Am I obliged to take a coffin? And can I make these myself?
In Belgium you are legally obliged to take a coffin or shroud for burial or cremation.
Both the coffin and shroud will be used for burial or cremation and will not be replaced by a cheaper one. When a coffin or shroud is closed, it may not be opened again without permission from the Mayor.
Coffins must meet a number of conditions:
they are made from a natural material
the glues and lacquers used are biodegradable
the handles are made of perishable material or can be easily removed from the outside
the inner lining consists of natural and biodegradable substances
If the coffin is intended for cremation and is not made entirely of solid wood, then the materials used give at least comparable results in terms of emissions and ash remains during cremation.
There are also a number of requirements for corpse casings:
they are made from a natural material
they comply with a number of technical standards so that the moisture permeability, strength and degradability of the material used is assured
the bottom plank used for transport and that is buried and cremated meets the same conditions.
Coffins and body casings that have come into contact with remains may not be reused.
Can I choose who the funeral director is with funeral insurance?
All funeral insurances in Belgium are independent. This means that you always decide who the funeral director is. Even with a Dela funeral insurance, you can go to a non-Dela funeral home.
We accept everyone and every type of funeral insurance.
Can we as a family choose the crematorium where the ceremony or cremation takes place?
Naturally, the family chooses in which crematorium the funeral and/or cremation takes place. We have certain crematoria that we visit often, but we can go to any crematorium in Belgium. A crematorium is an intermunicipal company and therefore owned by the state, which means that every funeral director in Belgium can go there. If the municipality where you reside is part of a specific intermunicipal company, you will receive a discount on the cremation.
Is a funeral celebration/ceremony allowed somewhere other than the auditorium of the funeral home or crematorium?
It is common to have a funeral take place in an auditorium of the funeral home or crematorium. In addition, it is possible to hold a funeral at other locations, so it is possible to rent an event location, party room, etc. to hold a service. It is also possible to organize a funeral at home or in the garden.
When will our bank account be blocked?
Upon notification of the death, the bank account of the deceased and the joint accounts of the spouses are immediately blocked. However, the funeral costs and the costs of the last illness can always be paid on presentation of the invoices.
Do we need to contact a notary to declare the estate?
No, this is not mandatory. It is advisable to do this when filing a declaration with immovable property, because ownership titles change.
Can the deceased be buried in the same grave as his or her partner?
Each municipality has its own regulations for their cemetery. For example, it is possible that this is allowed in one municipality and not in another. Usually this must be provided for the partner who dies first. Ask us, we will help you.
Can we carry the coffin into the church ourselves?
Only the flexibility of the funeral director plays a role here.
If you can better deal with your loss in this way, you should simply report it.
Should the deceased be immediately transferred to a funeral home?
No, the family decides whether to stay at home for one or more days.
When the deceased is laid out at home for a longer period of time, specific measures must be taken. (embalming/thanatopraxy)
Is a cremation cheaper than a burial?
One would think that a cremation is cheaper than a traditional burial.
Indeed: a cremation in itself is not that expensive. But there is more to it: the urn, interment or burial with possibly an urn/columbarium stone, the extra hours of the staff and the extra travel.
But all this usually does not outweigh a large grave monument at a traditional burial.
Is a funeral expensive and what does it cost?
This is a question that concerns many people. In principle, you determine the price of a funeral yourself. Every funeral director has a number of fixed rates and costs that everyone pays, regardless of how large or small the funeral is. These rates are more or less at the same level, depending on which service is provided. The different “variables”; which coffin, which mourning print (and how much), a cremation, a coffee table, the stone and flowers determine the final price.
Can the ash urn be kept or scattered in a place other than the cemetery?
From July 1, 2004, you can take home the ashes or part of the ashes of first-degree relatives. The ashes may also be buried or scattered in a place other than the cemetery, with the permission of the land owner. To be clear, this concerns the ashes of your children, parents, spouse, adoptive children, adoptive parents, brothers and sisters. For this purpose, you must complete a model declaration and sign it by all first-degree family members.
Can I arrange my funeral in advance? Are there people who do this?
Yes
There are many people young and old who decide to arrange their funeral themselves in advance.
This can be for various reasons. For example, because one no longer has a family or to spare the surviving relative all this.
Can we choose a funeral director where we want?
Yes,
There is no legal provision that obliges the family to choose a particular Funeral Home.
The family itself decides which Funeral Home they go to.
