DISCLAIMER:
This duty is currently under review and has not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.
Simple terms explainer:
If someone dies or is found dead in a council’s area, or is receiving help from the council, and no one else is arranging the funeral, the council must step in. They will arrange for the person to be buried or cremated, making sure this respects the person’s known wishes and religious beliefs. The council can recover the costs from the person’s estate.
Legal status
Statutory
Duty category
Environmental services
Community services
Duty type
Public facing
Social determinant of health
Health and social care
Emerging policy and legislation
0
Bodies with shared interest
NHS Scotland
Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health In Scotland (SOCOEHS)
Standards and frameworks
0