Advice & Guidance

When a friend or loved one dies it can be a time of great personal distress and yet there are matters that must be dealt with, such as obtaining a Medical Certificate, registering the death and arranging a funeral. We hope the information will enable you to make informed decisions.

Hospital deaths

If the death occurs in hospital it is usual for hospital staff to contact the person named by the deceased as next of kin. This may be a relative or a friend.
If you have been named as next of kin, hospital staff will arrange a convenient time for you to attend the hospital where you will be asked to formally identify the body. The hospital will have its own mortuary where the body will be kept until the executor or someone acting on their behalf arranges for it to be taken away. You may, if you wish, request to see the hospital chaplain.
Hospital staff will arrange for the deceased’s possessions to be collected by the nearest relative. The hospital will:

Issue a Medical Certificate if the cause of death is quite clear

Or, in a minority of cases, report the death to the coroner and make arrangements for a post mortem if required.

If the death occurs elsewhere

Many people who die at home have been ill for some time and therefore their death has been expected. In such a case, contact the doctor who has attended the deceased during their final illness. The doctor may be able to certify the cause of death and provide the following:

A Medical Certificate showing the cause of death (this is free and will be in a sealed envelope addressed to the registrar).
A Formal Notice that states that the doctor has signed the Medical Certificate and tells you how to get the death registered.

Unexpected Death

If someone dies unexpectedly, you should contact the following:

The family doctor (if known)
The deceased’s nearest relative
The deceased’s minister of religion (if appropriate)
The police (who will help find the people above if necessary)

If for any reason you suspect the death was not due to natural causes, do not touch or move anything in the room and contact the police immediately. The death may be referred to the coroner.

Cause of Death

If the cause of death is quite clear the doctor will give you a Medical Certificate and a Formal Notice that the Medical Certificate has been signed. This is usually the case when someone has been ill for some time and therefore their death had been expected. The doctor who attended the deceased during their final illness will certify the cause of death and provide the Medical Certificate and Formal Notice.

Post-mortems

If the death was known to be caused by a natural illness but the doctors wish to know more about the cause of death, they may ask the relatives for permission to carry out a post-mortem examination. This is a medical examination of the body, which can find out more about the cause of death and should not delay the funeral.

Reporting a Death to the Coroner

In any of the following circumstances the doctor may report the death to the coroner:

An accident or injury
An industrial disease
During a surgical operation
Before recovery from an anaesthetic
If the cause of death is unknown
The death was sudden and unexplained, for instance, a sudden infant death (cot death).

The coroner may be the only person who can certify the cause of death. The doctor will write on the Formal Notice that the death has been referred to the coroner.

If the doctor treating the deceased had not seen him or her, either after death or within 14 days before death, the death must be reported to the coroner.

The Coroner

The coroner is a doctor of lawyer responsible for investigating deaths in the following situations:

If the deceased was not attended by a doctor during the last illness or the doctor treating the deceased had not seen him or her either after death or within the 14 days before death
The death was violent or unnatural or occurred under suspicious circumstances
The cause of death is not known or is uncertain
The death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or did not recover from the anaesthetic
The death was caused by an industrial disease
The death occurred in prison or in police custody.

Information about a death that has been reported to the coroner, contact the coroner’s office. You can get the address from the police station or, if death was in hospital, the hospital official dealing with deaths.

Coroner’s Post-mortem

The coroner may arrange for a post-mortem examination of the body. The consent of the relatives is not needed, but they are entitled to be represented at the examination by a doctor. When relatives have told the coroner they wish to be represented, the coroner will, if at all practicable, tell them when and where the examination will take place.

If the death occurs in hospital, the coroner will arrange for the examination to be carried out by a pathologist other than one employed at or connected with that hospital, if a relative asks the coroner to do so and if it does not cause an undue delay.

Removal of a body from the place of death to the mortuary for post-mortem examination will usually be paid for by the coroner.

The relatives may choose the funeral director. Consent will have to be given if any organs or human tissue need to be kept once the coroner no longer needs them for enquiries.

However, in some areas a funeral director will be appointed by the coroner to remove the body from the place of death to the hospital mortuary. The relatives can then choose a funeral director to carry out the funeral, once the coroner has released the body.

If the post-mortem shows the death was due to natural causes, the coroner may issue a notification known as Pink Form B (form 100) giving the cause of death so that the death can be registered. The coroner usually sends the form direct to the registrar but may give it to you to deliver.

If the body is to be cremated the coroner will give you the Certificate for Cremation (form 6) allowing cremation to take place.

Inquest

An inquest is an enquiry into the medical cause and circumstances of a death. It is held in public, sometimes with a jury. It is up to the coroner how to organise the enquiry in a way to best serve the public interest and the interests of the relatives. The coroner will hold an inquest if the death was:

Violent or unnatural
Caused by a reportable industrial disease
Death occurred in prison
Cause of death remains uncertain after post-mortem examination.

Coroners hold inquest in these circumstances even if the death occurred abroad (and the body is returned to Britain). If the body is lost (usually at sea) a coroner can hold an inquest by order of the Secretary of State if death is likely to have occurred in or near a coroner’s jurisdiction.

If an inquest is held, the coroner must inform the following people:

The married or civil partner of the deceased
The nearest relative (if different)
The personal representative (if different from above)

Relatives can attend an inquest and ask questions of witnesses but they may only ask questions about the medical cause and circumstances of the death.

It may be important to have a lawyer to represent you if the death was caused by a road accident, or an accident at work, or other circumstances, which could lead to a claim for compensation. You cannot get legal aid for this.

If the enquiries take some time, ask the coroner to give you a letter confirming the death. You can use this letter for social security and National Insurance purposes.

The coroner may give you an Order for Burial (form 101) or a Certificate for Cremation (form E) so that the funeral can take place. This may be done before the inquest is completed, provided the body is not required for further examination.

The coroner will also send a Certificate After Inquest (form 99 (rev)), stating the cause of death to the registrar. This allows the death to be registered.

If the Death Occurs Abroad

When a death occurs abroad or on a foreign ship or aircraft, you must register the death according to the local regulations of that country and get a Death Certificate. It is also advisable to register the death with the British Consul so that a record of the death will be kept in England. You will then be able to get a copy of the Death Certificate from the consulate later or from the:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Nationality and Passport Section
Room G/35
Old Admiralty Building
London SW1A 2PA
Telephone: 0207 008 1500

Email: BMDenquiries@fco.gov.uk

Website: www.fco.gov.uk

There are certain circumstances whereby you must also report a death that has occurred abroad to a coroner (a doctor or lawyer responsible for investigating deaths):

If the deceased was not attended by a doctor during the last illness or the doctor treating the deceased had not seen him or her either after death or within the 14 days before death
If the death was violent or unnatural or occurred under suspicious circumstances
If the cause of death is not known or is uncertain
If the death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or did not recover from the anaesthetic
If the death was caused by an industrial disease
If the death occurred in prison or in police custody
If the information about the death abroad is incomplete and the body is brought to England or Wales.

Bringing a Body Back to England or Wales

You may be able to bring the body back to England or Wales. Most funeral directors should be able to advise you on the practicalities of the particular case and the likely cost. There are several firms that specialise in repatriation. You will need the Death Certificate from the place the person died, or an authorisation for the removal of the body from the country of death from the coroner or relevant authority. There are several firms that specialise in repatriation, of which Rowland Brothers have an outstanding reputation, and can be contacted directly on 0208 684 2324.

Arranging the Funeral in England or Wales

To arrange a funeral in England or Wales you will need an authenticated translation of a foreign Death Certificate, or a Death Certificate issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland. These must show the cause of death and a Certificate of No Liability to Register from the registrar in England and Wales, in whose sub-district it is intended to bury or cremate the body. This certificate is not required if a coroner has issued a Certificate E for Cremationor an Order for Burial.

Arranging a Cremation

To arrange a cremation in England or Wales, where the death occurred abroad, you will need a cremation order from the Local Coroner or a form 6 from the coroner. Their details will be available from any local funeral director. Either of these dispenses with the need for forms 4 and 5 in England or Wales. In respect of deaths in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, the equivalent of forms 4 and 5 are acceptable in England and Wales.

If death was from natural causes, the Local Coroner will issue an order on the production of the application for cremation (form 1) and original documents (which must clearly state the cause of death) from the country where death occurred. The Local Coroner may require authorised translations of documents in some foreign languages. You should send these forms to the Local Coroner. Mark your envelope ‘Cremation Urgent’.

If the death is not due to natural causes is must be the subject of a coroner’s inquest. In these cases the coroner will issue form 6 for cremation on opening the inquest.

If the enquiries take some time, ask the coroner to give you a letter confirming the death. You can use this letter for social security and National Insurance purposes.

The coroner will also send a Certificate After Inquest (form 99 (rev)), stating the cause of death to the registrar. This allows the death to be registered.

Moving a Body Out of England or Wales

Only the coroner can give permission for a body to be moved out of England or Wales. This permission has to be obtained at least four days before the body is to be moved (although the coroner may be able to give permission sooner) so that any necessary enquiries may be carried out. Afterwards you will be given a Removal Notice (form 104), part of which is sent to the registrar after the funeral. Permission must be obtained whenever the funeral is to take place outside England or Wales.

This procedure applies in all cases where the body is to be moved out of England or Wales, not just where a death was reported to the coroner. There are several firms that specialise in repatriation of which Rowland Brothers have an outstanding reputation in this sector, and can be contacted direct on 0208 684 2324.

Arranging the Funeral

What to do first

We advise to not make final funeral arrangements until you are sure that the death does not have to be reported to the Coroner. This may affect the date when the funeral can be held. Find out if there is a Will or pre-paid funeral plan, since this may give requests and funding for the funeral arrangements.

If you are to arrange for the funeral, you are responsible for paying the bill so first check where the money will come from and if there is enough. There may be benefits you are entitled to that can assist you with the funeral costs. (Refer to our information on benefits within the Paying for the funeral section.)

Visit the Register Office

When you go to the registrar you should take all these:

The Medical Certificate of the cause of death

The deceased’s medical card, if possible
The deceased’s birth and marriage or civil partnership certificates if available.
You should tell the registrar:
The date and place of death
The deceased’s last (usual) address
The deceased’s first names and surname (and the maiden name where appropriate)
The deceased’s date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK, and country if born abroad)
The deceased’s occupation and the name and occupation of their spouse or civil partner
Whether the deceased was getting a pension or allowance from public funds
If the deceased was married or had formed a civil partnership, the date of birth of the surviving widow, widower or surviving civil partner.

The registrar who registers the death will give you:

A certificate for burial or cremation.(Known as the green form) unless the coroner has given you an order for burial (form 101) or a certificate for cremation (form E). These give permission for the body to be buried or for an application for cremation to be made. It should be taken to the funeral director so that the funeral can be held.

A Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8). This is for social security purposes only. Read the information on the back of the certificate. If any of it applies, fill in the certificate and hand it to your Jobcentre, Jobcentre Plus or social security office.

If you go to a register office other than the one for the sub-district where the death took place, the above certificates will be sent to you.

The Death Certificate

The Death Certificate is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The registrar can let you have a Death Certificate if you want one, but you will have to pay a fee.

You may need a Death Certificate for the will and for any pension claims, insurance policies, savings bank certificates and premium bonds.

You may wish to ask for several copies of the Death Certificate straight away as the price increases if you need one later on. The registrar may not be able to give you them all straight away and may ask you to call back or ask for postage so that they may be sent to you.

If you go to a register office other than the one for sub-district where the death took place the required certificates may be ordered at the same time and will be sent to you.

Choosing a funeral director

After the loss of a loved one it can seem difficult to make any decisions let alone deal with pressing matters such as the choice of a funeral director. But the sooner you do, the sooner you can obtain help and guidance about what needs to be done.

Many people assume you can only contact a funeral director once the death has been registered but this is not the case. The sooner a funeral director becomes involved, the sooner they will be able to help. For instance, you can appoint a funeral director while you are awaiting a post-mortem’s completion. They will be able to discuss your requirements and act on your behalf so that the funeral will not be delayed unnecessarily once the post-mortem is complete and the death has been registered.

Although you may be familiar with a local funeral director, it is advisable to get more than one quote before you decide. If you find it difficult to phone, get a friend or relative to help. You are entitled to ask for a breakdown of the charges and it’s best to get any quotes put in writing. Funeral directors in the UK are not legally required to have any formal training. However all members of the British Institute of Funeral Directors do have to hold an annual licence to practice. This licence confirms that the holder is professionally qualified and makes an annual declaration to abide by a strict code of conduct.

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), the Society of Allied andIndependent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and the Funeral Standards Council all have exemplary codes of practice, premises that are routinely monitored and schemes for remedying any grievances should they arise.

The funeral director’s job is to see everyone is in the right place at the right time and that the funeral flows without any unnecessary distress.

They treat the deceased with respect, caring for them in a safe, hygienic environment and providing a coffin that conforms to burial and cremation regulations.

They guide you through the many technical aspects such as disposal of cremated remains, import or export of the deceased etc.

They employ the services of such people as gravediggers, clergy and florists and pay the fees on behalf of the family.

They help the bereaved to be ‘heard, held and honoured’. This involves putting them in touch with everyone who can help with that aim.

Bear in mind that you do not have to accept all the options that are presented to you. For example, if you are opting for a cremation you may want to spend less on the coffin. A funeral director only gets one chance to get it right so make sure you use their knowledge and help to arrange the funeral service you have in mind.

Arranging a funeral without a funeral director

Most funerals in the UK are organised by funeral directors but they don’t have to be. Some people choose to do the hard work themselves, getting involved with every aspect of a loved one’s final send off. This very personal approach is referred to as an independent funeral.

Why do it yourself?

There are various reasons why people decide on an independent funeral. It could be because they feel uncomfortable passing the responsibility of a loved one’s body over to strangers, or that they would like to dedicate their time and energy to creating a more personalised tribute. It could also come down to money. Funeral directors have to operate commercially and so can be expensive. However, doing-it-yourself is quite complicated and it’s worth considering what the funeral process is likely to entail before you make any decisions.

A funeral director will usually collect and move the body, arrange embalming and viewing of the deceased, provide a coffin and hearse and guidance throughout the ceremony wherever it takes place. If undertaken independently such tasks may prove unpleasant as well as difficult.

The average coffin will not fit in most cars and will need four people to lift it. The deceased will also need to be kept somewhere cool leading up to the service. It is not a decision to be taken lightly and it is advisable to discuss the options with family and close friends before making any final decisions.

Although there will be a lot of work to do with an independent funeral you will have complete control over content giving you the chance to create a very personal goodbye and costs can be kept low.

Legal Issues

You will need to register the death (see our How to register a death section), obtaining several copies of the death certificate. And if the body is to be cremated you will need to get three forms from the crematorium. You will also need two doctor’s certificates. If the death occurred in hospital, the hospital will provide a release form and you may then make arrangements with the hospital mortuary to collect the body.

What needs to be done?

You will need to decide whether the service is to be held at a cemetery, crematorium chapel, other religious building or alternative venue (see our feature on venues). Make a booking as soon as possible.

Decide who you would like to officiate at the ceremony. Appoint a priest of a particular religion or a humanist celebrant. Alternatively, you can ask someone who knew your loved one well to conduct the ceremony. They do not need any qualifications but do they do need to be confident.

Music is a particularly good way to personalise a service. From traditional hymns to Sinatra’s ‘I Did It My Way’ – anything goes.

You can get friends or relatives to act as pallbearers. You will need at least four people to carry an average coffin. And you will also need to organise transport for the coffin (see our feature on funeral transport for ideas).

Providing your own transport, coffin and pallbearers will save money but you will have to pay for the cremation or burial, the grave and memorial.

Looking after the body

In the past it was quite common for various members of the community to help prepare a body for funeral but now it is rare.

Some undertakers will look after the body until the funeral or if the deceased died in hospital it might be possible to store the body in the hospital mortuary until the day of the funeral. If you are keeping the body at home, the deceased needs to be kept in a cool room. In summer, you may need to have the deceased embalmed by a professional.

The coffin

The choice in coffins has greatly increased in the last few years (see our feature on coffins). You can choose to make your own but do check with your local crematorium or cemetery to ensure you use acceptable materials. If you would rather bury your loved one in a shroud check with your local crematorium or cemetery to find out if this is acceptable.

The day of the ceremony

Check traffic reports and make sure you leave in good time at the venue.

Burial or Cremation

Check the will to see if there are any instructions for the funeral left by the deceased. If there are no requests left by the deceased, it is generally up to the executor or next of kin to decide whether the body is to be cremated or buried.

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 which can be at the church or crematorium or indeed anywhere: a hotel, stately home, golf course, football ground or theatre (see our feature on funeral venues) but you will need to get permission.

You may also be able to choose the person to conduct the service. 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 the 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: Application Form (Cremation Form 1) signed by the next of kin or executor. Two Crematorium certificates (Cremation Forms 4 and 5), each signed by a different doctor. You have to pay for these and they are normally organised by the funeral director or crematorium.

If the death is referred to the coroner, these two certificates are not needed. Instead the coroner will give you form E which is a Certificate for Cremation which is free.

A Certificate (Cremation Form 10) signed by the medical referee at the crematorium. The medical referee has the power to refuse cremation and either request a post-mortem examination to be made or refer the matter to the coroner. 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 very 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. But there may be a charge for erecting one.

Burial – Find out if the deceased 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 ceremony or service. Non-denominational cemeteries are owned by either local authorities or private companies and fees will vary.

Religious burial – If you need to arrange a burial or 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.

Funeral Options

These days, families are personalising funerals to reflect the life of their loved one. This can be done by designing the coffin, having someone sing at the memorial or showing video footage. Increasingly, people are planning their own ‘final party’ before they die.

The personal touch

If there are no specific directions in the will, arranging a suitable service may at first feel like an additional pressure. But according to The Natural Death Centre, ‘Almost all those who have tried it advocate looking after at least some aspects of the funeral of a friend or relative oneself, with the assistance of family and friends, rather than depending entirely on funeral directors.’

Church Services

Churches are a lot more flexible than they used to be and most of the information you need is freely available online. ‘Not everyone knows that they have the right to a funeral in their parish church, even if they and the dead person have not been churchgoers. Nor do practising Christians always realise that they can have a Communion service as part of the funeral,’ says the Church of England Anglican organisation.

Guest vicars who perhaps have known the deceased at an earlier time in their lives can be invited from other parishes and live music and rock music can often be incorporated.

The Roman Catholic Rite of Christian Burial is a mass. Only Catholics will be able to take communion but all mourners will be warmly welcomed and invited to go up for a blessing. A sung mass can be arranged for a later date.

Cremation Services

The Natural Death Centre are well-known for advising on every aspect of planning an environmentally-friendly funeral but they also provide valuable information on all types of funeral options.

At a time when local authorities are beginning to sell their crematoriums off to the larger funeral firms they closely monitor the charges and services provided. They list the crematoriums that allow 45 minute services, rather than the standard 30 minutes, and the few that allow 60 minutes. Perhaps, more importantly, they advise how to purchase extra time at a reduced price to avoid the ‘conveyor belt’, rushed feeling that some crematorium services can leave you with.

Simple Funerals

They also advise on how to keep the costs down. ‘Funeral directors are often not very keen to tell the public about their low cost funerals. You may have to use the magic words “Simple funeral as specified in your funeral code” to be told their no frills low price (which, for example, probably includes a hearse but no following limousine).

You’ll also find advice on everything from cardboard coffins (almost every crematorium accepts them and there are currently seven models to choose from) to the legalities of burials in a woodland or at home.

Humanist Service

If you do choose to use a funeral director, you’ll almost certainly be offered the option of a Humanist celebrant instead of a vicar or priest. ‘It’s simply more appropriate for those who neither lived according to religious principles, nor accepted religious views of life or death,’ says the British Humanist Association.

‘A Humanist funeral or memorial ceremony recognises no “after-life”, but instead uniquely and affectionately celebrates the life of the person who has died. Proper tribute is paid to them, to the life they lived, the connections they made and have left behind. Nothing in a Humanist funeral or memorial ceremony should be offensive to those who are religious. It will focus sincerely and affectionately on the person who has died.’

The celebrant will visit you at home to discuss all the arrangements and will ask about the life of the deceased so that a short eulogy can be prepared. This can be written and read by a relative or close friend or by the celebrant if preferred. In place of prayers there may be a few minutes’ silence and a poem, chosen by you, or they can advise. They will ask for three pieces of music. One is to be played as the mourners are assembling, one piece at the committal and one piece (often livelier) as the mourners are leaving the cemetery chapel.

Woodland burials

Although space in a local cemetery should be available it may be worth considering a woodland burial as an environmentally friendly alternative. Woodland burials can work out cheaper and there is a guarantee that the woodland burial grounds will remain as such in perpetuity, unlike most cemeteries that may be reused or developed.

Woodland Burials state that: ‘Our Woodlands of Remembrance provide a very positive way in which to put life back into the environment following a death. The planet needs more broadleaf trees to help stem the deterioration of our atmosphere. It also needs more habitats for our wildlife and insects and more undisturbed land for our rapidly disappearing flora and fauna’.

Woodland Burials offer both full interment and the interment of ashes after a cremation. Family and friends can choose either a religious or secular burial, making the service as formal or informal as they wish. A hardwood plaque inscribed with the deceased’s name and lifespan will mark the grave – this can be replaced when it biodegrades – and a native broadleaf tree will be planted.

‘Each Woodland of Remembrance is managed in accordance with a management scheme approved by Wildlife Trusts and the local authority to ensure its development for the benefit of all wildlife and nature,’ says Woodland Burials. They also offer unrestricted access for visitors so that loved ones can visit the woodland whenever they wish. See www.woodlandburials.co.uk for more information.

Scattering Ashes

Seven out of ten funerals are cremations. ‘Ashes can generally be scattered anywhere,’ says the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, ‘but if you wish to scatter ashes on private land you should get consent from the landowner. Although UK law allows ashes to be taken abroad, many countries have strict rules on the importation of ashes and it is important to check before travelling.’

They can be scattered in gardens of rest at the crematorium or buried in a small plot on which you can place an engraved stone. If the deceased has a special connection with a village or church from their past, you can get permission for them to be buried there. This could happen soon after the funeral or months later. You may need time to decide on what’s to be put on the stone, or until distant relatives and friends can schedule attendance. The funeral director will keep ashes for a certain time but after a month or so they may have to be kept by the family.

Burial at Sea

Burial at sea can be arranged by the family though be aware there are only two places in the UK where this can be done: Newhaven, Sussex or The Needles in the Isle of Wight. When the death is registered, ask for a Coroner’s Out of England form. You can then get a free licence from DEFRA, the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (www.defra.gov.uk/ 08459 33 55 77). For the strict marine safety requirements, seewww.facingbereavement.co.uk.

The expansion of funeral options may seem daunting but it’s best to keep in mind what sort of person the deceased was and what you think they would have liked, ensuring whatever type of ceremony you choose it will be a celebration of your loved one’s life.

Transport Arrangement

Throughout the centuries, the deceased person’s journey to their resting place has always been an important symbolic as well as practical element of the process of the final farewell. Methods of transporting a body have evolved from the use of a basic slab of wood, the shrouded corpse balanced on top, in times before even coffins were utilized; through to hand-drawn biers, the early models like simple wooden stretchers, and later, more sophisticated wheeled versions. These gradually evolved into horse-drawn hearses, often glass-sided and ornate, with black velvet curtains and polished brass fittings – for those families rich enough to afford such opulence for their dearly departed.

These days, the luxury limousine hearse is the most common method of transport for the coffin in a funeral procession, regardless of the social status of the deceased.

Most funeral directors will try to accommodate more unusual requests for funeral transport. ‘Once we did a funeral where the family wanted the coffin brought to the cemetery in a tiny six-seater boat down the Thames from Sunbury to Mortlake – just myself, the deceased, and his close family,’ recalls Mr. Lodge. ‘It was beautiful: really restful and calm, and so much nicer than having to go through heavy traffic.’

Respect

The cortege itself is the public face of the funeral, and of course is most often seen on the road rather than the river. In our fast-paced road-rage-prone society, motorists and pedestrians alike will still usually treat a funeral procession with appropriate amounts of respect and patience…. Usually, but not always: many funeral directors have wry stories to tell of being sworn at, cut up by other motorists, not let out at junctions – even getting parking tickets on their hearses or limousines when they stop to collect the family!

Hearses can also occasionally be used to pick up the remains of the deceased upon notification by the family of a death – known in the trade as the ‘First Call’ vehicle. However, this is less common these days, as funeral directors prefer to keep the hearses for use at funerals only, and it is now more common to use a minivan or private black ambulance as their First Call vehicle (the cost of this too is fully included in the funeral price).

What to expect

On the day of the funeral, the hearse containing the deceased, plus the empty limousine, arrives at the family’s house to collect close family and transport them to the cemetery or church. About eighty per cent of people choose to travel to the cemetery by limousine – although there is absolutely no stigma attached to mourners arriving at the funeral venue under their own steam should they so wish. It’s not a huge money saver to do this either, since it only costs about £60 less not to take advantage of the limo.

The drive itself can also provide a few moments of calm preparation for the emotion of the imminent funeral, and a chance for close family to have a little time together on what is likely to be a very hectic and tiring day. Although, if a family do choose to be picked up by limousine, it is important for them to carefully consider the logistics and ‘politics’ of the journey – in the case of a large extended family, will Uncle Jim be offended if he doesn’t get to travel in the first car when Uncle Pete has been invited to do so?

Traditionally the hierarchy of the cortege goes as follows: the hearse containing the coffin, with the flowers transported on the hearse roof (a ‘floral car’ used to follow behind, but these days these are rare, reserved usually just for a celebrity or a traveller funeral); then the limousine transporting close family, and, finally, another two or three cars’ worth of other relatives and friends.

Unusual Transport

There are other funeral transport options available, for those to whom the idea of the standard black hearse does not appeal; and in these days of more personalised funerals, this is increasingly common. You could hire a Land Rover to transport the coffin, a white Rolls Royce, or a customised MK1 Ford Granada, or even a white camper van or Volkswagen Beetle, for enthusiasts of the VW classics. If the deceased was a keen motorcyclist, a funereal motorbike with sidecar transporting the coffin is a choice growing in popularity.

A good funeral director will always be more than willing to help research and organise unusual funeral transport. Their purpose is to try to best accommodate whatever the family wants to do, to make the funeral as personal and meaningful as possible, in as positive a way as possible.

Whether it is a horse-drawn carriage, an American flatbed pick-up truck or a boat up the river, this final journey can always be planned to best suit the character of the deceased.

Memorial Service Options

Arranging a funeral in a Christian community used to be a matter of your local funeral director asking if the deceased was Catholic or C of E and putting you in touch with the relevant priest. Between them they’d guide you through the long but well-trodden list of arrangements.
This is still largely the case, with the welcome addition of the Humanist, non-religious, service now offered as routine. And whilst there’s no obligation at all to deviate from this undoubtedly comforting pattern at such a distressing time, there’s no getting away from the fact that the choice of venues for funerals, both secular and religious, is becoming as diverse and creative as it is for weddings.

Anything goes

A building or piece of land does not have to be especially consecrated or licensed for a funeral and, in non-religious services; the celebrant does not have to be registered. Apart from the actual cremation, specifically relevant or beautiful venues or locations can be included at any stage of the proceedings.

Traditional

To clarify, the most traditional procedure is for the chief mourners to meet at the funeral director’s address. From there they will travel in limousine procession behind the hearse to the church. If burial is to be in the churchyard it will take place as part of the service. If it is to be in the municipal graveyard or, as in most cases, the body is to be cremated; mourners will drive in a procession of cars behind the hearse to the crematorium/graveyard. Here there will be more prayers at the graveside or prayers and music at the committal. Alternatively, the whole religious service may be held in the crematorium chapel.

Humanist

Humanist funerals or those arranged by family and friends (of any denomination or completely secular) usually take place in the crematorium chapel. The ashes will go to the funeral director and the mourners will go to a wake, either a buffet or a sit-down meal. At a later date, anything from a few days to several months, even years, the ashes will be buried or scattered in the garden of remembrance, or taken by the family to be scattered elsewhere, most commonly at the deceased’s favourite beauty spot.

Eco-friendly

Green Endings (www.greenendings.co.uk is one of a growing number of funeral directors specialising in environmentally-friendly funerals. ‘Our aim is to ensure that each funeral reflects your feelings as well as the life of the person who has died, and their culture, their personality and their achievements. Arrangements can be made for any style of funeral, from a woodland burial using a cardboard coffin to a more traditional religious service and cremation. We can incorporate any beliefs, whether religious or secular, into a service of your choice. We have a wide experience of all cultures and faiths.’

Woodland Burials (www.woodlandburials.co.uk plants a native, broadleaf tree for every full or ashes internment and supply a hardwood, inscribed plaque to mark the grave (replaced when it biodegrades). The choice of formal or informal service, religious, secular or no ceremony at all is left to the family.

Scattering Ashes

Ashes can be scattered anywhere, and permission is only needed if the land is private. Most national parks and famous beauty spots have published guidelines. The Woodland Trust (www.woodland-trust.org.uk for example, allows ashes to be scattered in their woods but they ask you not to hold any kind of formal ceremony in the wood and not to disturb the ground in any way. For as little as £10 you can dedicate a tree in one of their woods in memory of a loved one.

Funeral Flowers

A wreath or floral tribute of some description is probably one of the first things anyone associates with a funeral. There is no denying the emotive impact of flowers at a funeral. Many people still remember the three simple white wreaths on Princess Diana’s flag-draped coffin; or the stunning blanket of five hundred blue irises on singer Michael Hutchence’s, with one poignant tiger-lily in their midst as his daughter’s namesake. Wreaths from relatives describing the deceased’s relationship to them – ‘MUM’, ‘DAD’, ‘SON’, etc. – are still popular but can be expensive.

There are a bewilderingly large number of options open to anybody wanting to pay their respects to the deceased, or as a gesture of support for their families. Florists are happy to work in colours of the customer’s choice, or, if local, they may well know in advance the colour schemes already specified by the family for the funeral. Were a customer to request unusual flowers or tributes, the florist would need as much notice as possible.

The trend is still towards giving money to a charity of choice, as well as some floral tributes at the funeral itself. Differing preferences for the two options tend to be regional: inner city florists receive far fewer requests for elaborate tributes/wreaths than do suburban florists, and the general consensus of opinion is that younger city-dwellers spend far less on flowers when they do request them. It is the more elderly suburban or countryside demographic who spend the most money, as the traditional notion still hold firm that flowers are synonymous with funerals.

CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO DO

Gather the information needed for the death certificate at the funeral home. Full name, social security number, date of birth, place of work and occupation.

Consider embalming the body. This decision will determine the timing of many decisions you make, as bodies that are not embalmed have to be buried sooner.

Clothing and jewellery.

Consider cremation or burial.

Consider the type of burial, if you have already purchased a plot; bring the deed with you to the funeral directors. If you know you have a plot but do not have the deed in your possession, the funeral director can check with the cemetery overseer. Otherwise, a plot will need to be purchased. If you have chosen a woodland burial give your funeral director the details. If you prefer a vault or mausoleum, a funeral director will assist with the options and costs.

Select the coffin or casket which can be a personal design, wool, wood, cardboard, metal, willow, bamboo, banana leaf etc.

Open or closed casket – you can opt to have the casket open during the memorial service, in which case ensure your clergy is aware of your wishes.

Decide on calling hours at the funeral home, which are normally between 2-4pm or 7-9pm.

Funeral Services – you need to consider where and when the service will be conducted. You can opt to have the service before the burial or cremation, or after the burial or cremation. You can decide to have the service at the funeral home, church/temple/mosque, at the graveside or some special venue of your choice, prior to burial.

Seating arrangements – you can decide the seating arrangements and either let your funeral director know, or get a friend or family member to organise.

Compose the obituary and decide which newspapers or other publications will be used to place the obituary notice.

Flower arrangements – decide on the type of flower arrangements to be provided by the family. You may want to speak to the relatives about your chosen floral arrangements, as you will need to dispose of some of them after the funeral. It is quite common for you to nominate charities for donations and we are pleased to nominate Breakthrough Breast Cancer, The Blue Cross and British Legion.

Photographs – consider setting up a photo album to remind well- wishers and family of the life of the deceased.

Memorabilia – you may wish to set up reminders that reflect the interests of the deceased: football, golf etc.

Eulogies – decide who will deliver the eulogy. It can be clergy, a friend or relative or a combination of both.

Special recognition – consider any accomplishments of the deceased which might be political, scientific, religious, charitable or athletic.

Memorial cards – these can be purchased from the funeral home or you can have your own printed. These memorial cards normally include a favourite picture of the deceased and a poem or message they were particularly fond of. These cards are often sent to friends and family who could not attend the funeral.

Pallbearers – you normally need between four to six men, and these can be family and friends or the funeral home can arrange people to carry out this duty.

Music at the funeral – you can get generic funeral home selections or bring favourite music of the deceased. In some cases you can organise for your own musicians to attend and perform.

Funeral transportation – transportation of the deceased is usually provided by the funeral directors, but if you require something special as shown in this magazine give the funeral director the contact details, and he will include this for you. You also need to consider transport to the service for close family and friends.

Grave memorials – a temporary marker may be used if a permanent one has not been purchased or engraved yet.

Funeral party/wake – decide whether there will be a wake/party to celebrate the life of the deceased. Consider where and when to hold this celebration, check our funeral reception venues for ideas.

Accommodating out of town family and friends – you may wish to assist with travel plans and airport pick-ups and help with hotels and lodgings.

Always remember it is you who is arranging the funeral and ensuring a fitting tribute to the memory of someone deeply missed. If you have any queries or concerns relating to any services shown on our website, or that a funeral director is unwilling to provide any products or services contact us on Tel: 0208 274 0785.

FUNERAL RECEPTIONS AND WAKES

It is common practice to host a funeral reception for family and friends after the funeral or cremation. The event can be as simple or fancy as you like. These events are often arranged at short notice and there are several options to consider.

Firstly, consider the number of people you wish to invite, as this will provide the size of venue required. Will you require catering, a bar or accommodation for relatives who have travelled a long way?

Hotels and function venues can usually accommodate all of these requirements and will have the staff and facilities to ensure a more relaxed and dignified time for you and your guests attending the event.

If you are having a reception, ask the funeral director, family member or friend to make an announcement letting people know where and when the event is taking place. This can be done at the funeral home or at the end of a memorial service.

If it is a family-only reception, tell the appropriate family members to pass the word among family and let them know it is a family-only event.

You can personalize the event by playing the favourite music of the deceased. You may wish to have an open-mic session where loved ones can share memories of the deceased, or to have someone say a few words about the deceased.

The event is a send-off for someone very close to you, and you have total freedom to include whatever feels right for you and your family.

REPATRIATION

The loss of a loved one can sometimes occur whilst abroad. Here, we look at the legal issues that must be addressed in order to bring the body of the deceased back home.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard enough without the added pressure of having to organise the transport of the deceased’s body back home. There will be quite a few forms that have to be obtained whether repatriation is to the UK or from the UK to elsewhere. But what needs to be done?

Repatriation to the UK

Repatriation following a death is the process of returning the deceased’s body to the UK after he or she has died in a foreign country. It will involve whatever legislature applies to the particular country where the death has occurred as well as the legal requirements applicable for a body to be brought back to the UK.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK and the British Consul in the area where the death has occurred will advise the bereaved on what needs to be done.

Dealing with a Death Abroad

If the death occurred whilst on a tour or package holiday, a representative of the company will more than likely contact the relevant authorities, including the British Consulate, for you. If you are travelling independently, you will need to contact the British Consulate yourself.

The British Consulate will advise on all the practical aspects of repatriation, as well as help you work with the local authorities. They will also be able to offer guidance on booking transportation home for both you and the body of the deceased.

The death will have to be registered in the country where your loved one died. A death certificate will be issued and may need to be translated into English.

You may also be able to register the death with the British Consulate in order to have a UK death certificate issued as well. The death will be recorded in the General Registry Office (GRO) Overseas Registration section. You will need the deceased’s full name, date of birth, passport information (including when and where it was issued and the passport number), and next of kin. It is only possible to do this in certain countries.

Returning Home

There are certain rules that must be adhered to in order to transport a body back to the UK. The deceased will have to be embalmed and then secured in a zinc-lined coffin. You will need to carry a certified English translation of your loved one’s death certificate, written authorisation from local authorities to remove the body and a certificate of embalming.

The cost of repatriation may be covered by your travel insurance; otherwise you will have to cover the cost yourself although this may be reimbursed from the deceased’s estate.

To arrange a funeral back in the UK, you will need to take the certified English translation of the death certificate to the register office in the area in which you hope to hold the funeral. Formal certificates will then be issued and the funeral will be able to proceed.

Repatriation Overseas

Recent economic migration from countries such as Poland has meant an increase in requests for repatriation for a funeral overseas. There are certain legal requirements that need to be fulfilled for a body to be moved from England or Wales to abroad, and also to Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

You will need to notify the coroner for the district in which the deceased is lying and complete a Removal Notice (form 104). The funeral director will usually deal with this form on your behalf. Often this authorisation has to be requested at least four days before the person is to be moved to give time for any enquiries.

Repatriating someone who has died from Scotland to elsewhere may not need the authority of the Procurator Fiscal – please check with your funeral director who can advise on your specific circumstances.

The Added Cost of Repatriation

Repatriation may mean additional costs, for example caskets and embalming for repatriation have to conform to high specifications as well as the cost of the flight itself and costs in the destination country. A less expensive alternative is to have the cremation in this country with repatriation of the ashes/cremated remains. The funeral director will be able to advise and help with the necessary documentation.

Cremated remains may be carried to some countries in hand luggage (with a death certificate and a certificate from the crematorium and sometimes a consular seal). But do check with the funeral director or consulate as each nation has its own regulations.

Many countries require signed documents from an appropriate doctor that the deceased was not suffering from any condition that might pose a public health risk.

Experts in Repatriation

Any funeral director can organise repatriation but some specialise in this type of work and have expertise in the field with detailed knowledge of the legal requirements for each country and a strong working relationship with particular airlines.

Woodland Burial Grounds

Plots in traditional graveyards are not to everyone’s taste and can be hard to come by.

For a natural alternative to the traditional burial ceremony a natural English woodlands burial is ideal. They not only provide a unique and fitting way to commemorate your loved one, but are also kind to the environment.

A green funeral is a natural choice where you can create a dignified and respectful burial in a natural environment. These are several natural burial grounds in and around London, each offering a beautiful site and stunning views.

In order to uphold the concept of being green, biodegradable materials must be used for the coffin, such as willow or bamboo. And as a replacement to the traditional headstone you can mark your loved one’s resting place with wooden plaque. All the materials used must be able to be recycled to complete the circle of life.

To ensure that your woodland burial meets ecological requirements your funeral director or the burial ground can advise you what clothes the deceased should wear and what can be left around the grave at the time of the funeral ceremony.

No chemicals are used on the ground. Nature will be left to take it’s course, allowing everything to return to the ground naturally. This will promote plant growth and encourage wildlife to develop.

The woodland used is protected and can be visited by you, friends and family, as well as generation to come.

Most natural burials sites allow you to hold a ceremony or a memorial service and either they or a funeral director can advise you on how to create a meaningful and personal day to honour your loved one.

You may want to consider using recycled paper for the order of ceremony. And for the refreshments you could opt for organic, locally sourced food.

Another positive aspect is that these woodland burial grounds can tailor to different faiths and their religious needs. Although you are not required to hold a ceremony, the burial grounds are available to all faiths and can often be blessed at the request of the family. This means these beautiful, natural, woodland grounds are available to all.

Stillborn Babies

Registration

If a baby is stillborn (born after the 24the week of pregnancy) you will be given a Medical Certificate of Stillbirth signed by the midwife or doctor, which you should give to the registrar. If no doctor or midwife was present and no doctor or midwife has examined the body, you must sign form 35 which the registrar will give you.

The registrar will give you a Certificate for Burial or Cremation and a Certificate of Registration of Stillbirth. You can ask to have a first name entered for a stillborn baby. The registrar will write the baby’s name on these certificates if the name is recorded in the register. It is also possible to get certified copies of the entry of stillbirth.

The information for registration of a stillbirth may be given to any registrar in England and Wales. The procedure is similar to that for deaths.

Funeral

The hospital may offer to arrange a burial or cremation, free of charge, for every stillborn baby, whether born in hospital or at home. You should discuss the funeral arrangements with the hospital staff or midwife. If you accept the offer, the baby will be cremated or buried after a simple ceremony. The parents can, if they wish, arrange the funeral themselves.

Maternity Benefits

If your baby was stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy you may still be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance. For more information see leaflet BC1 Babies and children or, for more detailed information see NI17A A guide to maternity benefits on the DWP website at: www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a

Finding money for the funeral

Funerals can be very expensive, and it is important to know how the costs are going to be met, and whether you are entitled to any help. Firstly check the Will to see who is the executor and if any financial provision has been made for the funeral. Then check if there are any pre-paid funeral plans, insurance policies, pension schemes or bank/building society accounts. Banks and building society accts will be frozen, but may release up to £5000 to cover the cost of a funeral on production of a death certificate, although not obliged to. Some employers pension schemes pay a lump sum to help with the funeral costs. If money is not available until probate is granted, you or the executor may need to pay and then recover the money from the estate later.

Benefits that may be available

Funeral Payment – If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral, you may be able to get a Social Fund Funeral Payment from the Benefits Agency, if you or your partner receives one of the following:

Income Support
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Job Seekers’ Allowance (income based)
Disabled Person’s Tax Credit
Working Family’s Tax Credit

If you get a funeral payment, it will have to be paid back from any estate of the deceased person. The ‘estate’ means any money, property and other things like insurance policies that the deceased owned. A house or personal possessions that are left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner are not counted as part of the estate.

Funeral Plans

The Funeral Plan is a straightforward way of continuing to look after your family and make sure your own personal wishes are carried out when you are gone.

By taking a pre-paid funeral plan now you can take advantage of today’s prices and avoid soaring funeral costs in the future. Planning for your funeral in advance ensures your funeral will happen exactly as you intended and at the same time make the funeral arrangements for your family far easier to deal with.

When making your funeral plan there are many options open to you, you may choose a conventional hearse, a horse-drawn carriage or even a VW Camper (see our feature on funeral transport), a willow or mahogany coffin or many other options (see our feature on coffins), a churchyard burial or a woodland burial or a special place to scatter your ashes.

A funeral plan provides you with an opportunity to decide on every detail and personalise the day as you would want it.

Top Tips

Make sure you have a written record of the arrangements and keep it safe.

It is a good idea to ensure that your next of kin knows you have already paid for your funeral and what the details are.

Check to see that the plan provider has a clear complaints procedure, and is a member of the Funeral Planning Authority, the industry’s professional body.

Shop around for the plan that best suits you, as there are many to choose from and some can have restrictions on which funeral directors can be used, and some plans do not include disbursement costs (doctor’s fees, clergy and crematoria).

Funeral Costs

Funeral costs as with most things in the UK vary quite considerably depending on where you live. It costs an average of £2500 for a cremation and basic funeral service in the UK. But if you want to be buried, for example, the costs are much higher.

We recommend that you get more than one quote to compare the funeral costs and services. The costs listed below are approximate and can vary quite considerably depending on the region and quality of product.