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Choosing direct cremation
What is direct cremation?
It is an individual cremation without mourners attending a funeral service at the crematorium. Family and friends can remember the person separately.
Can we attend the cremation?
The direct cremation offer is unattended. Ask separately about other arrangements if you want an attended ceremony.
Can we hold a separate remembrance?
Yes. An unattended cremation leaves you free to arrange a separate gathering or remembrance. This is separate from the cremation arrangement and may have its own costs.
Price and collection
What do the £995 and £1,095 prices cover?
For a cremation now or in the near future, £995 covers hospital collection in South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. £1,095 covers hospital collection in England, Wales and Southern Scotland. Both include the funeral director’s charges and cremation fee. Additional collection services and ashes return can cost extra.
Can you collect from a home, hospice or care home?
For our at-need packages, call-out and collection from a home, hospice or care home during normal working hours, 9am–5pm, costs an additional £200.
What if someone dies outside normal hours?
Call 0800 206 2210. For our at-need packages, the out-of-hours emergency collection supplement is £195, for evenings, overnight, weekends and bank holidays, from any setting. It is added to applicable collection charges. Home, care-home or hospice collection also carries the separate £200 call-out fee.
Where is the service available?
England, Wales and Southern Scotland. The £995 local hospital area is South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire; the £1,095 hospital price covers England, Wales and Southern Scotland.
Could mileage or other charges apply?
Hospital collection is included within the stated package area. Additional transfers cost £195 plus distance at £1.30 per mile only when a person must be returned to the Coroner or transferred to a specialist hospital, such as the Prion Clinic, for organ removal or other specialist care. These are separate from the emergency collection supplement; agree any applicable extras before proceeding.
Care and the cremation
Where will the person be cared for and cremated?
Express arranges respectful care and preparation, then an individual cremation at a crematorium and time chosen by the provider. The existing price list identifies care at Scrooby/Bawtry DN10 6AB or Morton near Gainsborough DN21 3AA. Discuss the arrangements for your circumstances with the team.
How long will it take, and will we be told the date?
Discuss the expected collection and cremation dates, and how you would like to receive updates, when arranging the service.
Is the cremation individual?
Yes. Each person is cremated individually. The direct cremation is unattended, at a crematorium and time chosen by the provider.
What paperwork support is included?
Express provides advice on registration and related documents. The precise documents required depend on the circumstances.
Is a coffin included?
The published service includes a cotton shroud. Cardboard and wood-effect coffin upgrades are offered; ask for the applicable price before choosing. For someone over 15 stone, a strong HD coffin adds £200. For someone over 25 stone, a specialist coffin typically costs £250–£350; the exact cost is confirmed after measurements.
What about identification, jewellery or medical devices?
Ask the team to explain identification procedures and how personal items, jewellery and medical devices are handled before any transfer.
Can we visit before the cremation?
Viewing is excluded from the basic unattended service. Alternative arrangements can be quoted, so discuss a visit before deciding; availability and additional charges must be agreed.
Afterwards and planning ahead
Can the ashes be returned?
For at-need packages, return of ashes costs £50 including a scatter-tube urn. The £1,587 advance arrangement includes UK-mainland ashes return. Scattering in the crematorium grounds is free. Agree the collection or return arrangements with the team.
Can the ashes be scattered?
Scattering in the crematorium grounds is free. For at-need packages, return of ashes costs £50 including a scatter-tube urn. The £1,587 advance arrangement includes UK-mainland ashes return. Discuss your wishes before choosing; no option is automatically selected.
When do we pay, and what if arrangements change?
Payment can be made by bank transfer or debit/credit card. The necessary documents and cleared funds are required before cremation. Discuss any proposed change or cancellation with the team before proceeding.
Can I plan ahead?
Yes. Free advance planning offers a separate £1,587 Direct Cremation arrangement fixed for 10 years, subject to your agreement. Weekday collection from hospital, home, care home or hospice, 9am–5pm, and UK-mainland ashes return are included; urgent out-of-hours collection adds £195. There is no advance payment. After ten years, prices are reviewed every five years, with no renewal administration fee. Your After My Death Certificate records the agreed services and guarantee.
Does free registration fix the price?
The £1,587 advance arrangement fixes the agreed services and price for 10 years under your agreement, without advance payment. After ten years, the price is reviewed against the qualifying published price, subject to the safeguards in the agreement, and fixed for the next five years. Further reviews take place every five years. There is no renewal administration fee. This is separate from the £995/£1,095 at-need packages.