Losing a loved one is a very challenging and emotional time. As many people know, this can be exacerbated by the added stress of extortionate funeral costs and financial difficulty. As a result of this, many people are now opting for direct cremations over more traditional funeral and burial services.
Direct cremation is a low cost alternative to expensive, and sometimes extravagant, funerals, as the cremation itself is separated from the service or memorial. At DirectCremation.co.uk, a direct cremation costs a standard price of £895, with no hidden fees or upfront payments. If direct cremation appeals to you and your family, call us today on 0800 133 7961 and a member of our experienced team will help guide you through the rest of the process.
What is direct cremation?
Direct cremation is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cremation services and burials, and now accounts for over 14 percent of all funerals. The rise in funeral costs has led to this increase in popularity for direct cremation, as it provides a more affordable option.
Direct cremation is also known as unattended cremation, as it separates the cremation of the body from the service itself. This means that there are no mourners in attendance, and the cremation takes place respectfully and privately at one of our regional crematoria. For Surrey, cremations take place in West London in order to keep costs down, and you will be informed of the date and time in advance, should you wish to mark the occasion. This means there is no need for the expense of hiring out a chapel or other venue to host the service, helping to keep our price affordable.
Your loved one will then be collected by us from any hospital or mortuary in Surrey, and taken directly to our regional crematorium. We will look after them until the cremation and they will be provided with an environmentally friendly wooden coffin, made by British craftsmen. We will also take the stress away from any paperwork, with our team handling legal documentations for you.
Following the cremation, it’s up to you whether you would like us to scatter the ashes for you, free of charge, in our peaceful Garden of Remembrance. Or, if you would prefer to have the ashes returned to you, at the additional cost of £91.
From here you have the freedom, and the time, to plan your desired event. Direct cremation affords you the flexibility to make arrangements at your own pace, without the pressure of the time constraints typical of more traditional funeral services. Many families choose to incorporate the scattering of the ashes during their own memorial services.
Do you offer any additional services?
Yes, there are a few optional services that can be provided at an additional cost. As previously mentioned, the ashes can be hand delivered to you in a sustainably-sourced wooden urn, complete with an engraved nameplate for £91.
A doctor’s certification is available for £82. It is a legal requirement for a doctor to certify the cause of death unless a coroner is involved. This cost is predetermined by the British Medical Association, and our team will liaise with the doctor to allow the cremation to go ahead as quickly as possible.
Your loved one can be collected from home, or a nursing home, a hospice or other private residence for the additional cost of £250. This is because it requires us to have a local team available 24/7 to take the deceased into our care until the date of cremation. Collection from hospitals and mortuaries is already included in our standard price of £895.
Pacemakers and other battery operated devices must be removed prior to cremation. This incurs a fee of £100 for a qualified professional to certify removal if necessary.
Finally, if the deceased is taller than 6 foot, or weighs over 200lbs, then we must order a custom coffin and use specialised equipment. This additional service costs £250.
Can I choose to pay for a service?
If you would prefer to have a service alongside the cremation, then a more traditional funeral may be a better option. We recommend contacting our partner company Willow Lake, who are able to offer services with cremations. Our closest location would be Kingston Upon Thames. Contact a member of their team on 0800 464 7277, or alternatively, send them an email to [email protected]
How do I arrange a direct cremation in Surrey?
If direct cremation sounds the right option for you and your family, or if you have any further questions, call us today on 0800 133 7961. We are also available via email at [email protected].
We have collated a list of local hospital bereavement offices, registrars, and coroners to help you.
Register a death in Surrey
Surrey County Council registers all deaths within the country. They have offices in Guildford, Leatherhead, Camberley, and Weybridge. First you need to book an appointment, which you can do online or by calling 0300 200 1002. Their offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Surrey Hospital Bereavement Offices
Royal Surrey County Hospital Bereavement office can be contacted on 01483 303 361 or you can find them at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XX.
St Peter’s Chertsey Hospital bereavement office’s phone number is 01932 722319 and they are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, except for public holidays.
Ashford Hospital’s bereavement office direct phone number is 01932 722319. The office is on the Ground Floor (opposite reception), London Road, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 3AA. However the office is only open for appointments so please call in advance.
Frimley Park Hospital’s bereavement office phone number is 0300 613 4193 and their address is Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7UJ. The bereavement office is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3:30pm, but closed on public holidays.
Epsom Hospital bereavement office phone number is 01372 735273. They are open 10am to 3pm on every weekday but closed for bank holidays.
St Helier’s Hospital bereavement office’s telephone number is 020 8296 2491. The office is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.
East Surrey Hospital bereavement service can be reached on 01737 231 718 during the hours of 10am to 4pm, every weekday excluding public holidays.
Coroners in Surrey
The Surrey Coroner deals with all unexpected deaths in the county of Surrey. Each case will be assigned a caseworker who will liaise with the next of kin. But if you need to contact the coroner’s office, their phone number is 01483 404530 and their email address is [email protected] Phone calls are answered from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Once their initial investigations have been completed, they will release the deceased into a funeral director’s care. If you would like us to liaise with the coroner on your behalf, please feel free to call us on 0800 133 7961.