What to do if…
you are being pressured to authorize a cremation or burial by a fixed date

What to do now

1. Send a written pause request immediately.
   Send this by email or text to the funeral director, crematorium, cemetery, council officer, or whoever gave you the deadline:

   “Please do not proceed with any cremation or burial on [date/time]. I am requesting a temporary pause while we confirm who has authority or priority to instruct and what paperwork has already been signed. Please confirm this pause in writing.”

2. Ask for the current position in writing.
   Ask them to confirm:

   • what is scheduled, including date, time, place, and whether it is cremation or burial
   • who they are treating as the applicant or instructing person
   • what document, form, will, funeral plan, council decision, or other authority they are relying on
   • what documents they already hold, who signed them, and when
   • whether any family objection or uncertainty has been recorded

3. Find the person or document they may need before the date arrives.
   Look quickly for:

   • a will, codicil, or solicitor details
   • a funeral plan, written funeral wishes, or pre-paid funeral paperwork
   • the person named by the provider as applicant, nominated person, nearest relative, personal representative, council contact, or other instructing person
   • any hospital, registrar, death investigation, or council paperwork that mentions release for funeral, burial, or cremation

4. If cremation is proposed, ask the cremation-specific questions.
   Ask:

   • “Who is named as the cremation applicant?”
   • “Which cremation form or authority are you relying on?”
   • “Has the cremation authority accepted or authorised the application yet?”
   • “Has any objection, uncertainty, or family dispute been recorded on the paperwork?”
   • “Is there any death investigation paperwork or release still pending?”

5. If a death investigation authority may be involved, check release status.
   Ask the provider: “Has the body been released for funeral, burial, or cremation?”
   If you have contact details for the relevant office, ask only for the status of release and whether any funeral-related paperwork has been issued. In England and Wales or Northern Ireland this may involve a coroner; in Scotland it may involve the Procurator Fiscal.

6. If you are the person the provider should be dealing with, send one clear instruction.
   Use plain wording:

   “I am the person who should be giving instructions, or I am authorised by that person. I do not authorise cremation or burial to proceed on [date] while authority and instructions are being confirmed. Please confirm the hold in writing.”

   If you are not sure:

   “Authority is not confirmed and there is a potential dispute. Please do not proceed until the proper instructing person is confirmed in writing.”

7. If there is a family dispute, name the problem without arguing the whole history.
   Write:

   “There is a dispute or unresolved objection about the funeral instructions. Please do not proceed until the person with authority or priority to instruct has been identified and has provided written instructions.”

   Then ask the provider what evidence they need, such as written authority from the instructing person, a copy of relevant paperwork, or confirmation from the relevant office.

8. If a council or local authority funeral is mentioned, contact the named council team immediately.
   Ask for the case reference, the planned date, and the reason they believe no suitable private arrangements are being made.
   If it is true, write:

   “I am [relationship/name] and I am willing and able to help make suitable funeral arrangements. Please pause any council or public health funeral while the proper instructing person and arrangements are confirmed.”