West Lothian Council manages and maintains all council owned cemeteries, churchyards and war memorials.
We offer a fully comprehensive service to anyone requiring advice or assistance with this matter. We also make provision and arrangements for Muslim burials.
The cemeteries staff provide a comprehensive burial service to the public, and deal with the sale of lairs, interments (or burials), and issue permission to put up headstones.
Fees and Payments effective from 1 April 2024
Sale of Lair
All cemeteries: £950.29
Cremation Lair - four sets of ashes: £378.98
Interment Fees
Adult: £907.04
6-18 years: No charge
Stillborn and up to 5 years (including cremated remains): No charge
Cremated Remains: £195.69
Other Charges
Duplicate Certificate: £31.79
Transfer Certificate: £31.79
Headstone Applications - Adambrae, Kingscavil, Fauldhouse (New Extension), Hermand Park, Woodbank (New Extension) - Strip Foundation
Headstone under 3 feet high: £131.85
Headstone over 3 feet high: £190.74
Headstone Applications - other Cemeteries
Headstone under 3 feet high: £79.11
Headstone over 3 feet high: £130.08
Adambrae Cemetery, Livingston
Memorial Planter - 10 Year Lease: £535.33
Memorial Planter - 20 Year Lease: £638.71
Notes
The charges for services out with normal hours (i.e. 09:30 to 14.30 or 15:00 Mon to Thu, 09:30 to 14.30 Fri, and 09:30 to 11:00 Sat) will increase by 50%.
The charges for services on Sunday and public holidays will be increased by 100%.
Any service out with normal hours will be at the discretion of the council.
From 1 November to 28 February the last funeral time will be 14:30 in all cemeteries.
From 1 March to 31 October the last funeral time will be 15:00 at Blaeberry, Boghead, Adambrae, Uphall and Loaninghill. The last funeral time at other cemeteries will be 14:30.
Headstone Stabilisation Inspection Programme
As part of the programme to ensure that cemeteries remain safe for both visitors and employees, West Lothian Council Cemeteries service and their appointed contractor will be carrying out stability inspections and repair of headstones for full information please visit Headstone Stabilisation Inspection Programme.
Burial Records
If undertaking Family History or Genealogy searches, please contact:-
To request an appointment and visit our cemeteries office in person: Please first telephone 01506 280000.
The information below details how many Public Health Funerals West Lothian Council has undertaken. This is updated monthly.
Name of Deceased, Maiden Surnames & Last Known Address - The Council considers this information to be exempt under Section 26(a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Prohibition on Disclosure by another Enactment. The enactment under which the Council claims this exemption is Section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998, which states it is unlawful to act in a way incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Convention Article in question is Article 8 which confers a right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence. The Council considers that this is information that relates to deceased persons which might interfere with the Article 8 rights of others, for example family members, even when the data is not their own 'personal data.
Information as at 1 December 2024.
2024
Date of Death
Age
31 January 2024
75
18 March 2024
85
01 April 2024
79
23 April 2024
70
2023
Date of Death
Age
02 January 2023
60
17 February 2023
85
14 April 2023
46
24 May 2023
66
06 June 2023
62
22 August 2023
62
2022
Date of Death
Age
03 May 2022
44
05 June 2022
79
2021
Date of Death
Age
31 January 2021
53
30 May 2021
61
06 July 2021
73
2020
Date of Death
Age
04 February 2020
61
17 February 2020
51
26 February 2020
85
17 April 2020
71
21 April 2020
62
24 April 2020
77
20 August 2020
78
22 September 2020
68
Cemetery Management Rules
Approval has been given for the Cemetery Management Rules by the Council Executive and these can be viewed below.
Arrange interments within 24 hours of receipt of full details
Keep burial and lair registers records and make these available for the public to read during normal office hours
Pre-sell lairs, where cemeteries have sufficient capacity and are unrestricted
Ensure that sufficient cemetery provision is made to allow West Lothian people to be buried within West Lothian if they so wish
Provide special facilities for Muslim burials and the interment of babies
Advise customers of any restrictions applying to the erection of headstones and memorials, tributes or other items which may be left on lairs and give authorisation to erect approved headstones or memorials within five working days of receipt of an application
Leave floral tributes in place for at least 21 days after an interment and keep other tributes such as teddy bears for at least 21 days after interments
Treat the deceased and their relatives sensitively and with proper consideration and respect
Ensure the Council's cemeteries are always tidy and well maintained
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, many councils already have rules which prohibit fences and railings, including: East Lothian, Midlothian, Glasgow, Dundee and Falkirk.
Yes, the Scottish Parliament recently passed a bill for Burial and Cremation (Scotland). Although not law just now, this will require burial authorities to manage burial grounds, including structures and memorabilia; Part 1 of the Bill sets out the recommendations of the ministers.
The bill requires Royal Ascent, which it is expected to receive in May 2016 and thereafter will become the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) act 2016.
Less than 1% of the lairs are potentially affected. Lair holders don't need to do anything, the council will be in touch with you if there is an issue.
Only where existing fences, kerbs, railings and/or any other memorabilia are encroaching on an adjacent lair or to facilitate a new interment.
A four-month consultation started in August 2015.
The consultation was reported in the West Lothian Courier on 23 July 2015 on page 18 and in the council's newspaper Bulletin, which is distributed to every household, in August 2015. It was also published online on the council website.
Local clergy, monumental masons, funeral directors, community councils were all sent a direct link to the consultation survey on the draft cemetery management rules. In addition to these specific groups, the Citizens Panel, Equality Forums and health improvement in later life group were also invited to participate. The general public was invited to comment via the Bulletin.
The new policy was approved at the start of March 2016 and it will be implemented from the start of May 2016.
The new management rules and terms and conditions will prohibit the erection of any new railings, kerbing, fencing and corner stones and gravel. Memorial flowers, wreaths and other small artefacts of remembrance will still be permitted within the headstone area and lair as per the terms and conditions set out in the Cemetery Management Rules.
The Memorial was created by the Lothians and West of Scotland Branch of the British Korean Veterans Association to honour the memory of their fallen comrades.
