A
funeral can be either by burial or by cremation. You can organise it
with or without the help of a funeral director, and personalise it as
much as you wish. In some cases the deceased may have planned their
own funeral in advance.
Timing
Bear
in mind that you can't finalise the date for the funeral until after
the death has been registered. If the death has to be reported to the
coroner, the date when the funeral can be held will be affected.
Taking
the deceased person's wishes into account
Remember
to check the deceased person's will or other written instructions for
special wishes about their funeral or what should happen to their
body. (However, the executor doesn't have to follow the instructions
about the funeral left in the will.)
If
there are no clear wishes it's generally up to the
executor/administrator or nearest relative to decide whether the body
is to be cremated or buried.
Funeral
options
The
only legal requirement in the UK regarding funerals is that the death
is certified and registered and the body properly taken care of,
either by burial or cremation.
Using
a funeral director
Many
people choose to use a professional funeral director. Funeral
directors can help during what is generally a stressful time, and
should see that the remains of the deceased are dealt with in a
dignified way.
Choosing
a funeral director
Friends,
family, clergy or your doctor may be able to recommend local funeral
directors. Most local companies are also listed in the telephone
directory.
Most
funeral directors are members of one of two trade associations:
Member
firms must provide you with a price list on request and cannot exceed
any written estimate they give you without your permission.
National
Association of Funeral Directors
618
Warwick Road
Solihull
West
Midlands
B91
1AA
Society
of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
SAIF
Business Centre
3
Bullfields
Sawbridgeworth
Herts
CM21
9DB
Arranging
a funeral without a funeral director
You
can arrange a funeral without the help of a funeral director. If you
wish to do this, contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of
your local authority for advice and guidance.
You
can also get help and information from The Natural Death Centre.
Detailed
planning of the funeral
If
you're using a funeral director they will help you with decisions
such as:
where
the body should rest before the funeral
time
and place of the funeral (though this can only be finalised once the
death is registered)
type
of service (religious or other) and who will conduct it/contribute
to it
how
much to spend on the funeral
whether
to have flowers or instead donate money to a chosen charity
where
to donate flowers after the funeral
invitations
notice
in the newspapers
If
you're unhappy with the funeral director's service
If
you're unhappy with the service, or the prices you're asked to pay
contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) or Consumer Affairs
Branch for advice. If the funeral director is a member of NAFD or
SAIF, you can also use their conciliation services.
Arranging
a funeral outside of Northern Ireland
If
the Coroner is informed that a body is to be taken out of Northern
Ireland for burial or cremation (whether or not there has been an
inquest) and the Coroner is satisfied that the cause of death is
known, then a Coroner’s certificate will be issued, usually to an
undertaker. This allows the body to be removed.
Deaths
outside Northern Ireland
If
a death occurs outside Northern Ireland, it will be necessary to
obtain authorisation for the body to be removed and brought back to
Northern Ireland from the country where the death occurred. The
British or Irish Embassy or Consulate will be able to provide advice
on this.
A
Northern Ireland Coroner has no authority to investigate a death
which occurs abroad.
If
a death has happened on a ship, the Coroner in the place the body
comes ashore must send certain details of the death to the Registrar
General of Shipping and Seamen.
More
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