Genealogy Chat

Hi wondering if anyone can help answer my questions? 1) If a person dies and has no next of kin and say that person never organized their own funeral prior to dying where would their body go? 2) Would the death be announced anywhere? 3) Would they have a ceremony or just be buried/cremated? These probably seem silly questions! Kind Regards, Anne-Marie.

This depends on the dates you are refering to. In the last fifty years or so local councils are responsible for deaths in their area and have a duty to make exhaustive searches for relatives or friends of the deceased. If none can be found after a certain period of time the council must arrange burial ,or more usually, cremation in their borough. Sylvia.

Hi Sylvia, he died only twenty years ago in 1987 in Hackney. He did have loads of family in Liverpool but lost touch with them some 40 years ago. However, I did contact the Hospice were he died and they said he had no next of kin and do not know where the body went? Anne-Marie.

Hi Ann-Marie, The local council would have made all the funeral arrangements. If you google Hackney Council you will find their web site and then find social services, burial, bereavement or something similar. You would probably need exact date and place of death. I am sure they would help you but it is almost certain that he was cremated in the local cemetary in the borough. Sylvia.

Hi Sylvia, just recieved your reply sorry I didnt reply sooner been in work. I will contact the Council Thank you Anne-Marie.