Arranging a cremation

Death certification reform and the medical examiner system

A new statutory death certification process came into effect in England and Wales on 9 September 2024. Under this system, all deaths in England and Wales are independently scrutinised, either by a coroner or – in cases not involving the coroner – by a medical examiner (ME). In certain cases, the death may have been sent to the coroner, but the coroner has decided that they do not need to investigate, so they will pass it to the ME.

The introduction of MEs through these reforms will improve the quality and accuracy of the information provided on the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), which is the document which provides a permanent legal record of the death and enables the bereaved to register a death and arrange a funeral.

The process under the new system

1. When someone dies, the medical practitioner who attended them will – where they are able – propose a cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief
2. The attending medical practitioner will then share that proposed cause of death with the ME, a senior medical doctor, who will provide an independent scrutiny of the death. MEs will provide an opportunity for the bereaved to ask any questions and raise any concerns. You can read more about the role of the ME
3. Once the ME has independently completed their scrutiny of the death and notified the registrar and the medical certificate is forwarded on for registration, you, as the representative of the deceased person, will be informed. You will then be able to contact the registrar’s office to register the death
4. Once you have registered the death, the registrar will produce a death certificate for you to purchase, and they will also produce a certificate for burial or cremation also known as ‘the green form’ to facilitate the funeral arrangements. The ‘green form’ is a document which is generated by the registrar with the information from the MCCD and is one of the documents that provides the crematorium with the authority to cremate. The green form must therefore be sent to the crematorium along with the application for cremation.

Concerns about the cause of death

If you have serious concerns about the cause of death and believe the case should be investigated by a coroner, you should contact the coroner’s office right away.

A coroner is an independent judicial office holder appointed by a local authority to investigate deaths that are unnatural, violent or if the cause was unknown, or due to an industrial disease. In such cases, the death should have already been referred to a coroner by a doctor or by the police. However, if you are not sure whether this has happened, or if you are not sure whether coroner referral is required, you should discuss your concerns with the Medical Examiner, who can help obtain answers to any questions and advise on whether coroner referral is required.

Your funeral service provider, if you use one, can also provide contact details and any other assistance.

The following statutory forms are legally required in order for the cremation to take place:

Cremation 1

There are 4 key parts of form Cremation 1 that are particularly important, and that we want to draw your attention to. These are:

1. The applicant for the cremation is normally an executor or next of kin over the age of 16
2. You must notify relevant authorities, such as the funeral service provider if using one or the crematorium, of the presence of any implantable medical devices (part 3 of the form)
3. You must provide instructions about what you would like to happen with the ashes following the cremation (part 4 of the form)
4. You must provide instructions about what you would like to happen with any metals following the cremation (part 4 of the form)

Cremation information form - This form provides information about the service, as well as other important information. This is signed by the funeral director and the applicant for cremation or burial. 

Service times

Monday to Saturday

• 30-minute services are: 8.30am, 9.00am, 9.30am, 10.00am, 3.30pm and 4.00pm
• 45-minute services are: 11.00am, 11.45am, 12.30pm, 1.15pm, 2.00pm and 2.45pm
• Saturday 1 hour services are: 10.00am, 11.00am and 12.00

Prices for each service type are outlined on our price list page.

Please note, these service times may vary dependent on demand. Your funeral director will advise you of the current arrangements.

Music, live streaming and tributes

We recognise that music is a very important part of the funeral service.

We use the Wesley Media system for our music. Any commercially recorded piece of music can be played on the system.

Wesley Media can also edit any recorded piece of music, for example if you would like the chorus only playing this can be arranged.

Music can be played on entry to the chapel, during the service for a time of reflection and on leaving the chapel.

As well as music you can arrange live steaming of the service and tributes can be played throughout.

Your funeral director will organise your music and other service choices prior to the service.

Service arrangements

The deceased's family can make any service arrangements they feel appropriate and there are a number of choices available.

A full religious or non-religious service can be conducted at the crematorium in the time allocated. Alternatively, a service may take place at a separate place of worship followed by a brief committal service at the crematorium.

Families can arrange for their own officiant to take the service, or they can ask the funeral director to instruct a suitable officiant on their behalf.

The service

The mourners will gather close to the entrance or in the waiting area a few minutes prior to the appointed time of the funeral service.

When the principal mourners are ready to proceed, the coffin will be conveyed into the chapel by the bearers. The coffin will be placed on the catafalque at the top of the chapel and mourners will be directed to their seats, after which the service will proceed.

At the moment during the service when the committal of the body takes place the coffin may be obscured from view by the curtains closing. The curtains can remain open if this is preferred.

At the end of the service the mourners leave the chapel and may view the floral tributes displayed in the flower shelter opposite the exit to the chapel.

After the service

Carleton Crematorium is a member of the Federation of British Cremation Authorities and is required to operate the service strictly in accordance with the Code of Conduct of Cremation Practice. This code provides the only ethical standard of cremation practice in Great Britain; a copy is available on the Federation of British Cremation Authorities website.

The coffin is withdrawn into the receiving room where the name plate and identity card is carefully checked by the crematorium staff to ensure the correct identity. An identity card will accompany the coffin, and resultant remains until their final dispersal or removal from the crematorium.

The cremation usually commences shortly after the service. A cremator can physically only accept one coffin at a time, the only exception to this would be with special permission for a mother and baby or twin children to be cremated together.

All remains are removed from the cremator before it can be used again. Cremated remains are only removed from the cremator when the cremation is complete.

The remains are withdrawn to a cooling area and finally into a special container where the process of removing ferrous metals will take place.

The residue is reduced to a fine consistency suitable for storage and eventual dispersal. The remains are enclosed in a suitable and accurately identified container to await dispersal or collection.

Following the cremation of a deceased person, the ashes are likely to contain metals such as items used in the construction of the coffin and orthopedic implants such as hip and knee replacement joints. In the past, these metals were removed from the ashes and buried within the grounds of the crematorium, as the bereaved had very rarely expressed any desire for them to be returned to them.

Metals can be returned to you if you wish. This request must be made prior to the cremation taking place.

All metals recovered are collected and taken for recycling within the UK. All proceeds will go towards local charities and bereavement related projects.

Our previous recipients have included Trinity Hospice, SANDS, Doherty's Destiny, Hug in a Bag, Brian House, The Miscarriage Association, North West Blood Bikers, Cruse Bereavement Care, The Blue Skies Trust, North West Air Ambulance Charity, Blackpool Carers Centre, Blackpool RNLI and Counselling in the Community. Each charity has received funds ranging between £2,000 and £17,000.

If you are a registered charity, that fully meets the criteria set out above and would like to be considered to be nominated for the donation, please email: crematorium@blackpool.gov.uk with your request.

Cremated remains will usually be ready for collection from the next working day following the cremation.

The applicant for cremation, a person nominated by the applicant for cremation, or a nominated funeral director can collect the cremated remains.

Photographic identification and proof of address will be required at the time of collection to confirm that the cremated remains are being released to the correct person.

A certificate of cremation will be released with the cremated remains. This is a document which confirms the name of the deceased, the date of the cremation and where the cremation took place. This certificate must remain with the cremated remains at all times until the final dispersal.

The law on the dispersal of cremated remains is fairly relaxed in the UK. If you decide to dispose of the cremated remains by scattering them in a place significant to the deceased or family, it is important to get permission from the landowner, trust of parks and reserves or from local council for parks, beaches and playing fields.

Permission must be sought as scattering of cremated remains can contravene the provision of Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 in terms of water and air pollution.

The decision about disposal of cremated remains will need to be discussed with the relatives, or person arranging the cremation at the time of arranging the service. If you are undecided and wish to wait to make a decision, this can be recorded on cremation form 1.

The Memorial Rose Garden and Woodland Area North within Carleton Cemetery and Crematorium have areas for the disposal of cremated remains. These areas are arranged to provide a focal point for visitors and include a variety of memorial options.

As well as these areas, we have other memorials available throughout the cemetery such as memorial trees, memorial benches and sanctums, where cremated remains can be interred. 

If you require any further information, please contact the bereavement service on 01253 882541 or email crematorium@blackpool.gov.uk

The loss of a friend or loved one can be an extremely difficult and challenging time, and we want you to know that you're not alone and we will try our best to guide you in the right direction.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to anyone who has suffered a bereavement under any circumstance.

There is a range of support available, including through the NHS, Cruse Bereavement Care, and the Good Grief Trust which provides signposting and services across the UK.

If you are supporting a bereaved child or young person, the Childhood Bereavement Network has information and links to national and local organisations.

If you or anyone you know is feeling low or at risk of suicide, please visit suicide help and advice