Information about what to do after someone dies can also be found at:
- the government website: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death
- the Money Advice Service: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/help-paying-for-a-funeral
The Money Advice Service was set up as an independent body with responsibility for improving people’s money management in April 2010. They were initially known as the Consumer Financial Education Body, the name used in the Financial Services Act 2010 which sets out their statutory objectives. The Money Advice Service is funded by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who appoints the board of the Money Advice Service.
In summary here are some useful points:
- It is a legal requirement for the family to register the death, if there is no family the local authority will be responsible.
- Other than parents of the deceased the family is not legally bound to pay for the funeral.Payment of funeral expenses is payable by the deceased estate and usually have priority over any other payment requirements such as debts.However the person who contracts the funeral director is ultimately responsible for payment and if the estate of the deceased is unable to provide sufficient funds to pay for the funeral expenses the person who signed the funeral contract will be responsible for the outstanding amount.Funeral expenses may need to be paid prior to money from the estate being released which could be a financial strain for family members.
- It can be considered that when a person has a pre-paid funeral plan is place it makes the whole process of arranging the funeral and collection of the deceased much easier for their family and removes the burden of cost.
