Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about Council funerals (sometimes known as public health funerals) and Hospital funerals.
Who pays for a funeral if there is no money?
In circumstances where there is no-one willing or able to make funeral arrangements for someone who has died, the local authority where the death happened has a legal duty to make the arrangements. These arrangements differ between local authorities and, while most will allow people to attend, sometimes they are restricted to a direct, unattended, cremation.
If someone died in hospital, speak to the bereavement office there first. Sometimes they will carry out a hospital funeral, but they have no obligation to do so and they might refer you to the council.
What happens if I can't pay for a funeral?
If you're not able to pay for a funeral, there are different ways that you can consider raising money towards the funeral costs, for example the estate of the person who has died, government support and grant-giving charities.
In circumstances where there is no-one who can make funeral arrangements for someone who has died, the local authority where the person died has a legal responsibility to make the arrangements. These arrangements differ between local authorities and, while most will allow people to attend, sometimes they are restricted to a direct, unattended cremation.
If someone died in hospital, speak to the bereavement office there first. Sometimes they will carry out a hospital funeral, but they have no obligation to do so and they might refer you to the council.
Can I get a free funeral?
Often, funeral directors don't charge for their core services for the funeral of a child, and government support can assist with costs related to cemetery and crematorium fees.
'Free' funerals are not generally available for adults. In circumstances when someone has died and there is no-one willing or able to make funeral arrangements for them, the local authority for where they died has a legal duty to make the arrangements.
It is important to recognise that local authorities have the authority to access the deceased person's estate to recoup their costs from anything they had left when they died, and sometimes arrangements made by a local authority are restricted to a direct, unattended cremation.
If someone died in hospital, speak to the bereavement office there first. Sometimes they will carry out a hospital funeral, but they have no obligation to do so and they might refer you to the council.
Is the next of kin responsible for funeral costs?
Although it is often the closest relative of the person who has died who makes the funeral arrangements, sometimes this isn't practical or possible. In these situations, often other family members or close friends will assist, and if there is no-one at all, the local authority where the person died has a legal duty to make the arrangements.
Who is responsible for funeral costs?
Often, the closest relative to the person who has died will make the funeral arrangements for them, however this is not always possible. Other family members or close friends may choose to make the arrangements. In circumstances where there is no-one willing or able to make funeral arrangements for someone who has died, the local authority where the death happened has a legal duty.
If someone died in hospital, speak to the bereavement office there first. Sometimes they will carry out a hospital funeral, but they have no obligation to do so and they might refer you to the council.
For questions about the different ways to raise money towards funeral costs, you can return to the main FAQ menu.
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