It may fall to you to arrange a funeral as a member of the family or named as executor in a will. We're here to help you through the process from the very beginning, which can involve helping to locate and investigate available space in family graves to organising a memorial inscription or headstone.
First, check to see if the deceased had a pre-paid plan or if any instructions have been left to help you decide which funeral director to use.
Death at home
If the death was expected, for example due to a terminal illness, call the family doctor who will later give you a medical certificate showing the cause of death. This certificate is needed to register the death. When you feel ready to do so, we can be called to move the deceased to our Chapel of Rest. Further paperwork for cremation can be issued afterwards.
If the doctor feels that the cause of death is unknown then they will contact the Coroner. It's the Coroner's job to establish the correct cause of death which in some cases may involve a medical examination and possibly an inquest. If this is the case, the Coroner will move the deceased to the local hospital. Registration of the death may be delayed but the funeral arrangements can still be discussed and organised for a suitable time frame.
Death in hospital or hospice
Following the same procedure as a death at home, a Bereavement Officer or Matron will ask for the deceased's most recent Doctor to certify the death; issue the medical certificate for registration and in cases where cremation is required, to complete medical cremation paperwork. The deceased can only be moved into our care once these papers are completed which can take up to 72hrs. We can assist with advice and planning immediately so when you're ready to talk, contact us to begin arrangements.
We can take over for you
Call us as soon as you can, we can then arrange to meet up at an address locally or you can come to see us by appointment at one of our offices. We'll then be able to give expert guidance about registration and how best to proceed with organising the funeral. We would normally liaise with all parties including the clergy on your behalf to discuss diary commitments. We realise the importance of having the date and time you would prefer so that family members and friends can attend the funeral and as the largest company in our area, we are able to conduct multiple funerals on the same day without compromising our services.
We've become the largest funeral director in our area through offering the widest range of facilities together with the most reliable and supportive services. Your funeral director will be your main contact throughout, will arrange the funeral with you and conduct proceedings on the day. We want to build a trusting relationship to make it easier for you.