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Responsibility for the funeral

The executor of the dead person is responsible for disposal of the body. If there is no executor, it is the responsibility of the most senior next of kin. In the circumstances that the next of kin does not want to be involved, the funeral can be treated as a destitute burial, conducted by the government contractor. In most situations the executor will be a family member and/or a person keen to implement the family's wishes concerning the funeral. However, situations arise in which conflicts occur within families and the executor is required to make the final decision.

The executor is not bound by any directions the dead person left in his/her will, except that the body may not be cremated if the dead person wished otherwise.

Further information