Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Independent funerals

There is no legal requirement to use the services of a funeral director to make the arrangements on your behalf. You may wish to make all of the arrangements yourself, although a degree of courage and determination will be needed.

If the death occurred at home, the deceased's doctor and nearest relative should be contacted as soon as possible. Once the doctor has certified the cause of death, the body may be washed and dressed.

If the death occurred in hospital the family will need to collect the body from the mortuary. A coffin can be made or purchased from a funeral director or from the internet.  A large estate car, or similar vehicle, may be used for transportation of the deceased. 

The death must be registered and a Certificate for Burial or Cremation obtained, to allow the funeral to go ahead.  To find out how to do this, please visit the Registering a Death page.

Arrangements for the funeral can usually be made directly through the Bereavement Services team or by contacting the crematorium.  If a religious ceremony is required on the day of the funeral, the cemetery or crematorium usually has a list of ministers you may contact.  If you do not wish to have a religious ceremony, a Civil Funeral Celebrant or Humanist officiant may be used, or you could even conduct the ceremony yourself. 

Some useful documents are available from the web links and additional resources sections below.

Web Links

Stockton Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.

• Death Registration
• Age UK
• Age UK - Planning for a funeral
• Department of Work and Pensions