The person responsible for organising a funeral depends on whether the deceased left a will. If they did, the executor of the will is responsible. The executor can pass the responsibility onto a family member of the deceased, if they wish.

If there is no will, or no executor was appointed in the will, then the next of kin or a close relative can arrange the funeral.

There are no legal rules about who can go to a funeral, but it's a good idea to notify relatives and other people who may want to attend, to avoid any disputes.

Services are usually held 1 to 4 weeks after the person has died.

Last updated: 15 November 2023