prices

Under the federal Funeral Rule, every funeral home must:

Give you prices over the phone if you ask. You don’t have to give your name first.
Give you an itemized General Price List in person, yours to keep.
Let you choose only the items you want. You don’t have to buy a package.

The price list also has to tell you that embalming is not always required by law, and that a simple container can be used for a direct cremation. The FTC explains the full rule on its Funeral Rule page.

Asking for the price list is normal. Good funeral homes expect it.

Option 1: Direct cremation

Direct cremation is the simplest arrangement. There’s no embalming, no viewing and no service at the funeral home. The provider handles the transfer, the paperwork and the cremation, and returns the ashes to the family.

It commonly costs a few thousand dollars or less, depending on the provider. For comparison, a funeral with burial in Georgia commonly runs $8,000–$12,000.

Choosing direct cremation doesn’t mean skipping a goodbye. Many families hold a memorial later, at a church, a park or a family home, when they’re ready and when relatives can travel.

Option 2: County help for families who can’t pay

Georgia counties have a duty to provide for a simple burial or cremation when a person passes and the family truly can’t pay. Each county sets its own rules.

What to expect:

Call the county where the person passed, not where the family lives. Start with the coroner, the county clerk or the local DFCS office.
The county will check for money first. That usually includes bank accounts, life insurance and whether relatives can pay.
The arrangement is basic. Some counties let the family choose burial or cremation; some use a specific provider.
The family may give up some choices, like the timing or the location.

It isn’t what most families picture. But it’s a real, dignified option, and no one should feel ashamed to ask.

Option 3: Veterans burial benefits

If the person served in the military and wasn’t dishonorably discharged, call the VA or ask the funeral home to check eligibility.

Depending on the situation, VA benefits may include:

Burial in a national cemetery, such as the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton
A headstone or marker and a burial flag
A partial reimbursement of burial costs in some cases

Funeral homes handle VA paperwork often. Bring the discharge papers (the DD-214) if you can find them.

Option 4: Crime victim compensation

If the person passed as the result of a crime, Georgia’s Crime Victims Compensation Program may help with funeral costs, up to $6,000 for crimes on or after May 6, 2015.

There are conditions. The crime generally must have been reported to police, and the program pays only what other sources don’t. You can read the rules on the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s victims compensation page, or ask the victim advocate at the police department or district attorney’s office.

Option 5: Whole body donation

Some medical schools in Georgia accept whole body donations for teaching and research. Programs differ, but here’s how it generally works:

The program arranges transportation and, after study, cremation, without charging the family for those steps.
The ashes are returned to the family, often one to two years later.
Not every body is accepted. Programs may decline because of certain illnesses, recent surgery or other reasons, so have a backup plan.
Some programs require registration in advance. Close family can usually object, and programs won’t accept a donation over a family’s objection.

If this fits what your loved one would have wanted, call the program right away, because timing matters.

Option 6: Family, church and community

Split the cost among relatives. Even small amounts from several people add up.
Ask your church. Many congregations quietly help members’ families.
Crowdfunding. Online fundraisers can raise money from friends and coworkers. Money can take days to arrive, so tell the funeral home it’s coming.
Ask the funeral home about a payment plan. Read the terms carefully before signing.

Check for money you may not know about

Before deciding there’s nothing, look for:

A life insurance policy. Check papers at home, bank statements for premium payments, and past employers or unions.
A payable-on-death bank account, which goes to the named person without probate.
The $255 Social Security lump sum, if there’s a surviving spouse who lived with the person, or a spouse or child eligible for benefits. We explain it in Does Social Security pay for funerals?

What won’t help right now

We’d rather tell you plainly. Burial insurance won’t help with a death that has already happened. A policy has to be in place before someone passes.

Burial insurance is for planning ahead. It’s a small whole life insurance policy that pays your family in days, so the next time, the money is already there. If you’re going through this now, that’s a conversation for later, not this week.

What we see every week

Leaf Cremation has served more than 5,000 Georgia families. The people behind Leaf Planning are the ones at the table when a family can’t pay, so we know these options aren’t abstract. They’re what families actually use.

For help with the many tasks that come after a death, like notifying agencies, closing accounts and handling paperwork, Leaf Aftercare has a step-by-step resource for families.

When things settle down

Many families who go through this decide they don’t want their own children to face it. That’s where planning ahead comes in.

A small policy, typically $5,000 to $25,000 of coverage, can be set up with a few health questions and no medical exam. As a typical range, many people in their 60s pay roughly $30–$70 a month for $10,000 of coverage. A licensed agent gives you the exact figure. You can read how it works whenever you’re ready.

Talk it through with a licensed Georgia agent

When the time is right, leave your name and number below. A licensed Georgia agent will call you, answer your questions in plain English, and tell you honestly if a policy isn’t the right fit.

How to pay for a funeral when there's no money