Burial
If you are organising a burial, you will need to think about where the person will be buried and if you want to mark the burial spot.
You may have spiritual or religious beliefs, or environmental concerns, that also affect your decisions about the burial.
On this page:
What forms will I need for a burial?
If you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the registrar will give you a Certificate for Burial or Cremation (sometimes called 'the green form') to give to the funeral director. The funeral director will then plan the burial based on your wishes.
Read about registering a death.
If you're not using a funeral director, you need to give this form to the manager of the place where the person will be buried.
Burial forms for Scotland
If you are in Scotland, the registrar will give you the Certificate of Registration of Death and an Application for Burial.
How much does a burial cost?
Funeral costs can really vary depending on where you live. But the average cost of a basic burial is £4,800.*
Read about what is included in this cost as well as the cost of other types of funeral.
Where can someone be buried?
There are some options to think about for where someone can be buried. The person who died may also have left their wishes for this.
Burying someone in a faith burial ground
If the person who died wanted to be buried in a faith burial ground, the faith leader (for example, the parish priest) can help organise this. Some are no longer open for burial due to lack of space.
Burying someone in a cemetery
To arrange a burial in a council-run cemetery, you need a grave plot. The cemetery manager will advise you and you can find their contact details on the council website. The cost may vary depending on whether the person lived in the area.
The person who died might have bought their cemetery grave plot in advance, in which case check for a Deed of Grant or Exclusive Right of Burial in their paperwork.
Most cemeteries are non-denominational. This means you can hold most types of service in their grounds.
Read more about organising a funeral.
Burying someone in a natural burial ground
You may wish to use a natural burial ground. These include woodland burial sites, nature reserves and meadow burial sites. To find sites, you can contact the Association of Natural Burial Grounds which is part of the Natural Death Centre.
Burying someone on their own land
You may be able to bury your friend or family member on their own land, although there are some restrictions on this.
If you want to find out more about burying someone on their own land, contact the Natural Death Centre.
If you're using a funeral director, they can also tell you about different options in your area.
Marking the burial spot
You may want to mark the spot where your friend or family member is buried with a plaque, headstone, tree or other type of memorial. The cemetery or burial ground manager can give you information about what's allowed and how much it costs.
If the grave is on private land (such as private woodland or farmland), check its long-term security. This is to make sure there are no plans to use the land for something else that might disturb the grave.
She looked absolutely stunning, laid out with flowers. It looked like all the cancer had just left her body. She looked really well and that will be my lasting memory of Mandy.
Getting support
We know that organising a burial or a funeral for someone who was important to you, can be difficult. If you need emotional support or information about any of the practical things you need to do after someone has died, you can contact the Marie Curie Support Line for free on 0800 090 2309.
*This is based on the Sun Life Cost of Dying Report 2023. Marie Curie has no affiliation with Sunlife.
Useful websites
National Association of Funeral Directors
National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
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About this information
This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.
