A Guide To The Cremation Forms You Might Need When Arranging A Funeral

Before a cremation can take place, there is a range of cremation documentation which must be completed.

This guide talks you through the forms required for cremation.

A copy of the death certificate (Certificate of Registration of Death)

Source: The local registry office at the time of registering the death
Collected by: A close relative of the person who has died (if this is not possible, you can collect it if you were there at the time of death, are an administrator from the hospital if this is where the person died, or you are in charge of making the funeral arrangements)
Cost: £11 per copy in England and Wales, £10 per copy in Scotland

When someone dies, you will need to register the death and obtain a death certificate. The funeral director will ask to see the death certificate before making funeral arrangements. You will further need the death certificate to manage the estate of the person who has died’. For example, you may need to give a copy to banks, insurance, or pension companies, so it is important to ask for additional copies when registering the death.

For more information, see our guide on how to register a death.

Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the 'green form')

Source: The local registry office
Collected by: A close relative of the person who has died
Cost: Free of charge

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation is given to you when you register the death. This needs to be given to the funeral director, as it gives permission for the person who has died to be buried or cremated. A funeral cannot go ahead until this certificate is given to the crematorium (or burial authority).

If the death has been investigated by the coroner, this form will be replaced with a certificate of coroner (cremation form 6) instead.

The application for cremation (cremation form 1)

Source: This is usually given to the family by the funeral director
Download link: Cremation form 1
Completed by: The deceased’s closest relative, or the executor of the estate
Cost: Free of charge

The cremation application form authorises the cremation to take place. This form is referred to as Form 1 in England and Wales and Form A in Scotland. Once completed, this form should be given to the funeral director, who passes it to the crematorium.

Cremation Medical Certificate (cremation form 4) and Confirmatory Medical Certificate (cremation form 5)

Source: The funeral director usually liaises with the hospital or GP
Download link: Cremation form 4 – Cremation form 5
Completed by: Form 4 is completed by the doctor who was tending to the person when they passed, and form 5 is signed by a second doctor
Cost: £82 each, £164 in total

Doctor’s fees only apply in the case of cremation. This is due to the stricter guidelines and more rigorous medical checks involved in clearing a body for cremation. In total, doctor’s fees cost £164, which covers the cost of two forms and is composed of two payments of £82. In most cases, the funeral director appointed to arrange the funeral will arrange for the doctor to perform checks and sign cremation form 4 and 5.

The Cremation Medical Certificate or cremation form 4 is signed by the same doctor who issued the Medical Certificate Cause of Death.

The second form is known as Confirmatory Medical Certificate or cremation form 5. This form is completed and signed by a different doctor, who will check and confirm the details provided by the first.*

These forms are not applicable in all cases. For instance, if the death goes to the coroner, there is no need to pay for the forms to be signed. These fees also do not apply in Scotland.

*Please note, this process has been revised to reflect the temporary changes to the Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008 provided for in the Coronavirus Act 2020 which came into force on 26 March 2020. The requirement for the Confirmatory Medical Certificate (Form CR5) has been temporarily removed. The amended Regulations and revised guidance will be in force until further notice.

The authorisation for cremation (cremation form 10)

Source: The crematorium
Completed by: A medical referee appointed by the crematorium
Cost: Included in the cost of cremation

The authorisation for cremation is the final medical sign-off at the crematorium which allows the cremation to take place and does not require any involvement from the bereaved.

If you are using the services of a funeral director, or alternative funeral arranger, they should be able to guide you through the cremation process.

For help arranging a funeral, contact us today.