Can a person legally prevent someone else attending a funeral?

[drystan]

If the spouse of the deceased wants to ensure that a person (whom the deceased disliked intensely, or maybe a former lover) does not attend a funeral is it possible to do so? I've seen death notices in newspapers stating "Immediate family only" but that would exclude all other friends, neighbours, fellow church members etc. from attending?

Is it easier to do this if there is no church service and just a cremation or a burial? Can a list be given stating who can attend (or maybe who must be turned away)?

No - I'm not planning a funeral right now but something I overheard recently got me thinking and I just wondered how it works when someone is in this position. It probably happens more often than we realise. It must be traumatic for a widow or widower to see someone (who has caused havoc in their life) attending the funeral of their spouse.

I've already asked this in Law and Ethics but thought that some S.C.s might have been in this position and know the answer.

[max]

Not without a restraining order

[eorl]

Yes because a funeral is like any other party except the guest of honor doesn't have any say. It is a private affair and the one who writes the check can say who can attend and who can't unless it is held in a public facility where none can be excluded.

There is one thing that can never happen. In the history of the world, no two people ever attended each others funeral.

[jorian23]

Yes...all you need to do is hire police officers to stand guard at the door...that's what we had to do.

[juanito]

my mother stopped her step-mother from attending my grandfathers funeral,but she had to go to the police for advice

[ring]

Unless the church,or whatever as been hired for a private service,then I would think not. If there was cause for someones safety,or disruption,then perhaps some authority cold advise the person tp keep away.
Cemeteries and places of worship are public places

[condan]

It's an ethical issue, expected of those with more refinement..