Confused 26 May 2022 at 11:02PM in Deaths, funerals & probate 2 replies 383 views

llandyrnog

My wife received a letter this morning from a company called Estates Research who specialize in tracing beneficiries of people who have died. We researched the Company before my wife rang them up. After a short conversation it was established that her father had passed away. Her father left her mother before she was one year old so has never met him or had any contact with him. It now transpires that the coronas office wants permission from my wife to be able to bury him which is why she was traced. I believe  he married again and as far as I am aware his wife is still alive. The question I want to ask is  is my wife/ myself liable for the costs of his burial ?

Silvertabby

No.  If he was married and his wife doesn't want to make the arrangements for any reason, and if he died insolvent, then the local Council will try to get another family member to pay for the funeral before they pay for it themselves.

You just have to say no.  The Council will then pay for what is called a 'public health' cremation/burial - which sounds horrible, but really isn't.  The funeral will just be a no frills affair, carried out by a proper funeral director, on a date set by them.

doodling

Hi,

No-one is liable for the cost of someone else's funeral.  The money comes out of the deceased's assets and if they aren't enough then the council will pay for a basic funeral.

That won't stop the council trying to get anyone but them to pay for it as they really don't want the cost / effort of having to do it but just say no.