Who pays for BIL funeral?

If you have a cremation with no service, and nobody attends it is cheaper - the body is delivered to the crem and they fit the cremation in when there is a gap in the schedule, often early in the morning. Also, if the immediate relatives have no money, the DWP will pay something towards a funeral, maximum is about £1400, this might just cover the coffin, cheap cremation as above, and funeral director fees.

If all the family disown him, the Social Services may step in and arrange it, using a local funeral director who will get no fees - they all have to take turns doing 'pro bono' cases with homeless people etc.

stillaliveandkickingMedical Schools/Universities have to be notified some time in advance of your intentions and have you registered with them,and they are strict about the weight of the body etc and certain illnesses as cause of death,we have been registered with our Local University for the past 6 yrs after deciding to go down this route not because of the cost but just personal choice its not something you can just decide to do at the last minute.

I'm not sure how much a cremation costs, though, does anyone know? Does it vary from area to area? Someone would have to pay.
Sometimes a funeral is delayed by months whilst the family tries to work out who will pay or how to pay for it.

Of course, he may have money put aside - but it's not something anyone could ask without approaching the subject obliquely.

Saw one in the Times the other week, 'no funeral at his request'.

No one has to have a funeral do they? As in some sort of service . Presumably just cost of cremation. Ashes could be scattered on the garden at the crem.

Yes but medical schools are extremely picky these days who they accept. As funeral prices have risen some areas have more donations than they can cope with.

Donate to medical science? thats what I want.

Jalima is correct but all the forces have a benevolent fund for events such as this. THe RAF one is here. [email protected]. Address: RAF Benevolent Fund, 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR. If he was in one ot the other services they will put you in touch with the correct person.

My sisters and I had this problem, we are all non religious so we did this.

Arranged for the body to be collected from the hospital, cremated and ashes dropped to one of my sisters, total cost £900. We were able to split this cost 4 ways.

Thank you for all your comments. If we were in a position to pay for his funeral then we would do so but sadly we're not but I also think everybody deserves a decent "send off" no matter how awkward they are.

Who pays: his estate or the state provides. No worries.

Good point about not wanting to pay and not being able to pay. Alienated or not his family ought to pay for his funeral.

I was in exactly the same position about 18 months ago when my sister died. She too had alienated every person she knew. I didn't visit her when she was dying but I did feel I had to pay for her funeral and her headstone.

That is just my opinion because it's what I did.

But isn't the tax payer is paying for them?

Yes, absolutely right vampirequeen. And from what I've seen of state-provided funerals they're absolutely fine. They'll even provide mourners if there are none to be had...

I'm guessing there is a difference between being unable to pay and unwilling to pay.

Sadly, if the latter is the case then it puts Tippy22 and her DH in a difficult position, especially if the ailing brother has spent his money unwisely or if his children are looking for a cop out. It depends how much you want to take on the responsibility.

No one can be forced to pay for anyone else's funeral. If the deceased has an estate then the cost will be taken from that. If not then the council will provide a Public Health (used to be pauper's) funeral. They will provide a simple cremation that family and friends can attend if they so wish.

I would imagine his next of kin if he has no estate to pay for it - but if they are not willing to then, as Jalima says, there is state provision - I think I would Google what the criteria for this is.

It is sad that they don't want anything to do with him, especially now he is ill, but perhaps they have their reasons.

If he was a member of the Armed Forces at any time the Royal British Legion may help with funeral costs.

Or a Public Health Funeral if no-one is willing to pay for it and there is no money whatsoever in the estate to fund it.