Public health funerals
When we arrange a funeral
If a person dies in a hospital in Guildford without any family, the hospital must arrange their funeral. If a person dies anywhere else in Guildford without family or funeral instructions, we will arrange and pay for the funeral.
We will also arrange a funeral if a family refuses to do so. In this case, the family will have no say in any funeral arrangements.
These funerals are known as public health funerals.
Funeral arrangements
If no one is able to arrange the funeral, we will will do the following:
- register the death
- instruct a funeral director
- provide a coffin
- arrange transport to the crematorium
If we find instructions showing wishes for a burial or cremation, these will be followed. Any cremated remains will be scattered in Guildford Crematorium's gardens of remembrance, unless other instructions are found.
How we pay for the funeral
We recover the cost of all public health funerals from the person's estate.
How we recover the cost
To help pay for the funeral, we can remove items from the person's home, such as jewellery, and sell them six months after the funeral. If the family has already removed items from the home we will ask them to return them.
Help towards the cost may be available from charities or the Department of Works and Pension Social Fund (opens new window).
Property and personal effects
We will make sure that property is secured and any keys or belonging are handed to the police or housing provider.
If there is furniture or other personal belongings, the estate or the owner of the property will normally meet the cost of clearing the property. Property should not be removed from the house unless legal authority says they can do so.
If, after the funeral costs, there is still some money left (over £500); we will tell the Treasury Solicitor.