Public health funerals

We can arrange to bury or cremate a deceased person if no other arrangements can be made.

As part of our public health responsibilities, we have a duty to bury or cremate people who have died if no other arrangements can be made.

This only applies where the death took place within Woking but not within a hospital. If the death occurs in a hospital, an application must be made to the hospital.

For more information about our duty, go to Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 – Legislation.gov.uk.

Find out how to register a death – Surrey County Council.

Contact us about a public health funeral

You can check if you're eligible for us to arrange and pay for a basic funeral, if:

  • a person dies without leaving a will and with no next of kin
  • there are no relatives or friends who are able or willing to take responsibility for the funeral arrangements

It is important to contact us as soon as possible if a burial or cremation is required. 

A public health funeral does not include flowers or a following car.

Contact us to make an initial enquiry about a public health funeral.

Email: environmental.health@woking.gov.uk 
Telephone: 01483 755 855

Money and assets left by the deceased

Any possessions, papers or money must not be removed before our officers have been informed and carried out an inventory of the estate.

Any money belonging to the deceased will be used towards funeral expenses. This includes:

  • savings in a bank or building society account
  • money from insurance policies
  • money from pensions (including occupational pensions)

Administration fee

If we have to arrange a public funeral and there are sufficient funds left in the deceased's estate after payment of the funeral costs, an administration charge of £350 will be made to cover our time spent in handling the funeral arrangements.

Relatives on a low income

If there are relatives who are on a low income and in receipt of certain benefits, they can apply for a funeral expenses payment – GOV.UK.

No next of kin

Where there is no next of kin and in excess of £500 left in the estate after the funeral costs have been paid, the matter will be referred to the Government Legal Department – GOV.UK.

Public health funerals register

We hold a register of all funerals that we have organised.

To view the register, contact our Environment Health team.

Email: environmental.health@woking.gov.uk