Funeral - who pays? (confused)

[cankles]

Hi, need a little legal advice, Dad recently admitted to hospital with heart problem (he smokes and is an alcoholic). He's 82. Have just found out that he has no funeral policy (if that's the right term?) but the house, when it's sold, will pay for his funeral. This doesn't sound right? Presumably someone has to pay up front first? There is only my brother and I.

If anyone could help with this, I would really appreciate it. TIA.

Lots of funeral directors will offer interest free credit which will allow you time to sell the house and free up the funds to pay their bill

Avedron that may be true but but between us my dh and I have used 3 funeral directors and all invoices stated that interest would be charge if payments were late

When my DSis passed away the funeral directors didn't need money up front for their fees but both the church and the cost of a burial plot had to be paid before or they wouldn't do it.

The social fund payment we received went off my DMs tax credits, nothing to do with any benefits my sister was on.

thank you, no state benefit for either me or my brother. It's a little bit of a lottery by the sound of it!

Sorry for your losses Gingerbreadmanm and wee babyseamus x

Then i have a funny feeling you will have to cover the costs.

Which is wrong imo!

I know savesome, at least I can make some arrangements, perhaps work something out with my brother. Initially very cross about it though as he'd told me he had set money aside a few years ago and everything was organised. I had naively presumed that was still the case.

I would be cross too in your position

Funeral insurance policies are a bit hopeless in my experience. Relative had a couple and the policy costs were high and return was low. Funeral costs increased too. In the end, three policies covered less than half the costs.

A bit harsh really though to expect someone to pay for their own funeral unless they were dictating exactly how they wanted it done and you felt obliged to go along with it.

My dad took out one of those policies and it didn't come any where near the actual cost though I'm sure he thought he'd done the right thing.

As a PP said, the crematorium or churchyard costs are the main essential. Funeral directors will push you to spend a lot more, but you don't have to.

I recommend both you and your brother start saving now. You'll get it back out of the estate eventually. You could borrow a bit (loan, overdraft, credit card) while probate is going through.

You will end up in profit in due course. Unkind of you to be cross and resentful.

I think its unfair to expect others to pay for your funeral.

Its very unfair to not save a penny and waste your money on booze and fags then have your family worrying about how they will pay your funeral.

I worked with a woman once who was over retirement age but said she couldnt afford to retire as she was paying off her funeral as she didnt want her children to be burdened with paying for it

Thanks Iwantawhippet - I'll take on board what you say about funeral policies - will look into it but sound a bit hit and miss.

Savesome, I agree, I don't expect my own children to pay for my funeral - I will sort that out. - it's very tricky. I don't think I will ever be able to retire either!

Hedda, thank you for your advice also, he has planned exactly how he wants things to be. I am not being unkind. I am trying to sort through this (which is horrible) and well as the horrendous mess that goes with his addiction.

I wonder what would happen if someone was no contact with their parents and then they died? Would the adult child still be responsible for paying for the funeral of a parent they are no longer in contact with?

When someone dies and has no one the local council will find and contact their next of kin. If they don't want to arrange or pay for it then they have to let the council know in writing that they won't be doing it. The local council will then arrange (and I really hate this term) a "paupers funeral", which is usually just a simple cremation. If the deceased had no money property the council covers the cost otherwise it's claimed from the deceaseds estate.

gosh, that is an awful term. I guess it must happen though. Thanks weebabyseamus.

My ex fil died with nothing and the family had to pay.

Lots of funeral directors will offer interest free credit which will allow you time to sell the house and free up the funds to pay their bill

This is good advice. I would do this because you are definitely entitled to the money back from the estate (even if you don't inherit the house). I don't think the council would pay for it if your DF has a house.