The obligation to provide for a burial arises under Section 8 of the Lower Saxony Law on Corpses, Burials, and Cemeteries (BestattG).

The following persons are responsible for arranging the burial of the deceased, in the following order of priority:

1. the spouse or registered partner,
2. the children,
3. the grandchildren,
4. the parents,
5. the grandparents,
6. and the siblings

If it was contractually stipulated during the deceased’s lifetime who is responsible for arranging the funeral, that person must arrange the funeral regardless of the public law obligation to provide for burial under Section 8(3) of the Funeral Act (BestattG).

If the persons obligated to bear the funeral costs cannot reasonably be expected to cover the necessary expenses, they may submit an application for the funeral costs to be covered.

No deadlines need to be observed. However, it is advisable to clarify the question of the assumption of costs with the competent authority in good time. The later an application is submitted after the obligation to bear the costs has arisen, the more likely it is that there will be doubts as to whether the costs can reasonably be borne.