Direct Cremation FAQs

We can arrange to have the ashes returned to you following the cremation, alternatively we can arrange to have them scattered at the crematoriums garden of remembrance, both options are included in our fee so you will not be required to pay for anything extra like you would with some other companies.

Once ready, we will contact you to make arrangements for the safe return of your loved one’s ashes.

For more information see our guide: ‘What to do with ashes after cremation’

We have put together lots of guidance and advice on how to register a death to help you do exactly that. Visit the page here to find out more: How to register a death

In the UK, there are no laws stipulating that you must hold a funeral for someone who has died. However, the person who has died must be buried or cremated. A full funeral ceremony can be expensive and unwanted, and this is where Liberty Cremations can help with a direct cremation service for a total cost of £1445.00. Find out more about our services here.

An unattended cremation/funeral is also referred to as a ‘Direct Cremation’, a dignified option in which your loved one is cremated without a traditional funeral service or ceremony.

A Direct Cremation is a simple alternative to a traditional funeral. There is no need to visit a Funeral Director which can be daunting and time consuming and removing the service element opens up options for alternative celebrations of life when and where you wish. You can find out more about how a direct cremation works here.

The person who has died will be cared for and looked after throughout the process to the highest standards. Despite the difference in cost to a traditional funeral, we believe that there is still the need for a dignified farewell and ensure every step of our process is managed to the highest standard of care. From our fair pricing structure to the safe return of the ashes, each step is carefully managed by our experienced team.

For each cremation we use a simple coffin suitable for a cremation and the ashes are returned to you in a scatter tube which can be used for during a memorial service at a later date or for safe keeping. Find out more about direct cremation here.

The coffin is cremated with the deceased person inside. The coffin is not reused or recycled, each funeral will have a new coffin.

A direct cremation will usually take anywhere between 10 to 28 days. If there is a reason you may need things completed more quickly please let us know and we will do our upmost to accommodate you.  

The cremation will usually take place within a few hours however it can take up to 72 hours. Once the cremation is complete, the ashes are usually ready 48 hours after and we aim to return the ashes to you within 14 days of this date.

For more information, read our guide: ‘How does a direct cremation work’ 

Our direct cremation cost is one simple price of just £1445.00. This price includes everything necessary for a direct cremation including the paperwork and the return of the ashes to you. Find out more about our costs here.

In the UK, there are not many restrictions or laws with regards to what can be done with ashes. When scattering ashes on private land you will need the land owners permission, but in a public park or beach, for example, there are no laws preventing you from scattering ashes. Visit our page on what you can do with ashes after a cremation, there are lots of ideas and guidance here.

There are lots of options for what can be done with ashes following a cremation, they can be as simple or grand as you like. The options are endless and can truly suit the individual and what made them unique. Here are some options to what you can do with ashes:

• Hold a memorial event or gathering
• Scatter the ashes somewhere special such as at sea or at the local park.
• Inter the ashes at a memorial site for friends and family to visit
• Send into space!
• Use to make some memorial jewellery
• Scattering or interring at another loved one’s grave
• Split the ashes between family
• Send internationally to family and friends abroad

Visit our page for ideas on what you can do with ashes after a cremation

There are options available for those who cannot afford to pay for a funeral. The first is a Public Health Funeral; this can be organised by a local council or hospital and will usually be a short cremation service at a time and place chosen by them or their funeral supplier. You can usually attend these funerals but will not be able to choose extras such as cars, flowers or specific coffins. Burials are available for limited circumstances such as for religious reasons. To be able to apply for a Public Health Funeral, normally the following will need to occur:

• Not enough money in the estate to pay for a funeral
• The person who has died has no relatives or friends to arrange the funeral

There are other circumstances where you can also apply for a Public Health Funeral including if you are on certain benefits. Contact your local council to find out more.

Alternatively, people who are on low incomes or are receiving certain benefits can apply for a Government scheme called Funeral Payment. This scheme can help contribute towards the cost of a funeral for things such as Death Certificates, Cremation Fees and Burial Costs. Usually you are able to apply for approximately £1000 to cover the costs of things such as Funeral Director fees or the cremation costs.

To check if you qualify for a Funeral Payment or to claim a Funeral Payment you can visit the Government page here. You will have up to 6 months from the date of the funeral to claim this amount.

Funeral Plans:

The person who has died may have had a funeral plan which will contribute towards the costs of the funeral. If you are not sure, look through the person’s paperwork as well as checking the will and any associated documentation. Funeral plans are taken out directly with a provider, so you will need to know the company the plan was taken out with and you will likely also need the reference number to access the plan.

People who are on low incomes or are receiving certain benefits can apply for a Government scheme called Funeral Payment. This scheme can help contribute towards the cost of a funeral for things such as Death Certificates, Cremation Fees and Burial Costs. Usually you are able to apply for approximately £1000 to cover the costs of things such as Funeral Director fees or the cremation costs.

To check if you qualify for a Funeral Payment or to claim a Funeral Payment you can visit the Government page here. You will have up to 6 months from the date of the funeral to claim this amount.

A pauper’s funeral is what is officially named a Public Health Funeral. This can be organised by a local council or hospital and will usually be a short cremation service at a time and place chosen by them or their funeral supplier. You can usually attend these funerals but will not be able to choose extras such as cars, flowers or specific coffins. Burials are available for limited circumstances such as for religious reasons. To be able to apply for a Public Health Funeral the following will need to occur:

• Not enough money in the estate to pay for it
• The person who has died has no relatives or friends to arrange the funeral

There are other circumstances where you can apply for a Public Health Funeral such as if you are on certain benefits. Contact your local council to find out more.