Request and Response:
Information request asking for information on public health funerals.
I will provide information in the order requested.
Has the authority at any time used a genealogist, probate researcher or tracing agent to locate the next of kin of a deceased person for whom the authority is to undertake, or has undertaken, a public health funeral?
Yes.
If the answer is yes:
1. Which researcher:
Estate Research
2. For what specific reason does the authority provide information to the researcher to locate the next of kin of deceased persons who die in the district? Which statutory function is the authority fulfilling when it engages researchers to seek to identify next of kin?
To help locate a next of kin, ensuring family members have the opportunity to attend or make the funeral arrangements and to close down the deceased’s estate.
In the event a next of kin cannot be traced or a next of kin are unable to make the funeral arrangements the implications of Section 46 of the Public Health Act 1984 would apply.
3. In particular, what is the benefit to the authority of entering into this arrangement?
To help locate a next of kin, ensuring family members have the opportunity to attend or make the funeral arrangements and to close down the deceased’s estate.
4. Why does the authority not rely on referring all deaths of people who die intestate with no identified next of kin and assets of over £500 to the Government Legal Department Bona Vacantia Division for general advertising of the unclaimed estate, in order that relatives may be located?
To help locate a next of kin, ensuring family members have the opportunity to attend or make the funeral arrangements and to close down the deceased’s estate.
5. Does the council have a Death in the Community Procedure or similar written procedure relating to the process that is followed when an individual who dies in the district is referred to the council? If so, please provide a copy.
No.
6. What due diligence process was used and against which criteria were these companies selected in preference to any other research company?
No company has been selected in preference to any other company.
7. Is the authority aware that the research company is likely to derive a commercial benefit from the location of the next of kin and has the authority considered the financial implications for the next of kin.
Yes.
8. Any arrangement between the authority and the research company will form a contract, even if not formalised. Please provide a copy of the contract or record of such arrangement with any research company used to trace next of kin.
There is no contract.
9. Please provide copies of the emails sent when referring details of the deceased TO THE RESEARCHER. These may be redacted to protect the names of living individuals
Please see attached.
10. Please provide the names and dates of death of any and all deceased persons whose details have been provided to the researcher from the first historic referral to the most recent, alongside any records associated with this.
Margaret Phillips date of death 16.10.2015