There are a few things that are useful to know before you start planning the funeral, such as what is included and the choices you will usually need to make.
When must the funeral take place?
It can be difficult to find a time for the funeral that suits everyone who wants to attend. You can do a lot yourself and do not have to use a funeral director. But if you start planning in good time, you will have a better chance of saying goodbye in the way you wish.
In some places, it can sometimes be difficult to find an available venue for the ceremony and the memorial gathering.
- Cremation or burial in a coffin must take place within 30 days of the death. If there are special reasons, you can apply to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) for an extension.
- If the deceased is cremated, the ashes must be interred within one year of the cremation.
- The funeral ceremony is often held within one to two weeks of the death.
Things to consider before the funeral
- Find out whether the deceased had any wishes regarding the funeral.
- Decide where the funeral will be held.
- Decide who will be invited to the funeral ceremony.
- Decide whether you would like to have a memorial gathering afterwards.
- Decide whether the deceased will be cremated or buried in a coffin.
- Consider whether the ashes should be scattered.
If the deceased had wishes
Check whether the deceased left information about insurance, bank accounts, assets and any will, and whether an executor or administrator is named.
Arrange the funeral yourself or use a funeral director
How to choose a funeral director
It may be a good idea to contact several funeral directors and compare prices. You can do this by visiting a few funeral homes or calling them to speak to an adviser.
There are also funeral directors that operate online.
What can a funeral director help with?
Consider how much the funeral can cost and what form you would like it to take. A funeral director can help you with matters such as booking a funeral, arranging a memorial service, buying flowers, completing an estate inventory and winding up the estate, as well as answering legal questions.
You do not have to use all of the services they offer. Find out if the deceased had funeral insurance.
Arrange the funeral without a funeral director
If you are close to the deceased and are arranging the funeral yourself, you will need a certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency showing that the deceased may be cremated and/or buried. Contact the Swedish Tax Agency for further assistance.
Contact details for the Swedish Tax Agency (skatteverket.se) External link.
If the deceased was not a member of the Church of Sweden
If you would like a Church of Sweden funeral and the deceased was not a member, contact the local parish to find out whether this is possible. There will be an additional cost because the deceased did not pay a membership fee to the Church of Sweden.
If the ashes are to be scattered
The ashes do not have to be interred. They may be placed in a memorial garden at a cemetery or in an ash burial plot, which is an individual burial plot that does not require maintenance.
If you want to scatter the ashes somewhere other than a memorial garden or an ash burial plot at a cemetery, contact the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the deceased lived.
Contact details for the County Administrative Board (lansstyrelsen.se, in Swedish) External link.
How much does a funeral cost and who pays?
What the funeral charge already covers
The estate does not have to pay for the burial plot, cremation, the venue for the ceremony, certain transport costs or a room for viewing the deceased. These costs are covered by the funeral charge paid through taxes.
The estate pays for the funeral
The person who arranges the funeral is responsible for ensuring that the funeral director is paid. It is important that the estate's funds are used first and foremost to cover the funeral costs.
Financial support if the estate does not have enough money
The funds in the estate must first be used to cover the funeral costs. These costs take priority over other expenses, such as rent and household electricity.
If the estate does not have enough funds to cover the funeral, it may apply for financial support from the social services office in the municipality where the deceased lived.
You need to apply before arranging the funeral, although the support will be paid later.
If the employer has insurance
If the deceased was under 70 and still employed, the employer may have an insurance policy that provides financial assistance for the funeral. Ask the employer about TGL occupational group life insurance (Tjänstegrupplivförsäkring).
Checklist – after a death
Use the checklist to get an overview of what needs to be done after a death. Take one thing at a time, in the order that suits you, and adapt the list to your situation.
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