Who does what at a funeral

By Jakub Henderson · Last updated 9 May 2026 · Sources

When a death happens in Scotland, three different people or places are usually involved. They each do a different part of the job. This page explains who does what, in plain English.

The funeral director

The funeral director is the firm that handles everything around the funeral. They collect the person who has died, look after them in their own chapel of rest, and do most of the paperwork — the registrar, the booking with the crematorium, and the application for the Funeral Support Payment (a Scottish government payment that helps with funeral costs if you're on certain benefits) if you ask them to.

They also supply the coffin, the hearse, the transport for the family, and they organise the venue. "Funeral director" and "undertaker" mean the same thing in the UK. The two words are used interchangeably.

If you phone Rankin in Burntisland, you are phoning the funeral director. Their phone number is the first call most families make. The full Fife list, with prices, is at our directory.

The celebrant — the person who leads the ceremony

The celebrant is the person who actually leads the ceremony on the day. This is usually a different person from the funeral director. There are four common kinds in Fife.

• Your family's own minister — Church of Scotland, Catholic priest, Free Church, or another denomination.
• A humanist celebrant — the Humanist Society Scotland trains and keeps a list of these. The ceremony is non-religious.
• An independent celebrant — secular but flexible. They can include religious bits if you ask.
• A family member. Scottish law allows this. No licence needed.

If your father went to Inverkeithing Parish Church for years, his minister would usually be the celebrant. The funeral director would phone the minister on your behalf.

The crematorium or burial ground

This is the place where the actual cremation or burial happens. Three crematoria serve Fife families. Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Rosemount Avenue. Dunfermline Crematorium on Masterton Road. Brewsterwells, near St Andrews, which covers north-east Fife.

Burial grounds are run by Fife Council. There are 62 active cemeteries across the region.

The funeral director books these on your behalf. You usually do not phone them yourself. Whoever you choose as the funeral director, the cremation itself happens at one of those three places.

The three roles, side by side

When does each one get involved?

1. First hour after a death. You phone a funeral director. They take it from there.
2. Within 8 days. You register the death at the local registrar. The funeral director will help with the paperwork.
3. Days 3 to 5. The funeral director arranges the celebrant, books the crematorium or burial ground, and agrees the day of the funeral with you.
4. The day itself. The celebrant leads the ceremony. The funeral director runs everything around it. The crematorium or burial ground operates their part.
5. Afterwards. The funeral director returns the ashes if there was a cremation, or finishes the burial paperwork. They are usually still your point of contact for any follow-up.

Common questions

Does the funeral director also lead the ceremony?

Usually no. They book a celebrant for you. Some funeral directors have a humanist celebrant on staff, but most do not. Ask them when you phone.

Do I have to use a minister?

No. In Scotland you can have a humanist ceremony, an independent celebrant, a family member leading it, or no ceremony at all.

Can I have the funeral at home?

Yes. Scottish law allows it. A funeral director will help you arrange it. Speak to them when you first phone.

What if I do not want a ceremony at all?

That is called a direct cremation. The funeral director collects the person, arranges the cremation, and returns the ashes. There is no service. It is usually the lowest-priced option in Fife.

How do I know which celebrant to choose?

If your family has a regular minister, start there. If you want a non-religious ceremony, the Humanist Society Scotland (humanist.scot) keeps a list of celebrants. Your funeral director can also suggest people they have worked with.