Harwood Cremations

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Direct Cremation FAQs & Helpful Advice

Pointing you in the right direction

Helpful advice

What to do when someone dies

It is usual for families to contact us immediately after the passing of their loved one. We will be happy to provide guidance on the next steps required and for the necessary direct cremation arrangements to be made.

Here’s a quick guide of the next steps to take:

One of the first things to do when someone dies is to get a doctor to confirm the death has occurred. This is likely to be your loved one’s registered doctor but could be an on-call doctor depending on the circumstances surrounding the death.

This Doctor or a Doctor from the practice will then Issue a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD). You will need this certificate to register a death with the relevant local authorities.

Once the death certificate has been issued, you can call us on 01438 812515 and we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care.

When the MCCD has been completed and collected from the doctor, it can be taken to register the death. This needs to be done within five days of the death.

As well as bringing the MCCD to the Registry Office, other documents that are required if available are the deceased’s Medical Card and their birth and marriage certificates.

You will also need to know the following information:
• Date and place of death
• Full name of the deceased (and, if appropriate, maiden name)
• Their usual address
• Their date and place of birth
• Their occupation
• Whether they were receiving a pension or public fund allowance
• The name, date of birth and occupation of their spouse

Once the death has been registered, the Registrar will give you the Certificate for Burial or Cremation (Green Form). This should be sent to us, either by post or by using our online portal once you have registered with us.

The Registrar will also give you a Certification of Registration of Death (Form BD8). This certificate is for the purposes of Social Security so that pension payments and allowances can be cancelled.

We will take care of these for you. All we need are the details of your loved one’s GP and we’ll do the rest.

This includes the Certificate of Medical Attendant (Cremation Form 4) which is required for a cremation to take place. Generally, this document is signed by the same doctor who issued the Medical Certificate Cause of Death.

This is an application for the cremation. It’s usually completed by an Executor or close family member of the deceased such as their partner, or child.

We will make this form available to you after you have registered with us, along with the other two simple forms that we require to be completed (Privacy Policy and Your Right to Cancel).

What to do if you would prefer to have an attended funeral

If you decide that you would prefer to have an attended funeral instead of a direct cremation, then please visit the Austin’s Funeral Directors website.

The Austin family has been serving the local community for ten generations and are renowned for their high level of personal care. Whatever the requirements for the funeral of your loved one, Austin’s Funeral Directors have the experience and expertise to help you every step of the way.

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Choosing what happens with the ashes

There are two main options to choose from regarding what happens with the cremated remains of your loved one.

The first is for you to collect the ashes from our crematorium. This gives you the freedom to scatter the ashes in your own time at a special location, as well as to hold an independent memorial service when you are ready.

Alternatively, we can scatter the ashes on your behalf at our beautiful Memorial Gardens at Harwood Park in Stevenage.

If you’re not quite sure at this stage then there is an option on our forms for us to hold onto the ashes for up to three months while you decide.

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Direct Cremation FAQs

Our caring team answered some of the most common questions asked about the direct cremation services available at Harwood Cremations

A direct cremation is where the deceased is cremated without a funeral or memorial service. It doesn’t include a visitation, wake or embalming of the body.

Direct cremation is a popular choice for those seeking a straightforward and cost-efficient solution to take care of the remains of their loved one. It is typically more cost-effective compared to conventional funeral services, as fewer services and preparations are required.

After the cremation, the family can opt to host a memorial service at a later date

We cover a 20 mile radius from Harwood Park Crematorium, which encompasses most of Hertfordshire. Examples of some of the places we cover are:

Harpenden, Hatfield, Hertford, Hitchin, Knebworth, Lettchworth, Luton, St. Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn and Welwyn Garden City.

If you choose to collect the ashes from us, you have the option to scatter them yourself at a meaningful location. In the UK, scattering ashes is legal in most places subject to having the permission of the landowner.

Scattering ashes in a place of significance can be a powerful and meaningful way to say goodbye to a loved one. Many people choose a place associated with special memories. Popular examples include hill tops, sports venues, churchyards, as well as rivers, lakes and seas. (Please note that before scattering ashes over a body of water it is recommended that you contact your local environmental agency for permission).

Alternatively you can choose for us to scatter the ashes in our Memorial Gardens at Harwood Park.

Choosing to collect the ashes from us allows you time to organise a memorial service at a later date. This can be organised independently and popular locations include churches, village halls, social clubs or a family home.

Alternatively, you can choose to have memorial service at a later date in our Chapel at Harwood Park. Please contact us for details.

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