Council Funerals

Headstones and memorials at Carlton Cemetery The local Coroner’s Office very occasionally has to inform this Authority that a local death has occurred and as far as they know there are no living relatives willing or able to make the funeral arrangements for the deceased. In such circumstances this Authority has the responsibility to make suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body in accordance with the Public Health Act.

The Council is entitled to recover the costs of the funeral from the estate of the deceased, in the form of a civil debt recoverable within three years. Wherever possible we will recover funeral expenses from monies available from the deceased's estate to limit the cost to the people of Gedling.

We will arrange to contact a local funeral director to have the body cremated unless there are any specific instructions regarding a burial.

Cremated Remains

The cremated remains of the deceased will be scattered in the gardens of remembrance unless other specific instructions are found amongst the deceased possessions or in a will. Any costs associated with specific instructions must however first be met either through the deceased's estate or by family members. Where a family member wishes to retain the remains then they must be collected from the crematorium as we regret it is not possible to arrange for remains to be couriered.

What happens to the person's property and personal effects?

If the deceased left furniture or other personal effects the council will make arrangements for the disposal of these items. If possible, property is sold and the money offset against the cost of the funeral. The cost of clearing the property is normally met by the council as part of the funeral costs where the person's possessions are of little monetary value. Personal items such as photographs are normally offered to the family or retained at the Council Offices for collection at a later date.

In cases where there are assets that exceed the cost of the funeral, property clearance costs and so on, the Council arranges the funeral and when all costs are known informs the Treasury Solicitor in accordance with rules set down by the Secretary of State.

Getting Help

A funeral payment can be claimed from the Social Fund, available from the Department for Work & Pensions (Job Centre Plus), if the person or their partner making the funeral arrangements is receiving:

Income Support
Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Child Tax Credit which includes an amount higher than the family element
Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

You can apply any time after the date the person has died and up to three months after the date of the funeral. You could receive the necessary cost of specified items or services plus up to £700 for other funeral expenses.

Recent Burials

There have been no public health funerals carried out by this Local Authority since January 2011 where there have been no known next of kin, and no details have been passed, or are due to be passed, to either the Treasury Solicitor, Duchy of Lancaster/Cornwall or QLTR.

This page is regularly monitored and updated.