When a family decides that the chosen means of disposal is to be burial, there is often a plethora of different documents to be completed relating to burial authorities. When arranging a cremation, funeral directors can generally rely on the provision of statutory forms, or non-statutory forms of similar content and appearance. However, in arranging a burial, funeral directors are likely to encounter a wide variance both in paperwork and in practice.
Broadly speaking, burials are carried out in the following locations;
- municipal (council) cemeteries
- churchyards (of various denominations)
- private cemeteries
- private land, such as gardens or farms
- at sea
The most common types of grave available for burial are:
Lawn graves (Lairs in Scotland)– where the space in front of any memorial is laid to lawn
Traditional graves – using a kerbset or coverstone covering the whole area of the grave
Bricked graves – where the interior is bricked and then capped, in some cases using a pre-cast trough. These are quite commonly used for Muslim funerals when burial is required quickly.
Mausolea – an above ground chamber where individual chambers can be purchased then bricked up when used. Or below ground chambers which are closed using slabs and cement.
Vaults – usually involving a memorial building sitting above a below ground burial space.
Woodland graves – Woodland graves can vary significantly, from existing woodland where graves are prepared around trees and simple wooden markers provided. to other sites, where a grave is prepared and a tree planted on it.