When someone dies in Wrexham County Borough and there are no relatives or friends to arrange a funeral, we receive referrals to make funeral arrangements on their behalf. This is done because we (Wrexham Council) have a duty to do so under section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. We may claim the costs of the funeral from the estate where there are sufficient funds.

This duty does not apply when someone dies in hospital, or in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Under these circumstances, the health authority will make arrangements.

If the person dies in a care home, then funeral arrangements are normally made by relatives or social services, who may be managing the finances of the deceased.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any assistance if the funeral has already taken place or if someone has already taken responsibility for the funeral.

What service can be provided?

When we organise for a public health funeral to take place we can:

• arrange a cremation, unless the deceased person has noted otherwise
• arrange a basic funeral service conducted as far as possible with the deceased's beliefs
• place a notice in the press

Public health funeral information requests

We are frequently asked for information about people who have died with no known next of kin, Bona Vacantia estates and estates that have been referred to the Treasury Solicitor, or Duchy of Lancaster or Cornwall. In response to these requests, we are releasing the following basic information relating to public health funerals.