ChatterBank1 min ago
Insurance For Someone Else.
Hi I was wanting to find out if I could take out insurance for my ex husband, just one of those that is enough to pay for funeral. He refuses to do this himself, just shrugs his shoulders when asked about it. I am worried my 2 children will be left to try to pay the costs when they cannot afford it !
Answers
If you are referring to the funeral insurance cover that the likes of Michael Parkinson advertises on TV they have come in for a lot of criticism lately by the press as being bad value for money. Once you start paying the premiums have to paid until the covered person dies. If the death occurs just after the qualifying period you will gain. Should the person live to a ripe old age you might win but unless you paid a huge premium you still wouldn't get enough to cover the cost. Then, should you have to stop paying the premium for any reason you would lose the lot. There are no refunds.
I researched this very subject for my sister who has been divorced from her ex-husband for many years. She too has two children, none of whom could pay for their ex-husband/fathers funeral and he ex has made no arrangements. The local authority will fund a state funded funeral but they are legally bound to recoup the cost from the deceased person's estate if possible, so if he has any cash or property or retains a share of the family home the money will have to come from that. If any family member or friend wishes to have any part in the funeral arrangements they immediately become responsible for paying for it. If the state pays they arrange the date, time and place. Family and friends can probably attend but they have no say in it. It would be a basic cremation with just the hearse and no wake or gathering afterwards unless arranged separately by family/friends at their own expense.