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.
In Sweden, cremation or burial must take place as soon as possible and no later than one month after the death. After cremation, the ashes must be interred within one year.
Planning the funeral
- Find out whether the deceased had any wishes regarding the funeral. These may have been written down or expressed informally. Check whether the deceased recorded any wishes in Vita arkivet, Livsarkivet, Begravningsarkivet or Lavendla-arkivet..
- Where should the funeral be held?
- Should the coffin or urn be interred?
- Should the ashes be scattered?
- Should the funeral ceremony be for immediate family only, or should friends and acquaintances also be invited?
- Would you like to have a memorial gathering afterwards?
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.
Plan the funeral well in advance
It can be difficult to find a funeral date that suits everyone who wants to attend. You can make many of the arrangements yourself and do not have to use a funeral director. However, if you start planning well in advance, there is a greater opportunity to say goodbye in the way you want.
In some locations, it may be difficult to find an available venue for the ceremony and memorial gathering.
Choosing 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.
Services provided by funeral directors
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.
What is covered by the funeral charge
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 from the municipality
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 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.
Insurance provided by the employer
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).
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.
Arranging the funeral yourself
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.
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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