Direct cremation or burial: how to choose

Direct cremation means the cremation happens with no service, no viewing and no mourners present. Burial means a coffin is placed in a grave, usually after a service. Most families choose between these two, and the decision is personal. Faith comes first for many people. Some religions require burial. Others accept cremation. Ask your faith leader if you are unsure.

Think about what the family needs. A burial gives a grave to visit. A cremation gives ashes to keep, scatter or bury. Some families hold a memorial service later, with the ashes present. That can suit relatives who live far away.

Ask what each option includes. Direct cremation is the simplest form. It covers collection, the cremation itself and return of the ashes. It does not include a service or viewing. A cremation with a service adds a ceremony at the crematorium. A burial adds a coffin, a grave plot and digging fees. These are often the largest single items.

Watch for third-party payments. Every funeral bill has two parts. One part pays the funeral director for their own work. The other part pays third parties, such as the crematorium, the cemetery or a doctor signing papers. These are sometimes called disbursements. Ask each provider to separate the two parts in writing.

Compare like with like. Get the written fee list from each provider you consider. Check the same items on each list. A low headline figure may leave out the coffin, the doctor's fee or the ashes container. In the United States, the provider must give you an itemised General Price List when you visit and ask about arrangements. In the United Kingdom, funeral directors must publish a standardised fee list. Elsewhere, ask for an itemised list in writing.

Do not rush. You can move the person who died to another provider if you change your mind early. Ask about this before you sign anything. A clear written list, with third-party payments shown apart, is the best basis for the choice.