Tarrant County Cremation & Burial Assistance Program
Alpine is a Tarrant-County approved provider
Countywide Financial Program
What This Program Is
Tarrant County Department of Human Services (TCDHS),
Under Texas law, Tarrant County is responsible for ensuring that no person who dies within the county goes without a dignified disposition, even when their family lacks the financial means to pay for a funeral.
This assistance is administered by the Tarrant County Department of Human Services (TCDHS), and is available to families who, after being reviewed, are found unable to cover the cost of cremation or burial for their loved one.
Alpine Funeral Home in Fort Worth is proud to be one of the funeral homes contracted by Tarrant County to carry out this service. We were selected through the county's formal vendor review process and operate under an approved agreement with Tarrant County; meaning families can feel confident they are working with a provider that has been vetted and held to the county's high standards.
What Families Can Expect
This service is provided completely free of charge.
If your loved one is approved through the county's assessment, there is no cost to your family for cremation or burial. Not a reduced rate, not a partial bill; It is entirely covered.
Minimal paperwork
The process requires a Next-of-Kin Assessment affidavit. Our team at Alpine Funeral Home & Cremation Services recently streamlined this process so it no longer needs to be notarized and all forms can be signed digitally, making an already difficult time a little easier.
The same level of care and respect
We provide to every family who walks through our doors, regardless of the arrangement. Your loved one will be cared for at our own funeral home and crematory; never handed off to a third party.
Cremation is the standard method of care
Under this program. In certain circumstances, such as a documented religious objection, instructions in a will, or eligibility for burial at the Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery for honorably discharged veterans, a dignified county burial may be arranged instead.
Why Families Trust Alpine
Alpine Funeral Home is a family-owned and operated funeral home in Fort Worth, and we own and operate our own crematory. That matters here more than almost anywhere else: it means your loved one never leaves our care, is never transported to an outside facility, and is handled personally by our team from the moment they're brought into our care. For families who are already carrying so much, knowing there are no unnecessary hands involved can bring real peace of mind.
We've had the privilege of serving Tarrant County families for years, and we understand that a family's ability to pay should never determine the amount of respect and care their loved one receives.
How the Process Works
Because this is a county-administered program, referrals are made through a hospital, nursing home, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, or a participating funeral home like ours. If you're unsure where to start, you should call us first. Our staff is available 24/7 and can walk you through what information is needed and guide you through next steps with patience and without judgment. You're also welcome to contact the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office directly with questions about qualifying for the program. Either path is appropriate, and both lead to the same place; we simply want to make sure you know your options during a difficult time.
FAQs
Most asked questions about the program
Who can I contact to get started?
You can call Alpine Funeral Home in Fort Worth, any time, day or night, at
(817) 834-4116, or reach out directly to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office with questions about qualifying. We're here to help, whatever your circumstances.
Can we add a viewing, a special urn, or other services?
Because Tarrant County is the contracted party for this program, Alpine Funeral Home is not able to separately charge a family for additional services while the county is covering the arrangement. If your family has resources available for extras like these, those resources are generally expected to go toward the cost of the cremation itself. That said, many families find that once their loved one is safely in our care, they'd like to add a meaningful memorial or gathering down the road & we're always glad to help arrange that separately, whenever you're ready.
Is this program really free?
Yes. When a family is approved through Tarrant County's assessment process, cremation or burial is provided at no cost whatsoever. There is no bill sent to the family. Under this program, Tarrant County is the paying party, not the family.
How do I know if we qualify?
Eligibility is based on whether the decedent's estate and next of kin have the resources to pay for a cremation or burial. It's important to be upfront during the assessment: if a life insurance policy, estate asset, or other resource comes to light (even after a family has started the process) it will typically affect eligibility. The county's review is thorough, and full disclosure early on helps avoid delays. Tarrant County makes the eligibility decision. Alpine Funeral Home can help explain the process and guide you through the next steps, but approval comes from the county.
Will my loved one be treated any differently than other families' arrangements?
No. Every person who comes into our care at Alpine Funeral Home, regardless of the services selected, is treated with the same dignity, respect, and personal attention, in our own facility, by our own team.
