When someone in your family passes away, there are many things that need to be attended to. First and foremost, if they haven’t planned their final expenses, then their funeral needs to be planned and paid for. This can be a burden for some families, as the average funeral can cost upwards of $10,000, and not a lot of people have that kind of money lying around.
The Estate
Many people think that the family is forced to pay for the funeral, but that is simply not true. If the person who passes away has any assets, this is known as their estate. An estate can be made up of any savings and property, and is responsible for the final expenses of a funeral, burial, etc.
What If There Is No Estate?
If the deceased person doesn’t have any assets, or doesn’t have enough to pay for the entirety of their funeral, this is where it gets a bit complicated. Whoever is assigned the administrator or executor of the estate, likely a relative, will be held responsible for the cost of the funeral.
If there aren’t any assets to be sold off for the estate and the administrator doesn’t have the funds to cover the funeral costs, the next option is to ask the family to pitch in for the funeral costs. For a large family, this might be easier, as the cost will decrease with each person who is willing to help out.
However, the person who signs the bill to pay the cost is liable to pay for it all. This is important to know so that if you or someone you know is the executor of an estate, they don’t legally put themselves in a bind they can’t get out of.
No Funds
In some cases, no one in the family nor the executor of the estate can afford the funeral costs. Unfortunately, this leaves people with the tough decision to sign a release form for the coroner that states you are unable to care for the final expense. This release gives permission to the coroner to handle the remains, which is primarily cremation. Thankfully, the family can receive the ashes from the cremation for a fee.
Make A Plan Beforehand
To prevent any confusion or have to take unwanted measures to ensure a loved one is taken care of after passing, it’s important to plan ahead for final expenses. After all, someone is inevitably responsible for what happens to you after death, and it’s best to ease that burden.
Leave a Comment