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Public health funerals

Find out about public health funerals for people who have died within our borough and have no family members, or other willing and able parties to make funeral arrangements. 

Funeral costs and referrals

Family notification and funeral costs

If the deceased’s family are located, they will be informed of the death and invited to make funeral arrangements.  

If the family cannot be found or they are found but are not willing and able to arrange and pay for a funeral  we will cover the cost of a basic funeral or a portion of the costs. Read more about recovering public health funeral costs.

Referrals for public health funerals

When someone passes away and their family can't be found: 

  1. The Coroner's Office, care homes, or hospitals contact us.
  2. We try to locate the next of kin and find important documents like a will by searching the deceased's property and using a family tracing service.
  3. If no relatives are identified, we will arrange a public health funeral.  

It's also possible for friends and family to inform us directly about a person's death. 
 

Timeline for public health funeral arrangements 

We will make the funeral arrangements as promptly as possible. This is after the necessary searches for family and property searches.

The funeral typically takes place within 6 to 10 weeks following the initial notification of referral for the deceased.  

This timeframe can occasionally extend beyond the 10 weeks.