can my friend be stoped going to his fathers funeral

[BigRooster]

My friend asked me if his stepmother could stop him going to his fathers funeral.
After my friend father remarried he tells me he has not got a talking relationship between both of them
He tells me for years he hoped he could get a relationship going again but now his father has passed away.
His stepmother has asked him not to go to the funeral but he wants to go to say good by to his father.
So can she stop him .. Personally I can't see how but don't no anything like this happening to anyone I no.

[woofgang]

Well funerals are not legally public affairs so if he isn't invited then he shouldn't be going. If he does go, he could be asked to leave......

[RATTER15]

I would say it would be almost impossible to stop you without a court order or the involvement of the police.

[cecil39]

I have been to a great number of funerals and can't ever remember having an 'invitation', if your friend feels the need to say a proper good bye to his Father I don't see that anyone can stop him, but don't think he should try going to the wake afterwards if there is one, unless his step mum relents and asks him, but I can see that she would not want him there, its a shame to have lost touch with his Father, but of that works both ways.

[baza]

a church is a public place so i cant see it being a problem,

[lcg]

no....she can't. but she might attempt to make a scene and he will have to decide if he is strong enough to deal with that with dignity. if it were up to me, i'd go....i don't particularly care what anyone else thinks of me. if it were my dad, i would definitely go x

[mazie]

If it was My Dad I would go. You can't be banned from a church service

[Anngel]

You don't say if it is a church funeral? I would have thought a crematorium or a church would count as public places. That said, it would probably be quite traumatic if the step mother was really against it. It is only my belief but, unlike some, I believe that the spirits of the dead are all around us. They aren't in a grave or an urn of ashes. Every time your friend thinks of his father he is keeping the spirit bond with him. Maybe a bit hippy and far out but I find it very comforting.

[starone]

He might not be able to sit in the front with the step-family but I see no reason why he can't go to the service or whatever they are having. The wake afterwards is a different proposition - that will be a no. Although many people turned up to my husband's wake who had not been very good friends before he died and I said nothing. If they feel remorse that would be up to them.

[FredPuli43]

Can't see how you can be stopped. Not sure why anyone says that a church funeral is not a public event.Never heard of the public being barred from one,nor of anyone being issued with an invitation to one, bar one of a great public figure like the Duke of Wellington.No doubt it is possible to have some part private, such as any related communion,but not
the whole event surely?

Anyway, barring one person, the son of the deceased, alone is hardly a Christian thing to do, is it?

Even Church weddings are, strictly speaking, public events, but that's perhaps because of the need to have them witnessed by the congregation at large and to meet the requirement that any person knowing of any 'lawful impediment' be present to raise it. In practice they are arranged so family and close friends have priority over the church seating and are invited, but they are public

[woofgang]

sorry, I was assuming a crematorium chapel funeral....no idea why.

[joko]

you are immediate family - blood - so you have every right to go to his funeral - she cannot stop you - just because she married him does not mean she 'owns' him or his family.

she is just being cruel - she must understand this is the final goodbye for you all - not her own personal mourning day.

go to your dads funeral .. but do not enter into any attempts to cause a scene... keep away from her, pay your respects then leave - the wake is separate from the service and if its in her house she can stop you going to that of course.

[BigRooster]

Thanks all will let him no all your thoughts.. And he's not going to the wake after.nearly all the people there will be his wifes family so will not feel wanted
. But once again thanks all.

[daffy654]

My dad's second wife banned all 7 of us children (ranging from 6 years old to 16 years old) from his first marriage from going to his funeral. We didn't go as there would have been a horrible and undignified scene (according to my mother).

[tonywiltshire]

If your friend just wishes to pay his last respects to his Father and not cause any difficulty there would be nothing in law to prevent him attending. Though many people who were asked not to attend would accept this advice, but it is very much a personal decision.

[joko]

nothing and no-one would prevent me going.

how about the friend politely ask the wife not to attend?

point is, they both have as much rights as each other to attend, so the wifes wishes are irrelevant.