Pauper's funeral

This article refers to funerals under the English Poor Laws. For modern usage see Public health funeral.

In the UK, a pauper's funeral was a funeral for a pauper paid for under the poor law.

The phrase is still sometimes used both in the UK and some Commonwealth countries to describe a public health funeral (or equivalent service outside the UK), a basic burial paid for by the local authority when the estate of the deceased person or the relatives of the deceased person do not have sufficient funds to cover the cost.

See also

• Potter's field

References