For centuries in the West, there have been two funeral options available: cremation or burial. However, over the past few decades, direct cremation has become an increasingly popular third option. A direct cremation means the deceased is cremated without a funeral service or ceremony.
Direct Cremation in Kent
We provide a professional direct cremation service throughout Kent. We guarantee that a direct cremation with DirectCremation.co.uk will be cheaper than any other option in England or Wales. Our fee starts from £895, significantly less than the average price of £5,007 for a cremation in the South East of England.
To speak with our friendly team directly and begin making arrangements for a direct cremation in Kent, give us a ring on 0800 133 7961. Alternatively, send an email to [email protected] with any questions you may have.
What is included in a direct cremation?
For the standard low-cost fee of £895, we will collect the deceased from any hospital or mortuary in Kent and drive them to our crematorium. We will also provide an environmentally-friendly coffin, made with a simple design by British craftsmen. This will be used for the individual and private cremation itself.
Our team will perform the private and individual cremation, typically early in the morning. We will inform the next of kin of the exact time but we do not have attendees there. This is because we use a regional crematorium in Kent instead of a local one and we do not rent out the chapel. In doing so, we ensure our prices remain low for our clients.
Finally, you will also have the option to scatter the ashes in our crematorium’s picturesque Garden of Remembrance, located in the heart of Kent.
In addition to the services above, there are a number of other options that you can pay for on top of the £895 standard fee. For example, we can hand-deliver your loved one’s ashes to any Kent address for £91. They will arrive in a sustainably-sourced, British-made wooden urn, with an engraved and embossed nameplate.
Moreover, if your friend or family member passes away and requires collection from anywhere other than a hospital or mortuary, for instance from a care home or their own residence, we can collect them for £250. The additional fee is incurred because these types of collection necessitate partnering with a local funeral director.
How to pay for a direct cremation
Our service aims to be accessible for anyone in Kent, regardless of their financial situation. As such, we do not require upfront payments or deposits. Our standard payment terms are to provide our clients up to two weeks after the cremation in which to pay.
We also accept the UK Government’s Funeral Expenses Payment which covers the costs of a funeral for those who are eligible. Get in touch with us and we can provide you with more information and help you to apply.
How do I arrange a direct cremation in Kent?
The easiest way to begin arranging a direct cremation in Kent is to call our expert team. They can begin making preparations based on your preferences and personal situation. Call us on 0800 133 7961 or send an email to [email protected] to take the first step.
For detailed instructions on what to do when someone dies, we have written a handy guide. We have also provided more specific information for when someone passes away in hospital, at home, at a care home and at a hospice.
Registering a death is the most important step. In most cases it is possible to complete over the phone. You must register it at the registrar closest to where the death occurred. In Kent there is only one registrar that handles all deaths in the county, you can find their contact information below.
Registering a death is not necessary, however, in cases where a coroner has been involved. If the coroner has been called for the death of your friend or family member, you can give the coroner our contact details so we can liaise with them on your behalf.
We have provided the contact information for the coroner in Kent below.
In cases where a death takes place at a hospital, the staff there will usually refer it to their bereavement team to begin filling out the paperwork on your behalf. But, you will still need to register the death at the Kent registrar. A list of hospital bereavement services in Kent is available below.
Kent Registrar
The Kent Registrar registers all deaths that occur in the county of Kent.
Phone: 03000 415151
Kent Coroner
Kent Coroner (Central and South East Kent, Mid Kent and Medway, North East Kent, and North West Kent)
Phone: 03000 410502
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Covers deaths within the areas of Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Dartford, Gravesham, Folkestone and Hythe, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells.
Kent hospital bereavement services
Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury bereavement office
Phone: 01227 864006
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) – 10am to 4pm.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate bereavement office
Phone: 01843 234452
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) – 10am to 4pm.
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford bereavement office
Phone: 01233 616887
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) – 10am to 4pm.
Maidstone Hospital bereavement office
Phone: 01622 224251
Opening hours: Open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Tunbridge Wells Hospital bereavement office
Phone: 01892 632923
Opening hours: Open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Darent Valley Hospital bereavement office
Phone: 01322 428165 or 01322 428168
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).
To find out more about our direct cremations or to discuss your funeral options in Kent further, please contact us on 0800 133 7961 or email [email protected].