Arranging a Burial
If a burial is chosen, your funeral arranger will be available at all times to guide you and liaise with cemetery officials or members of the clergy. The information below covers some of the facts about burial, but your funeral director will be able to answer any additional questions you may have and will take care of the majority of these arrangements.
Burial has been practiced in the United Kingdom for many centuries. Approximately thirty percent of all funeral services result in a burial. Traditionally the place of burial would be a churchyard, and this has been supplemented in time by parish or municipal cemeteries.
However, other options are now available with woodland burial sites being opened across the country. Some even consider burial on their own property, although it must be noted that professional advice is recommended and permission is not always granted.
Shortage of space in recent years has made finding a grave plot more challenging in some areas, unless a cemetery space has already been paid for, whereby a Deed of Grant is required. This document should be amongst the deceased’s papers.
In order for the burial to take place the appropriate certificate is required from the registrar (Registrars Certificate for Burial or Cremation – known as the Green Form). In certain circumstances, if the Coroner is involved a Burial Order will be issued, usually to the funeral director.
Once the funeral booking is confirmed, the funeral arranger will arrange for a Notice of Burial to be delivered to the cemetery office accompanied by the Certificate for Burial. Dependent on the place of burial, you may need to provide information and sign a document, your funeral arrange will advise you if this is the case and will help you complete the forms.
