Family deaths, and what rights I have according to the UK laws blah bl

[Hb_Kai]

I need some help with British Law & Family Rights

At the age of 18, do I have any right to have any kind of say in my father’s funeral?

My mum said I don’t because my dad and Lynda had been and lived together for about 2 years and 2 months now. She is saying that after 6 months you are classed as family and I wouldn’t have any right to change anything because I haven’t lived with my dad since August last year (just over a year)

Basically, me, my sister, and my mum all would like a say in what goes on because we think Lynda (Dad’s girlfriend(or…was)) will not allow it and do it all how she wants on my dad’s behalf.

We all know things about him that she might not know like where he’d like to be buried, how, stuff like that.

Since I’m 18 I was thinking is there any right saying that I am legally allowed to have a large portion of the say for my dad’s funeral..

Is this too confusing? Sorry if it is.

I know this is an IT forum, and this is the lounge sub-forum but I don't know where to start searching with google, I've tried help.com and nobody is replying... :S

I really need to find out soon, this may seem like you need the full story behind everything - if that's the case just let me know and I'll post it.

EDIT:- Oh, and Lynda is one of them people that do anything to make themselves feel better, selfish, caniving(not sure how to spell that), cunning, and a load of other words with asterisks and stuff.

She wanted me kicked out so she could have Dad to herself SO badly that she took stuff from their room and put them in my room and it'd give me the blame, cut the phone line on several land-lines, took other stuff and we never saw it again and all the same time she was saying "It must be your son"...

Get me?

Oh, I forgot - What if they're married too?

We are not too sure if they are or not just yet but if they are what then, and what if they're not?

[Boris]

You may find this useful :-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentciti...ath/DG_10029667

It may depend on whether he left a will. If there are no clear wishes it's generally up to the executor/administrator or nearest relative to decide whether the body is to be cremated or buried. (However, the executor doesn't have to follow any funeral instructions in the will.)

[Boris]

This will help you with understanding the financial side of things :-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentciti...Death/DG_066724

[Hb_Kai]

Thanks.

My nan - his mum or his eldest son or his wife/girlfriend. Which would be the closest relative?

His mum is a little mentally unstabled too...

EDIT:- There's a problem with the page.

[Boris]

Both links work perfectly for me :)

[Boris]

IFAIK here are the current rules defining which way the estate should be distributed if he did not leave a will :-

http://www.youngandpearce.co.uk/intestrules.htm

This sets out the various relationships as the law sees them according to his status/responsibilities.

His "closest relative" can only be accurately known when you find out if he has remarried or not.

Your best bet is to contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau - who will give you free help.

[Hb_Kai]

Thank you, I really appreciate that :D, the links helped a lot.

EDIT:- OK, thanks, I'll go see someone at the CAB for further help.

What's IFAIK?

[Boris]

It is the typo version of AFAIK :)

[Hb_Kai]

Oh, ofcourse! :D

What does that mean? I don't understand these abbreviations.

The only ones I know is "lol", "lmao", "roflmao", "brb" and "afk"...

[Boris]

http://www.userland.com/whatIsAfaik

[Hb_Kai]

Seems obvious enough. :D :D

[Hb_Kai]

Does anyone know a website where you can get free legal advice from? You get Connexions Advice online, and other stuff online...

I've found one place but you have to pay which beats the meaning of being free

[-pops-]

Best place to go is the Citizen's Advice Bureau in your local area.

[catgate]

You will find that most solicitors will advise you free of charge on the sort of questions you are asking. They look upon it as "good will" for future business. They will want to charge for actual work done in future, but initially they tend to be fairly easy going about it.

Managements brother was a solicitor before he gave it all up and took his money to Australia, hence my reply.

[Hb_Kai]

:D

Wanted to say, thanks for helping anyway. I've got to go see a solicitor tomorrow at 11am and he doesn't charge for the first 30 minutes.

Oh, and I found out I'm the closest relative. :D

Anyway, wish me luck. :D :D

[doug]

Hope it all goes well for you!

[Hb_Kai]

:D Thanks

[Hb_Kai]

Hey, I just wanted to say cheers to you all for helping me with all this information.

It's been coming along reasonably well for a while now and thought I'd come back to the thread and thank you all.

I know this isn't quite the right place to have come for this kind of thing but at the time I thought you guys are quite smart, and thought of here before anywhere else.

Anyway, the solicitor is doing his soliciting, my dad's girlfriend is probably now messing herself, there are court cases to come up pretty soon which I'm a bit down that it's come to these but as long as it's the right thing to do I'm doing it. :)

Also, I never said in this thread as the time wasn't just then but as my dad's girlfriend never told us where the ashes were being buried (and actually said "the children don't need to know"), my solicitor will be sorting this too. :)

Anyway, you were really helpful and I'm glad I came here actually. :) Thanks.