We may arrange a basic funeral for someone if we get a referral from the coroner, hospice or hospital trust. This is called a public health funeral.
This usually happens if:
- the next of kin is unable or unwilling to make the funeral arrangements
- there is no next of kin who can arrange the funeral
We will first try to contact the deceased person’s next of kin. We may use professional tracing companies if necessary.
What to expect from a public health funeral
We are responsible for all aspects of a public health funeral, including registering the deceased person’s death and arranging their funeral.
We’ll try to determine the deceased person’s wishes, including their religious beliefs. We will not be able to arrange a clergyman for the funeral.
Any burial will be in a common grave. A crematorium service will be the same as a standard crematorium.
Recovering the cost of the funeral
We recover the cost of arranging the funeral from the deceased person’s estate.
Read more guidance on public health funerals (GOV.UK)
Further information on public health funerals
We owe the deceased person a duty of confidentiality, even after they have died.
Contact us if you want to find out about a funeral we have arranged or how a public health funeral works.
Contact us
Phone: 020 8921 2850