Who is responsible for paying the costs associated with disposition of remains unless otherwise directed?

In Nebraska, the responsibility for the payment of costs associated with the disposition of remains generally falls on the surviving spouse or children. This obligation is premised on the idea that close family members, particularly those in the immediate family, usually have both the emotional and financial responsibilities to manage the funeral arrangements and costs.

This means that unless the deceased has explicitly arranged for their funeral expenses through a pre-need funeral contract or designated another payor, the family members are expected to cover the associated costs. Such provisions align with social practices surrounding death and burial where family members typically step in to handle final arrangements.

Other options like the estate of the deceased may ultimately be responsible if the family members do not pay, but the immediate liability rests with surviving relatives before settling any estate matters. Funeral homes usually facilitate the payment process but are not responsible for covering costs themselves. Lastly, the government typically only intervenes in the case of unclaimed bodies or specific situations, but it does not take on the regular cost of dispositional arrangements.