Funerals

Anyone who is 18 or over can prepare a written statement to establish who shall be entitled to arrange their funeral. Otherwise, the next of kin of the deceased will be responsible for the funeral. If the parties cannot reach an agreement on who should arrange the funeral, the municipality will make the decision. If no one arranges the funeral, it will be provided by the municipality where the deceased person resided.

Burial must take place with respect for the deceased’s religion or philosophy of life. The body may be cremated, unless it is known that it was not the wish of the deceased. If the deceased has not been cremated, they must be buried within ten working days of their death.

The joint parish council may extend the deadline if there is strong reason to do so.

A funeral services provider will offer an unsolicited price list to customers that enquire with the provider regarding funeral services. When booking, the customer will receive an unsolicited quote in writing and will have a reasonable amount of time to acquaint themselves with the quote before entering into an agreement.

National Insurance can provide a means-tested funeral grant based on the most recent available tax assessment/return. In most cases, the sum of the deceased’s financial assets and the amount of insurance to be paid as a result of their death will be deducted from the grant amount.

Begjæring om gravlegging og/eller kremasjon
Informasjonsskriv om klede og gjenstandar ved gravlegging og kremasjon (rundskriv)
Gravferd - Den norske kirke
Bestemmelser om gravplasser, kremasjon og gravferd
Gravferd - Human-Etisk forbund

The joint parish council manages the municipality’s cemeteries, but it is the municipality that allocates funds for their operation.

See Sections 9, 10 and 13 and Chapter 2 of the Act relating to cemeteries, cremations and burials. See also Chapter 7 of the National Insurance Act and Section 15 of the Regulation on Price Reporting.

Folketrygdloven
Gravplassloven
Prisopplysningsforskriften

You have every opportunity to make all funeral arrangements yourself, but most people more or less choose to use a funeral services provider. Whoever is in charge of the funeral arrangements decides which funeral services provider to use.

A funeral services provider can assist with the following, among other things:

• Scheduling the transfer of remains, burial, cremation etc. 
• Contacting a priest/imam/speaker, musicians, vocalists, cemetery etc.
• Providing a coffin and equipment, grooming the deceased
• Arranging for transport of the coffin
• Managing paperwork for the probate court, police, NAV etc.
• Announcing the death
• Printing song and hymn lyrics and thank you cards
• Arranging flowers, decorations and wreaths
• Facilitating and participating in the memorial service
• Providing notification to and settlement with NAV
• Arranging for a post-funeral reception
• Arranging the cremation ceremony
• Arranging for the inscription on the tombstone, wooden cross/symbol and a grave lantern 
   

Some funeral service providers also offer services such as cleaning the home, including clearing and removal.

You cannot appeal the municipality’s decision if there is a disagreement about who should arrange the funeral. The joint parish council’s decision to extend or shorten the deadline for cremation or burial cannot be appealed either.

Whoever is responsible for the funeral arrangements may submit a complaint about a funeral services provider to the Appeals Board for Burial Services, Postboks 2900 Solli, 0230 Oslo. The Appeals Board is composed of an independent lawyer (chairman of the Board) and one representative from the Consumer Ombudsman and one from the funeral industry.