Independent Funerals

There is no legal requirement to use the services of a funeral director to make the arrangements on your behalf. You may wish to make all the arrangements yourself, although a degree of courage and determination will be needed.

If the death occurred at home, the deceased's doctor and nearest relative should be contacted as soon as possible. Once the doctor has certified the cause of death, the body may be washed and dressed.

If the death occurred in hospital the family will need to arrange for the body to be collected from the mortuary. A coffin can be made or purchased from a funeral director, and a large estate car or similar vehicle may be used for transportation of the deceased.

The death must be registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages at the Registry Office. A Certificate for Burial or Cremation will be issued to allow the funeral to ahead.

Arrangements for the ceremony can usually be made direct with the cemetery or crematorium. If a religious ceremony is required on the day of the funeral, the cemetery or crematorium usually has a list of ministers you may contact. If you do not wish to have a religious ceremony, a Civil Funeral Celebrant or Humanist Officiate may be used, or you could even conduct the ceremony yourself.

|For further information contact Age Concern.