Last updated: 15 July 2026
Portsmouth City Council has a responsibility to arrange a funeral and protect the estate of any person who dies in Portsmouth and no one else is able to make suitable arrangements. This applies where the person has no known relatives, or relatives exist but cannot arrange the funeral.
From 1 April 2015, the council is also responsibility for people who die after being admitted to Queen Alexandra hospital and have no relatives able to make suitable arrangements.
What the Council will do
Before we can arrange a funeral, the death must be registered. The deceased’s home is searched for a will to find details of any interested parties and to locate funds to cover funeral costs. If details of friends and relatives are found, they will be contacted and informed of the funeral arrangements.
Financial support for funeral expenses
You may be able to get financial support towards funeral costs if you receive certain benefits. The council does not provide this support. Applications should be made to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Estates administered by the Council
If the deceased leaves an estate, the council may arrange for it to be administered.
Where the net value of an estates is more than £500, it is referred to the Government Legal Department (formerly the Treasury Solicitor’s Department) for administration.
We publish a list of estates below that have been referred to the Government Legal Department, or are currently being administered by the council. The list is updated every three months. It was last updated on 15 July 2026.
Any other details relating to a deceased person, such as their date of birth, last known address, or the value of the estate are not disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request on the basis that the information is exempt under Section 31(a) (Law Enforcement – the prevention of crime) and will not be released.
For more information, contact Environment and Public Protection at public.protection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Estates lists
