Our Burial Services

Our traditional burial package: from £3,850

This includes the Falkirk Council interment fee (the charge for opening and closing the lair), along with:

• bringing your loved one safely into the care of our family, and providing their personal care before the service day
• a choice of two coffins, with the option to upgrade
• arranging everything with you, at our funeral home or in the comfort of  your own home
• visiting your loved one in our beautiful visiting room
• all the necessary paperwork, and our professional fees
• a hearse and one family limousine
• 24-hour support, and continuous aftercare

The cost of purchasing a new lair is not included. This is paid separately to the council and makes up a part of our third-party fees, which are detailed and broken down fully on your invoice.

As with all our packages, we add or remove anything to suit your family. See our full price list on the funeral costs page.

Burial fees explained

The interment fee is the council’s charge for opening and closing a new plot, or for reopening and closing an existing one. In the Falkirk area, it is currently £1,322.50, and it’s already included in our package price.

There can be other council charges, depending on the lair:

• A new lair: you’ll also pay the council for the lair itself.
• An existing lair with a headstone: the council may charge to remove and replace the memorial.

We’ll check what applies to your family, include it in your printed estimate, and attend to all matters with the council and their paperwork for you, so there are no surprises. If you receive certain benefits, you may also be able to receive help towards the funeral costs through the Funeral Support Payment from Social Security Scotland; again, we can provide information on how to apply for this.

New lairs and family lairs

In Scotland, a grave is called a lair. Buying a lair gives your family the right of burial for that lair.

• If you need a new lair, we’ll arrange it with Falkirk Council for you and explain the options.
• If there’s a family lair, where suitable, it can often be reopened. We’ll check with the council what’s needed and take care of it for you.
• Not sure if there’s a family lair? That’s very common. Tell us what you know, and we’ll look into it with the council.

Cemeteries in the Falkirk area

We arrange burials in all Falkirk Council’s cemeteries, as well as cemeteries outside the area if your family has a lair elsewhere.

How we arrange a burial

1. Call us on 01324 636446, at any hour, and we’ll bring your loved one into the care of our family at Ladysmill.
2. We meet with you in the comfort of your own home or at our funeral home to talk about your loved one, their wishes, the lair and the type of service you would like.
3. We deal with the council: the lair, the interment and the burial date. We’ll also explain how to register the death, which in Scotland must be done within 8 days.
4. You can visit your loved one in our visiting room before the funeral.
5. On the day, we lead the service from our funeral home or your home address to the church or service venue, then to the graveside, staying by your side until the service concludes, and we take you to your chosen venue for the reception, if planned.

The service

A burial funeral might begin with a church or private venue service followed by the committal at the graveside, or take place at the graveside alone. It can be religious or non-religious, led by a minister, a priest or a celebrant. You can leave from home, and we can arrange a horse-drawn or alternative hearse if you’d like one.

We’ll help with the music, readings, flowers and the order of service, newspaper notices, and share the details on our funeral notices page or Facebook page so friends and neighbours can be there.

Placing your loved one’s ashes into a family lair

If your loved one is being cremated, their ashes can usually be interred in a family lair later, so they can be resting alongside their family members. It’s a choice many families make. See cremation funerals, or talk to us about what’s possible.

Headstones and memorials

A headstone usually can’t be put in place straight away, because the ground needs time to settle. When you’re ready, we’re happy to guide you and advise you on the best companies to help you choose the perfect memorial for your loved one. You’ll find more about the support we offer on our after the funeral page.

A local family looking after your family

Merrilees Family Funeral Directors is an independent, family-owned business with real family values.

Every service is personally arranged and carried out by Andrew, Samantha or a member of their small family team, ensuring every family receives the individual care, time and attention they deserve.

Based at our family home and funeral home on Ladysmill in Falkirk, we have our own purpose-built, state-of-the-art mortuary facilities within our grounds. This means your loved one remains here with us, in our personal care, with the reassurance that we are on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We are proud to care for families across the whole of the Falkirk District and surrounding areas, including Grangemouth, Polmont, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Bo’ness, Denny and Bonnybridge, offering the same personal, compassionate service wherever you are.

Read our full story, or compare all our options on the funeral services page.

Questions families ask

Can ashes be buried in a family lair?
Yes, in most cases. If your loved one is being cremated, their ashes can be interred in a family lair later. See cremation funerals.

Can we see our loved one before the funeral?
Yes. You’re welcome to visit them in our beautiful visiting room, by appointment, at no charge.

Can we have the burial outside Falkirk?
Yes. If your family has a lair in another area, we’ll arrange the burial there.

Do we need a church service?
No. Some families hold the whole service at the graveside or in another private venue. It’s entirely up to you, and again, we can advise you of suitable venues within our area.