Direct Cremation Checklist: What to Do When Someone Dies

Losing a loved one is overwhelming. If you or the deceased have chosen a direct cremation, the process is simpler than arranging a traditional funeral, but there are still vital legal and practical steps to follow.

Use this comprehensive UK checklist to guide you through the days and weeks ahead.

Phase 1: The First 24-48 Hours

1. Get the Medical Certificate

• If they died in hospital: The hospital bereavement office will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) and help you understand the next steps.
• If they died at home (expected): Call their GP or the NHS 111 service out of hours. A doctor will attend to verify the death and issue the MCCD.
• If the death was unexpected: Call 999. The police and a coroner may need to be involved. If the coroner is involved, they will issue the necessary paperwork for cremation directly, bypassing the standard MCCD.

2. Contact a Direct Cremation Provider

You do not need to wait until the death is registered to contact a provider. The sooner you call, the sooner they can bring your loved one into their care.

• Compare providers to ensure you are getting a fair price and the services you need (e.g., ashes returned).
• Tell the provider where the deceased is resting (hospital, home, or care home).
• Confirm if there are any out-of-hours or residential collection fees.
• Inform them if the deceased has a pacemaker (this must be removed before cremation).

Phase 2: The First Week (Legal Admin)

3. Register the Death

By law in the UK, a death must be registered within 5 days (8 days in Scotland).

• Make an appointment at the local Register Office (usually the one closest to where the person died).
• Take the Medical Certificate (MCCD).
• The registrar will give you the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'Green Form'). You must give this to your direct cremation provider immediately.
• Purchase several copies of the Death Certificate (£12.50 each). You will need these for closing bank accounts and managing the estate.

4. Tell Us Once Service

When you register the death, the registrar will usually give you a unique reference number for the government's 'Tell Us Once' service. This allows you to notify HMRC, DWP, the Passport Office, and the DVLA all at once.

Phase 3: Arranging the Cremation

5. Complete the Provider's Paperwork

Because direct cremation is handled remotely, you will need to sign paperwork digitally or via post.

• Sign the Cremation Form 1 (Application for Cremation).
• Confirm your instructions for the ashes (scattered at the crematorium or returned to you).
• Pay for the cremation. If funds are tied up in the deceased's bank account, many banks will release funds directly to the funeral provider if you show them the invoice and Death Certificate.

6. The Cremation Takes Place

The provider will inform you of the date and time the cremation will happen. Because it is unattended, you cannot be there, but many families choose to light a candle or have a quiet moment of reflection at home at that exact time.

Phase 4: After the Cremation

7. Receive the Ashes

If you opted for the ashes to be returned, they will typically be delivered to you via a specialized courier within 14 to 28 days in a simple container or scatter tube.

8. Plan the Memorial (Optional)

The beauty of direct cremation is that you now have the time and budget to plan a memorial that truly reflects the person's life, without the pressure of a ticking clock.

• Scattering Ceremony: Choose a favorite beach, woodland, or beauty spot (ensure you have the landowner's permission).
• Celebration of Life Wake: Hire a room at their favorite pub, play their favorite music, and share stories.
• Tree Planting: Bury the ashes with a memorial sapling.
• Keepsake Jewelry: Have a small amount of ashes turned into glass jewelry.

Frequently Asked Questions