It varies from place to place, but usually, when someone dies, there's a lot of paperwork involved and they will look if you have funerary plans, if you left a will, etc.
I just finished doing this. I spoke with an attorney first (to draft a will) and she asked me if I planned on making pre-paid burial plans. She said it would be a good idea to do that first, so that details could be included in my will. So, I did. In my case, I really have no one to contact when I die, maybe some distant cousins that I don't speak with. They're not part of my will, but I'll mention them in the note I'll be leaving with details regarding my will and that I have a pre-paid cremation plan already paid for and set-up. I, also, had my will filed with the county court where I live. Also, in my case, I plan on sending a letter to my local police department telling them what I did, where I live, what precautions they need to take, that kind of thing, so that they can find me. I'm considering sending a letter, also, to the attorney who drafted my will, telling her that if sh received this letter then it is safe to assume I have died and she can handle my estate, along with the court-appointed executor. This way multiple people will know that I have a pre-paid cremation plan, too. So, it should all work out one way or another. I guess I can't care too much after I'm gone, anyway.
This is a very helpful reaponse, thank you.
They did. I told them straight up that I don't have anyone, except a few distant cousins with whom I haven't spoken to in years who live in different states. I don't even have phone numbers for them. They told me that someone needs to be notified of my death and to identify my body. I say just let them fingerprint me or take dental impressions. I gave them the name of a high school friend from nearly 40 years ago, with whom I have very little association anymore since he's married, has kids and grandkids, works a lot. I'm sure he'll be surprised when he is contacted. Not surprised that I ctb, but that I picked him to ID me. There was literally no one else I could choose, and they were insistent. I wonder what they would do if someone truly had absolutely no one? They'd take your money anyway. That's what they'd do. My cremation was just over $1000 and that's the absolute basics. No service, no embalming, no visitation, none of that. Just place me in the cardboard box and burn me up.
