Cremation or burial

Check the will to see if there are any instructions for the funeral left by the deceased. It is generally up to the executor or nearest relative to decide whether the body is to be cremated or buried. The executor does not have to follow the instructions about the funeral left in the will.

The funeral director will help you to decide where the body should stay until the funeral, and the starting point, time and place of the funeral. If there is to be a service or ceremony, contact the appropriate person for the religion or belief concerned. If you are not sure what to do or who to contact, the funeral director should be able to help you. You can choose the place for the funeral service and you may be able to choose the person to conduct the service. If you wish, you do not have to hold a religious service. You can design your own non-religious service.

You also need to decide whether you want flowers for the funeral, or perhaps donations for a named charity. If you want flowers and a cremation is planned, you can decide what should be done with the flowers. The local hospital or old people’s home may be pleased to accept cut flowers.

Cremation

No one can be cremated until the cause of death is definitely known. Five forms, from the funeral director or crematorium, have to be completed. They are an Application Form (form 1) signed by the next of kin or executor and two Cremation Certificates (forms 4 and 5) each signed by a different doctor. You have to pay for these. If the death is referred to the coroner, these 2 certificates are not needed.

Instead, the coroner will give you the Certificate for Cremation (form 6) and a Certificate (form 10) signed by the medical referee at the crematorium. The medical referee has the power to refuse cremation and either require a post-mortem examination to be made or refer the matter to the coroner and a Certificate for Burial or Cremation issued by the registrar.

This form is not required if the coroner has issued a Certificate for Cremation.

Cremated remains

Ashes can be scattered in a garden of remembrance or in a favourite spot, buried in a churchyard or cemetery, or kept. It is important to make quite clear what you want to be done with the remains. If no wishes have been expressed, it is the responsibility of the funeral director or crematorium staff to contact the relative before disposal.

In the case of babies and very young children there may be no ashes following a cremation. Arrangements can be made for the placing of a memorial plaque at some crematoria.

Burial

Find out if the person who died had already arranged a grave space in a churchyard or cemetery, by checking the will and looking through their papers.

Churchyards

Most town churchyards and many suburban churchyards are no longer open for burial because there is no space. If you want the burial to be in a churchyard, you can find out from the priest or minister about the space and the right to burial there.

Cemeteries

There will be a deed of grant if a grave space has been paid for in a cemetery. Most cemeteries are non-denominational so you can have most types of service or ceremony. Non-denominational cemeteries are owned by local authorities or private companies, and fees vary.

Religious burial

If you need to arrange burial or a funeral service according to the requirements of a particular religion you can seek advice from a minister of that religion or the religious organisation to which the deceased belonged.

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