Subsection 1: Funeral services

The service is free for people without sufficient resources. When the public service mission defined in article L. 2223-19 is not provided by the commune, the commune shall pay the funeral expenses of these persons. It chooses the organisation that will provide the funeral services. The mayor shall arrange for the body to be cremated if the deceased has expressed this wish.

Religious fabriques, consistories or establishments may not become contractors for an external service. In localities where families provide directly or through the care of secular charitable societies, by virtue of ancient customs, for the transport or burial of their dead, the same practices may be maintained with the authorisation of the town council and under the supervision of the mayor.

The fabriques and consistoires retain the exclusive right to supply objects intended for the funeral service in religious buildings and for the interior and exterior decoration of these buildings. The service allocated to the fabriques is free of charge for the indigent.

A decree in the Conseil d’Etat shall determine the conditions of application of this sub-section.