Government rules
People are allowed to attend a funeral or a belief based/ceremonial event that is linked to a funeral (such as a scattering of ashes)
Up to 30 people are allowed to attend a funeral; this does not include funeral staff
Up to 15 people are allowed to attend a belief based/ceremonial event (such as a wake or scattering of ashes); this does not include anyone working. Some venues can remain open to host such events. If the event is in a private dwelling (including private gardens), only members of one household or support bubble can attend. You must not break your self-isolation to attend such an event
Actual maximum numbers that can attend will be dependent on what the venue can safely allow (see details for Yorkshire crematoria below)
Light refreshments are permitted at events linked to funerals
Symptomatic people should not attend funerals
People who are self-isolating should not attend funerals unless they are a close family member of the person that has died. Remote attendance should take place where possible. If after considering the risk you choose to attend in person you must
Local Crematorium Rules
Cottingley
14 in chapel and 16 outside
Professional pallbearers only
No touching the coffin
Rope barrier around coffin
Officiant only at lectern
Any attendee readings must be done from seats
Seats have been separated
Curtains to remain open
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings
Huddersfield
10 inside chapel and 10 outside
Lawns Wood
14 in chapel and 16 outside
Professional pallbearers only
Rope barrier around coffin
Officiant only at lectern
Any attendee readings must be done from seats
Seats have been separated
Curtains to remain open
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings
Nab Wood
15 inside chapel and 5 outside
Seating spaced which must be moved back if tampered with
Any speaking from attendees must be done from their seats (i.e., not at the lectern)
No touching coffin
Rope barriers around coffin
Curtains must remain open at the end of the service
Professional pallbearers only
No singing or hymn books
2 pieces of music allowed
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings
Park Wood
20 inside chapel and 8 in overflow
Seating spaced which must be moved back if tampered with
Curtains must remain open at the end of service
Professional pallbearers only
Attendees cannot touch coffin
Rope barrier around coffin
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings (crematorium yet to confirm number)
Rawdon
18 in chapel and 12 outside
Professional pallbearers only
Rope barrier around coffin
Officiant only at lectern
Any attendee readings must be done from seats
Seats have been separated
Curtains to remain open
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings
2 Saturdays in December and January there will be 10 appointments available with no extra charge
Scholemoor
10 mourners inside chapel and 10 outside
Seating spaced which will be moved back if mourners move seats
Any speaking from attendees must be done from their seats (i.e., not at the lectern)
Rope barriers around coffin
Curtains must remain open at the end of the service
Professional pallbearers only
No touching the coffin
No visual tributes or live webcasts but service can be recorded to be sent out after
No singing or hymn books
2 pieces of music allowed
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings (crematorium yet to confirm number)
Skipton
15 inside chapel and 15 outside
Seating spaced which must be moved back if tampered with
No touching the coffin
No singing
No shouldering
Only officiant allowed at lectern
Flowers can be left on coffin but crematorium staff will not remove them
Maximum of 6 for ashes scatterings (crematorium yet to confirm number)
Stonefall
20 inside chapel and 0 outside
Funerals with more than 20 attendees will be turned away
Rope barrier around coffin
Seats aren’t separated but some rows are blocked off
Funeral director must be last to leave the chapel
York
18 inside chapel
No touching the coffin
Professional pallbearers only
Curtains will close at end of service
Seating is separated but can be moved – must be moved back before next service
Barrier around coffin
Local Burial Rules
Bradford
30 attendees allowed
Family / friend pallbearers are allowed
Calderdale
28 attendees allowed
Craven
15 attendees allowed
Harrogate
20 attendees allowed
Kirklees
10 attendees allowed
Leeds
30 attendees allowed
Family allowed to carry coffin and lower into grave
Armley / Hunslet burial chapels can only accommodate 20
Registering a death
General Government Guidance
If the person died at home or in hospital:
A relative should register the death but if this is not possible the following may register
Someone who was there at the time of death
An administrator from the hospital where the person died
Someone who is in charge of making funeral arrangements
If the person died somewhere other than at home or in a hospital:
A relative should register the death but if this is not possible the following may register:
Someone who was there at the time of death
The person who found the person after they had died
Someone who is in charge of caring for the person after they have died
Someone who is in charge of making funeral arrangements
Bradford
Telephone 01274 432 151 to book an appointment for the registrar to call you. If the person died in either BRI of AGI you can make an appointment through their bereavement officers. For BRI telephone 01274 364477 and for AGI telephone 01535 652 511.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be sent directly to the registrar.
Calderdale
Visit the below link to book an appointment for the registrar to contact you.
https://ebooking.calderdale.gov.uk/eRegistrar/
Registration of death is only being carried out over telephone.
The hospital or GP surgery will scan the registration paperwork to the registrar.
Harrogate
Use the below link to book an appointment for the registrar to ring you:
https://myaccount.northyorks.gov.uk/registrars/death-booking
Or, call 01609 780780
You will need:
Details about the person that has died
Confirmation that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been emailed to the registrars
A credit / debit card to pay for any death certificates
Kirklees
No registration of death is to be done in person, only over the telephone
Use the below link to book an appointment for the registrar to ring you
You will need:
Details about the person that has died
Confirmation that the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is with the registrar
A credit / debit card to pay for any death certificates
Leeds
Registering the death by phone
A member of the registrar team will call the next of kin usually within three days of the person’s death and over the course of the phone call they will register the death. If the next of kin is unable to take the call someone else can speak to the registrar – the next of kin can pass the phone to them or they can give the registrar additional contact details. The other person must be:
A relative of the person that has died
The funeral director or someone making the person’s funeral arrangements
York
Email: [email protected] or call 01904 654477 to arrange an appointment to register a death by telephone; details you must include are:
name of the person who has died
date and place of death
name, contact number and email address of the person registering the death
name of the funeral director (if known)
Registration of deaths is only taking place over the telephone.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be issued directly to the register office.
