Claiming funeral expenses after a death
You are arranging a funeral after a fatal crash and want to know what can be recovered.
Funeral expenses are recoverable as part of a dependency claim after a fatal road accident.[1] They need to be reasonable, and shown with receipts. This sits alongside loss of support within the same claim, not as a separate one.
Whoever paid for the funeral, whether a family member or the estate, can generally have this cost reflected.
What generally counts as a reasonable funeral expense
Burial or cremation costs, religious rites, a coffin or urn, and reasonable transport for the funeral are commonly included. A modest reception for mourners connected to the funeral is also generally accepted.
What tends to fall outside “reasonable”
Spending clearly beyond the family’s circumstances or customs can be questioned.
The evidence that supports this claim
Receipts and invoices from the funeral service provider are the core evidence. Keep receipts for religious institution fees and any related transport or venue costs too. Store them with the death certificate and police report.
Who this claim is generally brought by
The family member who paid, or the estate if it paid directly, can generally have the expense reflected within the dependency claim. Who can claim after a death sets out the eligible family members.
What to do next
Keep every receipt connected to the funeral, even small ones. How a dependency claim works covers where this fits within making a claim after a fatal accident. This is separate from what an estate claim can recover for costs incurred before death.
An independent lawyer can take on the family’s claim and include the funeral costs. For first contact, send only the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
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Common questions
Is there a limit on how much funeral cost can be claimed?
No fixed limit applies, but the cost needs to be reasonable given the family's circumstances and customs. Keeping receipts for every cost lets whoever assesses the claim judge reasonableness fairly, rather than guessing.
What if a relative paid for the funeral, not the immediate family?
The person who actually paid can generally have that cost reflected within the dependency claim, provided the expense itself is reasonable and supported by receipts, regardless of their exact relationship to the deceased.
Does a religious ceremony count as part of this expense?
Yes, reasonable costs connected to religious rites and customs are generally included as part of a proper funeral, alongside the burial or cremation itself.
Is the funeral expense claimed separately from the bereavement sum?
Yes, they are different items within the same dependency claim. The bereavement award is a fixed statutory sum, while funeral expenses are a proven, itemised cost.
Sources
- Civil Law Act 1956, s.7 (Attorney General's Chambers) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.