Unless there is a will that states otherwise, it is normally the obligation of the next of kin to make funeral preparations if the individual for whom they are responsible dies. The next of kin has no legal obligations, according to the NHS card. They can choose not to do so, or to do so privately.
The next of kin can also include people who are not related to the deceased by blood but who were very close friends. In some cases, these friends may have been given authority by the person being cared for to make medical decisions on their behalf if they were unable to do so themselves.
Generally speaking, the next of kin does not have to pay for any part of the funeral service. Nor is there any requirement for them to attend the service. If they want to, they can hire their own priest or minister without paying anything more than the usual fee for hiring a speaker. Otherwise, they can stay at home and watch TV.
The only time that we have evidence of a next of kin having to pay for something is when there is a specific fund set up in their name for this purpose. For example, if the hospital where the deceased was treated bills the family for its costs, then they would have to pay this bill. Otherwise, they would not be able to claim reimbursement from any insurance policies taken out by the deceased.
Those who are unable or unwilling to pay for the deceased's funeral expenditures are referred to as next of kin. If they cannot afford it, the hospital may pay for the funeral. If the next of kin can afford it, they must pay for the burial. If they continue to be uncooperative, the case should be submitted to the appropriate authorities. If there are no close relatives, then friends or charities may cover the costs of the funeral and burial.
In the United States, the same body that pays for a person's medical bills has the right to decide what happens to their remains. If you are not related to the decedent by blood or marriage, they can't be buried in federal land without paying for the cost of shipping them off-site. If you fail to do so, the government can charge you with a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine up to $5,000 and six months in jail.
The American public is generally unaware of this legal obligation because most people don't have anyone responsible for paying for their funeral arrangements. The law requires that any person who would like to make these arrangements go through the decedent's wallet or other personal belongings after death. If necessary, contact the mortuary or crematory to make sure that someone will be able to cover the expense. Some facilities will accept payments for future use while others require that you pay up front. If you are unsure about any aspect of this process, then you should discuss it with your mortuary or crematory before proceeding.
If the dead individual died without a spouse, civil partner, children, or parents, their siblings are considered the next of kin. If there are no siblings, then a close friend is considered responsible for notifying other family members of the death.
In most cases, only one stepfather or mother will be listed on a death certificate if the person being reported as deceased was married more than once before they passed away. If a husband and wife were both parents to a child who dies, each parent would be listed as a "surviving parent" on the certificate. If there was only one parent living at the time of the child's death, that person would be the only one listed as surviving in cases like this.
If a child does not have any siblings but does have many cousins, they could be notified about the death. The relatives that these people identify as responsible for them would be called "next of kin."
In some states, an adult son or daughter may inherit property from their father or mother even though they did not know them personally. This legal concept is known as "intestacy".
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