Practical and immediate
How do I handle a funeral when the family disagrees?
Short answer
Legal authority goes to next of kin in order of priority. If there is a legal dispute, a court can decide. In practice, try to separate immediate decisions (disposition) from memorial decisions (service) — those can wait longer.
What this usually means
Legal authority goes to next of kin in order of priority. If there is a legal dispute, a court can decide. In practice, try to separate immediate decisions (disposition) from memorial decisions (service) — those can wait longer.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.