Public Health Funeral: Dignified Farewell Without Next of Kin

Sometimes a life ends without family, without means, or without anyone to arrange a funeral. In this situation, the municipality takes the lead and ensures a public health funeral – the law guarantees the right to a dignified funeral for everyone.

What is a public health funeral?

A public health funeral is a farewell that is arranged by a municipality or city when no one else orders a funeral.

It is in the following cases:

• the deceased has no family or heirs,
• the family forgoes the funeral,
• or does not have the means to pay for it.

According to Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on funerals, in such a situation the municipality is obliged to ensure that the deceased is buried with dignity – cremation without a ceremony is the most common option.

How the public health funeral is organized

1. The deceased is taken over by the funeral service, which is authorized by the municipality.
2. The funeral service takes care of all the formalities – transport, examination, documents, cremation.
3. The cremation takes place quietly, without the presence of the family.
4. The ashes are placed in a common grave or columbarium, or are scattered according to the decision of the municipality.

Every step is carried out in accordance with the law, but above all with dignity and respect.
A public health funeral is held with all due respect, even if it is not public.

By whom is the public health funeral funded?

The costs are covered by the municipality in where the death occurred.
If the deceased had property, the municipality can subsequently claim the costs in inheritance proceedings.
If not, it covers them from its budget.

If the municipality takes over the funeral, the family does not need to pay any fees.

What to do when the family does not have the means for a funeral

This is a situation that anyone can face, and it’s important to know that there are ways to help.

1. I want to arrange a funeral, but I don’t have enough money.

In this case, you can ask the state for funeral benefits – a one-time contribution of CZK 5,000, which is provided by the Labour Office of the Czech Republic to the person who ordered the funeral.

The pplication is available online: Žádost o pohřebné – Úřad práce ČR

The benefit can also be paid retroactively, upon presentation of an invoice from the funeral service. If you contact the funeral service, they will help you fill out the application and provide the necessary documents.

2. I cannot arrange a funeral even with the help of a funeral allowance.

In this case, you should contact the social affairs department at the city or municipality office where the death occurred. The official will assess the situation and the municipality can arrange a social funeral.

There is no standard form for this – a personal or written request explaining the situation is sufficient. The official will guide you through the next steps and pass the information on to the funeral service that will perform the funeral.

How to maintain dignity even in silence

Even if a social funeral takes place without a ceremony, you can still show your respect with a small gesture:

• light a candle on the day of the cremation,
• ask the municipality for information on where the urn will be placed,
• bring a flower to the common grave.

PEGAS Funeral Home understands that dignity is not a matter of budget, but of attitude.
Every funeral deserves attention, even if it takes place without the presence of the public.

How PEGAS handles the public health funerals?

At PEGAS Funeral Home, we have been providing public health funerals for Prague and the surrounding area for many years. We accept each deceased with the same respect – whether it is a ceremony with the family or a quiet farewell ordered by the municipality.

Whether the funeral is modest or grand, it should always be dignified. Everyone should have their own place and their own peace.

If you need more information, please contact us anytime at: +420 800 176 423.