Family Managed Funerals

Bereavement Services

• Introduction
• At the Time of Death
• Registration
• Funeral Arrangements
• Funeral Service 
• Interment and Cremation

Introduction

Tameside council is committed to providing a high quality and caring service. As part of this commitment, the council has produced this page to guide you in organising a funeral yourself.

If you decide to manage a funeral in a council cemetery, our staff will help you in arranging a burial with minimal assistance from a funeral director. This leaflet takes you through the various steps of organising a funeral from the time death occurs to maintaining the place of rest.

At the Time of Death

When a death occurs at home, a registered medical practitioner who attended the person during their lifetime will complete a proposed Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

From 9 September 2024, all MCCDs must be independently reviewed by a Medical Examiner, unless the case is referred directly to a Coroner. The Medical Examiner may contact the family as part of this process.

If the attending practitioner cannot determine a cause of death, or if certain legal criteria apply, the case will be referred to the Coroner, who will decide whether an investigation or inquest is required.

If death occurs in hospital, the hospital’s Medical Examiner Office will coordinate the review and advise you when documents are ready.

Registration

Deaths must be registered at the local Register Office. For deaths within Tameside, this is the office at Dukinfield Town Hall, King Street, Dukinfield (Tel: 0161 342 5032).

Before registration, the Medical Examiner must confirm the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. The Registrar will then complete the registration and issue the necessary documents.

If the Coroner investigates the death, the Coroner will provide the paperwork directly to the Registrar. Registration may proceed only after the Coroner has concluded whether an inquest is required.

Funeral Arrangements

There is no legal reason why you cannot manage the funeral arrangements if you so choose. It is never easy to cope when the death of a relative or friend occurs. You are advised to think through carefully what you will need to do in organising a funeral before making your final decision. If you decide to proceed with a Family Managed Funeral in a Council Cemetery or Crematorium, you should telephone the Cemetery Office as soon as possible. An appointment can then be made for you to visit or alternatively we will arrange to visit you at your own home. The Cemetery staff will advise you of the arrangements that need to be made to conduct the funeral. There will be choices and decisions to be made which will be recorded on a form and a copy given to you. Some of the important issues that you must consider are listed below.

• The body of any person to be buried in a Council Cemetery must be contained in a coffin approved by the Council.
• The funeral must arrive at the agreed time at the cemetery.
• On entering the cemetery all aspects of the funeral are under the direction of cemetery staff, who instructions must be observed.
• You will need to arrange your own appropriate transport for the funeral cortege and coffin to and from the cemetery.
• It is your personal choice as to whether you use any of the services provided by a Funeral Director
• Cemetery fees are payable in advance and cheques must be made payable to Tameside MBC.

Funeral Service

The traditional funeral ceremony does not have to be followed and it may be that no formal or religious ceremony is desired. If however, you prefer a religious ceremony you should contact your normal place of worship. Family or friends may wish to devise their own funeral service with poems, music, songs or readings. You will be required to advise the cemetery office of the content of your chosen ceremony. It is anticipated that the ceremony will not exceed 20 minutes.

Interment and Cremation

Tameside Council offers burials or the interment of cremated remains at Ashton, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Mottram Cemeteries.

You may choose a traditional grave interment which could allow for further relatives to be interred in the same grave.

You may wish to inter cremated remains in a Garden of Rest at Denton or Mottram Cemetery. Details of various alternatives can be obtained from the cemetery office. A Cremation can be arranged through the Dukinfield Crematorium Office where the statutory forms will be issued to you.

You will need a disposal certificate from the Registrars Office. This must be handed to Cemetery Office at least 48 hours working hours prior to the funeral taking place.

Further Rules and Regulations are also available from the office.

All Rules and Regulations which apply to Tameside Cemeteries under the various Burial Acts, Cemeteries Orders and Council Regulations must be strictly adhered to, at all times.