Short notice burial policy - Short notice burial times
The short notice burial service is available at the following times:
| Service | Burial times | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday burials (during office hours, not including Bank Holidays) | 9.30am to 3pm* * 2.45pm last burial in December and January | 0300 555 2848 |
| Summer evening burials, Monday to Friday (1st working week of April to last working week of September) | 5pm to 8pm* * 7pm last burial in April and September | 0300 555 2848 |
| Saturday burial service | 9.30am to 3pm* * 2.45pm last burial in December and January | 07734 544806 (Saturdays 8.30am to 12pm) 0300 555 2848 (office hours) |
| Sunday / Bank Holiday service (excludes Christmas Day – no service) | 9.30am to 3pm* * 2.45pm last burial in December and January | 07734 544806 (available 9am to 10am) 0300 555 2848 (office hours) |
General information
- A burial can only take place when a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been issued by the Medical Examiner following a death and electronically sent to a Register Office and the registration process completed by the registrar. Before a registration appointment, a Registrar will check this document is to ensure the MCCD is fully and correctly completed, and a registration can proceed.
- Walsall Register Office can only register deaths that have occurred within the Walsall District. Any deaths outside this area must be registered at the local Register Office and a family must arrange this appointment separately.
- Any deaths reported to the coroner (either by a doctor or Medical Examiner) cannot be registered until the coroner has completed their investigation into the death and issued paperwork that will allow the death registration to be completed. The Black Country Coroner who covers the Walsall area has limited cover for the service at a weekend / bank holiday. The call out service offered by both the Coroner and Medical Examiner service is outside the control of the Council.
- Short notice burials are available in new burial sections at Streetly Cemetery only and comprise the standard of an earth grave with wooden shoring and also has options for burial in a block-lined grave or composite lining, subject to availability. The family must state their preferred burial options when booking a burial.
- Burials in pre-reserved graves require a minimum of 3 working days to prepare, regardless of location and can only be booked on working days.
- The evening and weekend call out service is available for adult and child burials only. Burials for NVF babies (unregistered, less than 24 weeks viability), can only be booked during the working week.
- In the event of severe weather or other circumstances outside the Council’s control, the service reserves the right to cancel an interment if it is considered that proceeding would cause unacceptable hazards and risk the safety of staff and the public.