Funeral Expenses, What happens if person cant pay?

Ladywriter1968

dzug1 wrote: »

And noone is obliged to arrange someone else's funeral.

So the answer is she doesn't arrange it, and isn't liable

alas my other posts to but I found out that my friends friend parent died recently, and even though the council paid for it all cause she didnt have the money, the council then sent the bill to her as she was direct next of kin. So even if the person I speak of refused to pay, they would still be hit with a bill anyway, cause even if council pay, they still expect direct kin to pay them back then.

vaio

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

alas my other posts to but I found out that my friends friend parent died recently, and even though the council paid for it all cause she didnt have the money, the council then sent the bill to her as she was direct next of kin. So even if the person I speak of refused to pay, they would still be hit with a bill anyway, cause even if council pay, they still expect direct kin to pay them back then.

Pretty sure this is wrong, my understanding is.....

If no one is willing to organise the funeral then the local council will do it. The cost for this comes out of the deceased’s estate before distribution. If the estate doesn’t have enough assets to pay for the funeral then the money is written off. It is not possible to move the costs onto anyone else unless they agree.

If there is someone who is willing to organise the funeral (can be family or friends) then they can. Again, the costs are met from the deceased’s estate. If the estate doesn’t have the money then, if the person organising it is on certain benefits, they should be able to get help with the costs.

No one can be forced to organise or pay for someone else’s funeral.

Ladywriter1968

vaio wrote: »

Pretty sure this is wrong, my understanding is.....

If no one is willing to organise the funeral then the local council will do it. The cost for this comes out of the deceased’s estate before distribution. If the estate doesn’t have enough assets to pay for the funeral then the money is written off. It is not possible to move the costs onto anyone else unless they agree.

If there is someone who is willing to organise the funeral (can be family or friends) then they can. Again, the costs are met from the deceased’s estate. If the estate doesn’t have the money then, if the person organising it is on certain benefits, they should be able to get help with the costs.

No one can be forced to organise or pay for someone else’s funeral.

Cause you get so many different answers really.

My friends friend as said, her parent died and the council did it all and then later sent her the bill for nearly 4 grand and said she had to pay it or else basically face the consequences. The council told me that they only pay if there is no family, otherwise they dont get involved, and it was the same council that charged my friends friend.

Ladywriter1968

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

Cause you get so many different answers really.

My friends friend as said, her parent died and the council did it all and then later sent her the bill for nearly 4 grand and said she had to pay it or else basically face the consequences. The council told me that they only pay if there is no family, otherwise they dont get involved, and it was the same council that charged my friends friend.

If the person has no assets and in a care home and has no savings either. they previously moved out of a council house into a care home.

Liquorice_Twirls

You can't be held responsible for the funeral costs of someone else, however your estate will be charged with the costs if there is any estate. When I arranged these sorts of funerals we would get access to the home of the deceased to check for savings accounts or documents to show if there were assets. If there was an estate the funeral costs would take first charge on this. Anything left over would go to relatives if no will.

The Council were probably trying it on with the daughter/son of the deceased in the hope that they would pay, however I find it hard to believe that the bill was £4,000. The Council cut a good deal with an undertaker and I'm willing to bet that they paid a lot less than that.

lisyloo

and said she had to pay it or else basically face the consequences

and she took this at face value without getting advice??

Of course they will try to get someone else to pay.
What did they say the consequences were?
I don't believe it's enforceable but it sounds like it worked a treat on your friend's friend.

Did they not think of getting legal advice?

The council told me that they only pay if there is no family, otherwise they dont get involved, and it was the same council that charged my friends friend.

So you think they leave bodies just lying around?
The council can say what they want.
It's naive to just belive them without checking especially if £4K is involved.
Of course they will try to get it from someone, that's their moral duty to tax payers.

I would be willing to bet you £100 that if the family were not willing to get involved, that the council would not simply leave a body lying around and rotting.

They simply cannot enforce a bill on a next of kin, but they can SAY what they want and it looks like it works a treat too.

I_luv_cats

I've seen a tv program where somebody died and the local council
went through the paperwork of the deceased to see if there is any
relatives to contact or assets to meet the cost of a funeral.

The council employee did attend the funeral and burial.

Ladywriter1968

I_luv_cats wrote: »

I've seen a tv program where somebody died and the local council
went through the paperwork of the deceased to see if there is any
relatives to contact or assets to meet the cost of a funeral.

The council employee did attend the funeral and burial.

what program was that called, maybe I can find it on line and watch it?

thanks