arranging a funeral
Cremation or Burial
Cremation
No one can be cremated until the definite cause of death is established. Because of this, two doctors are required to sign a certificate prior to cremation. The doctors charge a fee for this service. If the cause of death cannot be established by the doctor, then the Coroner will be involved and may ask for a post-mortem to be carried out. Occasionally there is also the requirement for an inquest, but you will be advised accordingly if this is the case. The cremated remains are ready for collection two to three days following the service and will usually be collected by the funeral director, unless other arrangements are made. These can then be collected by the family to be scattered or placed in the Garden of Remembrance where the service took place They can also be buried in a churchyard in a grave or cremation plot in a cemetery.
Burial
This usually takes place in a local cemetery or church yard. The Council has set fees for interments of which we can advise you but this may be doubled if the deceased person lived outside the district. If a grave has been previously purchased, there will be a Deed of Covenant, which will need transferring to the next of kin, if the deceased owned the grave. Most local authorities run multi-denominational cemeteries, and have separate areas for different faiths.
