Who pays for the funeral?

Katey you and any other relatives are not liable for anything. Once again we have just done that. The deceased left massive debt. All, rent, council tax, electricity and several credit cards have all been written off. We did get a bit from the Television licence though. So don’t worry. Nothing is yours to pay.

You do t have to bear the cost, unless you have started to make the arrangements. Take a step back before this happens.

As BB and others say, although if you take the initiative and arrange the funeral then you will have to pay.
I did this, in the North of England 20 years ago, my relative had nothing but debts and a council flat, so I paid for a simple funeral for him and it cost just over £1,000.
That covered one funeral car and a hearse, a flower arrangement on the coffin, a message placed in the local paper
A priest to conduct the short service, and transport to the crematorium for the placing of ashes.
Obviously, £1,000 all those years ago will have trebled by now I suppose.

I don't think these were 'heir hunters' as such, more likely people employed by the local council to track down relatives of a 'solitary death' to deal with personal effects and pay for funeral if applicable. Heir hunters do not come into play until the will is published and the person is found to have died intestate. I read a very interesting novel where the main character was employed by the council to go through personal effects, papers etc., to try to work this out. The book was called 'The Other Mrs Walker' I think.

Thanks all, I have told the Council today, I can not deal with this.

No you're not legally bound to pay for your aunts funeral kateykrunch .

No, if she has no money and no immediate relations who had a relationship with her (child, spouse) then it is the local authorities responsibility to pay for the funeral.