Who has the legal right to make funeral decisions when the family disagrees?
Answered byJames DanielsFuneral ArrangerWatch · 0:47An executor named in the Will generally has the right to arrange the funeral. Where there is no executor, responsibility commonly falls to the person entitled to administer the estate, often a spouse, partner or close relative. The position depends on the circumstances and jurisdiction. Tell the funeral director about the Will and any disagreement early, and seek legal advice if authority is disputed.
For related guidance, see can you use the deceased person’s bank account to pay for the funeral?.
Read the video transcript
Generally, it is a spouse or domestic partner that has the right to make funeral arrangements. If the deceased doesn't have a spouse or domestic partner, it will usually fall to adult children. If they are incapable of making arrangements or there are no adult children, it usually falls to the parent. Generally, if there is an executor in the Will, then that's different. Then we take our directions from the executor and everything goes through them, including any information we give out to third parties or anyone that calls through asking for information regarding a deceased.
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