Funeral disputes

Patel v Patel [2025] EWHC 560 (Ch)

Tomos Rees

On 12 March 2025, HHJ Matthews (sitting as a judge of the High Court) handed down judgment in Patel v Patel [2025] EWHC 560 (Ch). The claim involved a dispute as to the funeral arrangements for Bhikhubhai Patel ("Mr Patel"), who died in December 2024 without leaving clear instructions as to his funeral wishes. His two surviving children disagreed as to Mr Patel's expressed wishes for his funeral as between cremation in England or burial in India.