ABSTRACT
Local authorities have a duty to dispose of a dead body where the deceased’s estate or their family cannot pay for the deceased’s burial or cremation. They may pay for and arrange funeral and trace next of kin to recover costs. Local authorities also carry out probate searches to find next of kin and if the person has died intestate and no next of kin can be found they can pass the case onto the Government’s Bona Vacantia department for it to deal with the case. Alternatively, if an authority believes that there are no known next of kin and that there is no estate, they can apply to Finders International for a payment from the unique Finders International Funeral Fund (FIFF). The FIFF will pay all or part of the costs of the funeral should Finders confirm that there is no next of kin and that the estate has no funds.
