Who HAS to deal with a death?

[G7ivp]

Does the law impose a duty/responsibility to register a death and arrange the funeral on anyone in particular?
It is usual for relations or close friends to assume these responsibilities but what if everyone declines?
What if no one comes forward?
Can surviving relations be traced and compelled?
Will the local council deal with everything and seek to cover the cost from the deceased's estate (assuming there is one)?

[MIKE770]

how long is a piece of string??? it would help to read facts not if/buts ro get a reality case to possibly respond? could you slow down and tell us the facts?

[G7ivp]

how long is a piece of string??? it would help to read facts not if/buts ro get a reality case to possibly respond? could you slow down and tell us the facts?

Facts:
1. 'X' has died in England.
2. X has no assets other than a house in England that is held with spouse as Joint Tenants (the spouse lives there and she has been paying the mortgage).
3. X is overdrawn at his bank and owes money on credit cards.
4. X is estranged from his family and friends.
5. X does not have any insurance or funeral plan.

[des8]

The person responsible is the occupier of the property in which the deceased died, altho' a relative, or someone who was present at the time of death, or the person arranging the funeral may register the death

If no one arranges a funeral, the local authority or health authority will arrange a simple funeral.

The public authority that arranges the funeral can try to recover the cost from any money left by the person who died. If the money left isn't enough, the public authority can sometimes recover the funeral cost from a spouse or civil partner (but not from anybody else).

[G7ivp]

The person responsible is the occupier of the property in which the deceased died, altho' a relative, or someone who was present at the time of death, or the person arranging the funeral may register the death

If no one arranges a funeral, the local authority or health authority will arrange a simple funeral.

The public authority that arranges the funeral can try to recover the cost from any money left by the person who died. If the money left isn't enough, the public authority can sometimes recover the funeral cost from a spouse or civil partner (but not from anybody else).

Where did you find this? I've looked everywhere (or so I thought). What happens if the deceased died alone and was the only occupier?

[des8]

Found out the hard way sometime ago!

In the sad scenario you paint the local authority arrange the funeral.
Some refer to it incorrectly as a pauper's funeral but it should be carried out with dignity.
I have been at our local crematorium on a number of occasions when these funerals have taken place.
Often there are no mourners other than the funeral director, and it is so sad my wife and I attend the brief ceremony.