Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about responsibility for funeral arrangements and their costs.
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. This is known as a Council Funeral or Public Health Funeral.
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. This is known as a Council Funeral or Public Health Funeral.
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.
Please see our Raising Money Towards Funeral Costs guide for more detailed information.
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. These are known as Council Funerals or Public Health Funerals.
Please see our guide to Council and Hospital Funerals for more detailed information.
For questions about the different ways to raise money towards funeral costs, you can return to the main FAQ menu.
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