Ceremonies

Ceremonies

A civil funeral ceremony gives you the opportunity to celebrate your loved one's life, while reflecting the very individual wishes of your family and those of the person who has passed away.

To arrange a civil funeral please speak to a funeral director or contact one of our celebrants at Chester Register Office.

Fees from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

• This fee applies when the person conducting the ceremony meets with the bereaved family (or friend) in one of our Register Offices: £203
• This fee applies when the person conducting the ceremony meets with the bereaved family (or friend) at their home: £267
• Scattering of ashes: £95.50

Please note: The cost of a civil funeral or scattering of ashes for a child between one month and 16 years is half the above price.

What information do I need to provide?

The information that you need to provide will depend on whether the person who has passed away is to be buried or cremated.

Burials

If the person who has passed away is to be buried you will need a burial certificate from the register office. If the death involved the coroner they will have sent you an order for burial form which you will need.

Cremations

If the person who has passed away is to be cremated you will need an application for cremation which needs to be signed by the next of kin or executor.

If the death involved the coroner they will send the funeral director an order for cremation form.

Medical forms

Doctors who dealt with the person who has passed away will have completed the medical forms. The funeral director will deal with this.

What happens next?

The person conducting the ceremony will be a fully trained professional celebrant. Our celebrant will talk to you and your funeral director about all aspects of your ceremony. We will make sure it is meaningful and meets the needs of the person who has passed away and those of their family.

Further information

A civil funeral can be held almost anywhere you wish as long as it is appropriate for cremations, burials at non-religious burial grounds or woodland burial sites.

You may want to include music, poetry or readings which have special significance for the person who has passed away. There may be members of your family or close friends who would like to speak at the ceremony.

Our celebrant will discuss the details with them to make sure that the ceremony becomes the tribute that you wish.