Frequently asked questions

A Simplicity Cremation is available everywhere in mainland Great Britain including Scotland (this excludes Northern Ireland, Scottish Isles, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands) through our nationwide network of offices and crematoria.

Not all direct cremations are the same. A Simplicity Cremation is a complete and straightforward service that is arranged directly over the phone, generally without the need to visit a funeral director.

Our funeral packages are based on the number of people that will be in attendance at the committal. It does not involve any formal ceremony or service, although this can organised by the family with our attended packages. A direct cremation can take place unattended if you'd prefer.

The deceased is transported to the crematorium where the cremation takes place and then the ashes are scattered within the remembrance garden at the crematorium or are returned upon request.

A Simplicity Cremation starts at £995 which covers all of the essentials required for an unattended direct cremation. You can choose to add any extras if required such as return of ashes.

Our attended funeral packages start at £1,395.

You will be required to make a full payment over the phone by credit or debit card when you arrange a Simplicity Cremation.

Additional charges that you may incur are:

- for collecting the deceased outside the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or on UK Bank Holidays; and /or

- the cost to remove pacemakers or other medical implants prior to cremation where a charge is made.

You will be advised if these costs are to be applied before the cremation takes place.

The Government's website, The Money Advice Service has some useful information and advice about paying for a funeral.

Yes, you have the right to change your mind, even if a local funeral director has already brought your loved one into their care. Just tell the funeral director that you want to instruct Simplicity Cremations to take over. You may be required to pay for the care they have delivered so far. We will work with the funeral director for a smooth and professional transfer of care.

Yes, when selecting one our attended cremation packages.

Our Intimate Funeral allows a short time in the chapel to say a few words and witness the committal for up to 12 people. You will also have the option to play a piece of music of your choice. An intimate funeral will take place at 9am on an available date of your choosing (Tuesday-Friday only), at a CMG crematorium local to the place of rest.

Our Attended Funeral is suited towards those who are looking for a low key funeral with no limit on the number of attendees, allowing a full-length service in the chapel with a ceremony organised by the family. We will put you in contact with the chapel attendant giving you the opportunity to discuss the running order of the service. The funeral will take place at a CMG crematorium local to the place of rest, at an available time and date of your choosing.

A direct cremation does not offer any kind of funeral service or the presence of a minister or officiant, unless otherwise organised by the family.

This depends on the package chosen.

Please refer to our prices page for more information.

The cremation will be held at a CMG crematorium local to the deceased’s place of rest. As part of one of the UK's largest funeral groups, we have access to over 45 crematoria.

You can find your local CMG crematorium using our crematorium finder.

With us, absolutely not. A Simplicity Cremation does not mean substandard care. From the moment your loved one is collected to when the ashes are returned or scattered, every step of the process is carried out with dedication, expertise and compassion.

When someone dies, the death needs to be registered before the funeral arrangements can proceed. You can find more information about registering a death in England, Wales and Scotland or read our guide on what to do when someone dies.

No, once we have taken someone into care, the direct nature of the service means there is no opportunity for viewing.

No, because the service is managed directly there won’t be a traditional funeral procession.

We accept payment by debit or credit card over the phone. The full payment must be made prior to us undertaking the service.

Doctor's fees are included as part of our Unattended, Intimate and Attended Funeral packages.

Before cremation can take place, two certificates need to be signed, one by the GP and one by another doctor.

The first form (Certificate of Medical Attendant of Form 4) is generally signed by the same doctor who issued the Medical Certificate Cause of Death. The second form (Confirmatory Medical Certificate or Form CR5) is completed and signed by a different doctor, who will check and confirm the details provided by the first.

A fee can be charged for the completion of these forms as this does not form part of a doctor’s NHS duties. In total, the doctor’s fees cost £164. This covers the cost of two forms and is composed of two payments of £82. 

Changes to legislation in 2015 mean there is no charge for medical certificate for any deaths registered in Scotland.

Similar legal changes are being considered for the rest of the UK, so we do not include provision for these fees in our Prepaid Funeral Plans. If medical certification fees are applicable at the time of death, the fees should be paid by the next of kin or personal representative.

We require full payment over the phone for the service at the time of booking. However, if you qualify for the Government's Social Fund Funeral Payment you may be able to successfully claim the cost back. We will provide you with a full receipted invoice which you will need to make a claim within 3 months of the funeral. Find out more about the Government's Social Fund Funeral Payment.

The Government's website, The Money Advice Service also has some useful information and advice about paying for a funeral.

‘Pauper’s Funeral’ is a term that is sometimes used to describe a Public Heath Funeral or a Council Funeral. We explain in more detail here.

Your loved one will be dressed in a simple gown when cremated.

We use simple dark wood effect coffins.

Yes, we can provide a larger coffin at no extra cost. Please let us know if your loved one is heavier than 20 stone or taller than 6'7".

We will only ever cremate one person in the cremator at a time and the ashes will only be of that individual.

It is a common misconception that the coffin is recycled after a cremation. Find out what happens to the coffin after a cremation here.

There are a number of options for what to do with the ashes after the cremation has happened, and our staff and those at the crematorium will be able to assist you with this. As standard, after an unattended funeral has taken place, the ashes can be respectfully scattered on your behalf in our garden of remembrance, or can be returned to you on request. After an intimate or attended funeral, the ashes will be returned to you in a simple container.

If ashes are to be returned, there are clear rules on who they can be given to after a cremation. The ‘Applicant’ (the person who signs the paperwork authorising the cremation to proceed) takes possession of the ashes and responsibility for choosing what to do with them.

To avoid family disputes, it is sensible to share your wishes or write clear instructions in your Will.

Our cremation service is suitable for all religions. We provide the cremation service without any religious aspects, allowing you to arrange your own religious service with your faith leader in the chapel or at a memorial at a later date if you so wish.

Yes. Simplicity Cremations (as a trading style of Dignity Funerals Limited) is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors, the industry body that sets the highest standards of customer care in funerals through a robust Code of Practice, Code of Professional Standards and independent arbitration service.

We won Best Direct Cremations Provider 2018 at the prestigious Good Funeral Awards.

If you are considering scattering a loved one’s ashes following a cremation, you will need to be aware of a few laws around this. We explain this in more detail here.