How do you pay for a funeral if the deceased had no life insurance?

[tornadointhesky]

A friends father passed away this week. I guess that he had no life insurance. The family says that they don't have any money to help with the costs of the funeral. So they feel that my friend should have to shoulder the funeral costs herself. How do you pay for a funeral if the deceased had no life insurance?

[Jub-Jub T]

buriel at sea

[Heffer]

Pay it out by the month till you get it paid off. how else?
That is what you do when you are an honest person.

[Duk Dong]

work out a plan with the funeral home, or get a loan

[Marcar08]

If your friends father had a social security, they will help a LITTLE, but it is better then nothing. The only other thing I can think of is a loan.

[Gertie]

have you friend talk with the funeral director for options available to them.

[foxforcefive]

She/He can call the public administrator in their area and there is such a thing as indigent burial assistance. There most likely won't be help with casket or burial, but they will help with a cremation. My father died a couple of weeks ago and I was the next of kin and he didn't have life insurance or a will. Luckily my Aunt paid for the viewing and the cremation. After all is said and done then she will be paid back out of his estate, but she had to come out of pocket for it. If your friend can't get assistance then the county that the man expired in will cremate him or bury him in the most of indecent ways and will be in an unmarked grave. If your friend can get a loan just to at least have him cremated..which is about $2000-$3000 depending on which crematory they can find. Maybe even cheaper than that...this is the price we had in California. I am so sorry for your friend...I know exactly how this feels. It is still very fresh with me and I am still mourning the loss of my dad. I hope this helps at least a little.

Add: By the way...most funeral homes WILL NOT work with you on a monthly basis..they want their money up front. So don't count on that. Cremation is the best bet to go with. You can buy an urn at a later date...and they aren't cheap either.

Add: Also, if he can be cremated then they can just have a memorial service at a local church or where ever they chose, even at the home of the family...Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Most churches won't charge anything. If one can't be found then they can do it at their home and just have friends of the decedant's and family come over and honor him with pictures and flowers and people speaking about him. It's all such a hard thing to deal with while dealing with his death also.