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Cremation Program

Community Health Care provides funding for indigent cremations in accordance with Chapter 406 of the Florida Statutes. To meet the criteria for county funding, a decedent must have passed away in Polk County AND meet one of two definitions:

  • Unclaimed: A decedent is considered to be unclaimed when there is no legally responsible relative or when no other person (e.g., relative, friend, organization) has accepted financial responsibility for the body. The income or assets of the deceased have no bearing on whether a body is considered unclaimed or not. An unclaimed body is not necessarily indigent and may have assets in an estate. However, if these assets are inaccessible, Polk County assumes responsibility for disposition for practical reasons and may secure reimbursement through the Probate Court process.
  • Indigent Claimed: A decedent is considered to be indigent if neither the deceased nor the immediate family members have sufficient resources to provide for a cremation and no-one has assumed financial responsibility for disposition of the body. Polk County is considered a payor of last resort. All other resources of the deceased and their family must be considered and utilized before County funds are expended. County funds for indigent cremation are not a supplement to limited resources of a deceased person or their family.

Polk County will only provide reimbursements for cremation services provided by funeral homes or crematories on its qualified vendor list. Vendors can register with Polk County here.

Cremation Services Bid

Qualified Vendors

Concierge Mortuary Inc.
1905 U.S. Highway 17 S.
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: (863) 537-6537

Cremation Services of Polk County
1159 First St. S.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: (863) 215-6998

Gilley’s Family Cremation
332 Third St. NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: (863) 875-9079

Lakeland Funeral Home
2125 Bartow Road
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: (863) 686-2125

Lanier Funeral Home
717 Griffin Road
Lakeland, FL 33805
Phone: (863) 687-3996

Steele’s Family Funeral Services
207 Burns Lane
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Phone: (863) 324-1475

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. The inclusion of any service providers or organizations does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or approval by Polk County or any of its departments. Polk County does not warrant or guarantee the quality, qualifications, licensure, or outcomes of services provided by any listed organization or individual. Users are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and conduct appropriate to research before engaging with any listed resource.