Funeral question

JamesPeter

Sorry if this sounds odd, but I am enquiring regarding my somewhat estranged brother. He never married and has no partner or children.He himself cut off relations with me.

Basically, he has absolutely no assets, lives on benefits week to week and lives in a council flat.  

His view is that when he dies, he just wants putting into the wheelie bin and taken away with the rubbish. He has no funeral money/insurance and doesn’t want any funeral etc. He says he has paid enough in taxes years ago so the council can dispose of him if he can’t go in the wheelie bin.

I understand a council can arrange a ‘parish funeral’ or ‘public health funeral’ for people who don’t have anything, but the question is, can they force me (his only living relative) to pay or contribute? I don’t particularly want, nor wish to and because he has made no provision for himself, I don’t see why I should.

Many thanks.

Mojisola

JamesPeter said:

I understand a council can arrange a ‘parish funeral’ or ‘public health funeral’ for people who don’t have anything, but the question is, can they force me (his only living relative) to pay or contribute?

Absolutely not - although you may get pressure to do so.

Just say no.

JamesPeter

Mojisola said:

JamesPeter said:

I understand a council can arrange a ‘parish funeral’ or ‘public health funeral’ for people who don’t have anything, but the question is, can they force me (his only living relative) to pay or contribute?

Absolutely not - although you may get pressure to do so.

Just say no.

Many thanks.

I will resist all pressure!

Mojisola

JamesPeter said:

I will resist all pressure!

You also have no obligation to sort out his estate.  Resist all pressure to clear out his flat and deal with any debts.

JamesPeter

Mojisola said:

JamesPeter said:

I will resist all pressure!

You also have no obligation to sort out his estate.  Resist all pressure to clear out his flat and deal with any debts.

Many thanks again.

He did say years ago, he wanted me as his 'executor' but I told him I would was not willing do it. Not that he has anything to leave but I am certain he hasn't made a will or anything.

Mickey666

JamesPeter said:

Sorry if this sounds odd, but I am enquiring regarding my somewhat estranged brother. He never married and has no partner or children.He himself cut off relations with me.

Basically, he has absolutely no assets, lives on benefits week to week and lives in a council flat.  

His view is that when he dies, he just wants putting into the wheelie bin and taken away with the rubbish. He has no funeral money/insurance and doesn’t want any funeral etc. He says he has paid enough in taxes years ago so the council can dispose of him if he can’t go in the wheelie bin.

I understand a council can arrange a ‘parish funeral’ or ‘public health funeral’ for people who don’t have anything, but the question is, can they force me (his only living relative) to pay or contribute? I don’t particularly want, nor wish to and because he has made no provision for himself, I don’t see why I should.

Many thanks.

He could almost achieve that outcome, though in a far more productive and socially valuable manner, by donating his body to medical science.  

Contact your nearest teaching hospital or medical university for details.  It costs nothing except a bit of form filling.

That's my funeral plan anyway.


As for your other points, no one can be FORCED to pay anything to anyone for funerals or estate costs after death.  Beware even ARRANGING a funeral for someone on the assumption that their estate will pay for it.   Whoever arranges a funeral becomes responsible for the costs.

Savvy_Sue

Mickey666 said:

He could almost achieve that outcome, though in a far more productive and socially valuable manner, by donating his body to medical science.  

Contact your nearest teaching hospital or medical university for details.  It costs nothing except a bit of form filling.

That's my funeral plan anyway.

That isn't foolproof, although it's a good start. You'll have to die close enough to a hospital which will collect you, and I think be collected fast enough to be useful. 

If the hospital decline to have you, I guess you're back to public health ... 

Mickey666

If the hospital declines to have me then it'll be a hole in the back garden!

molerat

Mickey666 said:

If the hospital declines to have me then it'll be a hole in the back garden!

Brings back memories of a long running thread on here !

Silvertabby

molerat said:

Mickey666 said:

If the hospital declines to have me then it'll be a hole in the back garden!

Brings back memories of a long running thread on here !

Now you've done it - we'll have newbies asking for the details!

Back on track... If he were to die in hospital, then it would be a relatively simple matter of telling the hospital admin staff that you want THEM to arrange the public health funeral.  The administrator will no doubt try to tell you that it is your responsibility to make the funeral arrangements, but it really isn't.  

Little more complicated if he were to die at home, but only if OP were to be identified/contacted as NOK.  Again, the authorities may put pressure on the OP to pay for a funeral, but they are only doing their job.

OP - you will need to be firm and insist on a public health funeral, as is your right.  

naedanger

Silvertabby said:

molerat said:

Mickey666 said:

If the hospital declines to have me then it'll be a hole in the back garden!

Brings back memories of a long running thread on here !

Now you've done it - we'll have newbies asking for the details!

Back on track... If he were to die in hospital, then it would be a relatively simple matter of telling the hospital admin staff that you want THEM to arrange the public health funeral.  The administrator will no doubt try to tell you that it is your responsibility to make the funeral arrangements, but it really isn't.  

Little more complicated if he were to die at home, but only if OP were to be identified/contacted as NOK.  Again, the authorities may put pressure on the OP to pay for a funeral, but they are only doing their job.

OP - you will need to be firm and insist on a public health funeral, as is your right.  

If asked by anyone (hospital administrator, social worker, police etc), the op should simply say he is not arranging the funeral or dealing with any other aspect of his brother's estate. (It is not for the op to find someone else to arrange it. So there is no need for him to ask anyone to do so.)