List of Rights included in Charter for the Bereaved adminstered by the
Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) |
| SECTION 1 - BURIAL PROCEDURE |
| Right 1 | You have a right to organise and conduct a burial in a dignified and orderly manner, supported by competent , professional and caring staff |
| Right 2 | You have a right to inspect statutory cemetery records. |
| Right 3 | You have the right to expect Charter Members to continually work towards improving facilities for mourners in cemeteries |
| SECTION 2 - GRAVE CHOICE |
| Right 4 | You have the right to purchase the “Right of Burial” in a grave, normally for a period not exceeding 100 years. (This will usually include placing a memorial). |
| Right 5 | You have the right to purchase the ‘Right to erect and Maintain a Memorial’ on a grave for a period not exceeding 100 years. (If not included in the Right of Burial) |
| Right 6 | You have the right to be buried in an unpurchased grave. |
| SECTION 3 - CEMETERY MEMORIALS |
| Right 7 | You have the right to place a memorial within the constraints of regulations in force or to leave the grave unmarked. |
| Right 8 | You have the right and responsibility to maintain the memorial upon the grave during the period of grave rights granted to you, or any extension made to this period. The memorial cannot be disturbed or moved during this period, without your express permission, unless it poses a safety hazard. The safe erection and maintenance of the memorial is your responsibility during the period of the rights. |
| Right 9 | Except where Charter members are the sole supplier of memorials, you have the right to use any memorial mason of your choice, provided they are not prohibited by the Charter member. |
| SECTION 4 - BABY & INFANT GRAVES |
| Right 10 | You have the right to be offered an individual grave for a baby or infant. If this grave is “private”, your rights and period of grave ownership will be defined. Permission to place a memorial in accordance with the regulations in force will be given. |
| Right 11 | It is your right to be able to purchase an adult grave for the burial of a baby or infant, with sufficient depth remaining to allow adult burials. |
| SECTION 5 - BURIALS IN PRIVATE LAND |
| Right 12 | It is your right to receive factual information on burial in private land from your Charter member. |
| SECTION 16a - CEMETERY SAFETY |
| Right 29 | You have the right to enter a cemetery that is, as far as reasonably practicable, free of risks to your health & safety |
| Right 30 | It is your right to be shown a copy of the authority's health and safety policy, risk assessments and procedural documentation on request |
| Right 31 | It is your right to be shown a copy of the authority's policy relating to inspection testing and making safe of memorials on request |
| SECTION 6 - CREMATION PROCEDURE |
| Right 13 | It is your right to organise and conduct a cremation in a dignified and orderly manner, supported by competent, professional and caring staff. |
| Right 14 | It is your right to inspect the crematorium under normal working conditions. |
| SECTION 7 - CREMATED REMAINS & MEMORIALISATION |
| Right 15 | It is your right to be offered a Book of Remembrance memorial, set in a Hall of Remembrance. This must include a designated place for floral tributes. |
| SECTION 16b - CREMATORIUM SAFETY |
| Right 29 | You have the right to enter a cemetery that is, as far as reasonably practicable, free of risks to your health & safety |
| Right 30 | It is your right to be shown a copy of the authority's health and safety policy, risk assessments and procedural documentation on request |
| SECTION 8 - CEREMONIES AND BELIEF (Cremation Only) |
| Right 16 | It is your right to hold a burial or cremation service at the cemetery or crematorium and define the type of music and ceremony. |
| Right 17 | It is your right to define the type of religious or secular (non-religious) format of the service. |
| Right 18 | It is your right to define the type of music or other ceremony you wish to have at the service |
| SECTION 9 - COFFINS & ALTERNATIVES |
| Right 19 | It is your right to choose the type and design of coffin, within the constraints of availability, regulations and safe materials. |
| Right 20 | It is your right to obtain a coffin via your Charter member (biodegradable type). |
| SECTION 10 - COMMUNICATION |
| Right 21 | It is your right to receive a prompt response to any form of communication with a Charter member, within published service standards. |
| Right 22 | It is your right to be given a table of cemetery and crematorium fees upon request. |
| SECTION 12 - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES |
| Right 23 | It is your right to be made aware of all known environmental issues relating to bereavement services. (Full details are given in the Reference copy of the Charter for the Bereaved). |
| SECTION 13 - SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY ASPECTS |
| Right 24 | It is your right to receive a service that recognises your needs, without unfairness or discrimination e.g. religious belief, ethnic needs, disability, etc. |
| Right 25 | It is your right to organise a funeral without the use of a funeral director. |
| Right 26 | It is your right, as executor (or next of kin) to be given the body by a mortuary, hospital etc. in order to carry out a funeral. |
| Right 27 | It is your right to be given a leaflet by your Charter member describing how to arrange an independent funeral |
| SECTION 15 - MAINTENANCE OF GROUNDS & GRAVEDIGGING |
| Right 28 | It is your right to be shown a specified standard of grounds maintenance. Where standards fail to meet the specification, you have the right to complain. |
| SECTION 17 - REGULATIONS |
| Right 32 | It is your right to be given a list of regulations used by your Charter Member. |
| Right 33 | It is your right to be given a written explanation of the reason why a regulation has been used to restrict or otherwise influence your rights. |
| SECTION 18 - STAFF & EXPERTISE |
| Right 34 | It is your right to receive a quality service provided by trained and qualified staff. Where service standards fail, you have a right to question the level of expertise shown and to receive assurances regarding the ability of those involved. |
| SECTION 19 - INSPECTION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES |
| Right 35 | It is your right to be given an inspection of the cemetery or crematorium at any reasonable time. |
| Right 36 | It is your right to be given a copy of "The Guiding Principles" or the Code of Cremation Practice. |
| In addition to the above Rights there are a large number of enhanced service features, which add to the target figures obtainable |