Will question; my cousin scribbled a note stipulating how he would like to be buried, that he was of sound?

Question

mind, and signed it., then killed himself.....is this legally binding?

thx for answers so far...his burial stipulation was that he buried with minimum cost, with no name on a grave, cremated if poss, in short that he did not care how, as long as no cost was incurred by relatives

Answer 1

It's not legally binding, as it doesn't amount to a codicil to a will (if he had one), not having been witnessed by anyone else. However, you might find it binding on your conscience unless you really think that he wasn't in his right mind when he wrote this and that it is going to be extremely upsetting for everyone else in the family if you carry out his wishes to the letter, on top of the distress of the suicide. The cost of his funeral would be taken out of his estate and if he was completely penniless or living on benefit, then the local authority would have a duty to sort out his cremation. Either way his wishes are respected, in that his relatives are not having to pay for his funeral.

Answer 2

Very sad that your cousin killed himself, therefore unless he wrote the note a long time before he was not of sound mind. Respect his wishes never the less.

Answer 3

No, suicide is not a sign of a sound mind. But, if there's no harm to anyone left behind, then there's nothing wrong with following those wishes anyway.

Answer 4

Nope.
The body becomes the posession of the closest relative upon death who decides what happens to it.
The 'will' was not executed and has no legal force.

I'm afraid he's going up in smoke like the rest of us.

Answer 5

Out of respect for you cousin his request should be honored.
Unless it is something that is too strange or costly.

Answer 6

I have similar plans written for when I cease to be. I just hope they are honoured.