How to arrange a funeral
Firstly, you will need to contact a funeral firm
The Funeral Director at the firm will meet with you and tailor a funeral service to meet the family’s wishes and also to comply with the law
After discussing your requirements, the Funeral Director will take detailed instructions concerning the services and facilities to be provided and then act to ensure the funeral is dignified and that all aspects are delivered to the highest professional standards
Typically, funeral director will:
- Arrange a date and time for the funeral, according to your instructions. The Funeral Director will contact the church, cemetery or crematorium and/or the person who will be conducting the service, to arrange a mutually convenient date and time
- Transfer the deceased from the place of death, or from the location to which the deceased has been taken, to their premises, provide practical assistance to allow the deceased to remain at home prior to the funeral, if this is what you request
- Provide facilities for viewing of the deceased prior to the funeral, according to the family’s wishes
- Provide the necessary vehicles and staff to conduct the funeral with dignity and professionalism, in accordance with your instructions
- Deal with all necessary paperwork to enable burial or cremation to take place
- Place death notices in local and/or national newspapers
- Arrange for catering at a venue of your choice following the funeral
- Make arrangements for the subsequent disposal of the remains following a cremation
- Arrange special musical requests for the funeral service, such as a soloist, piper or choir
- Liaise with the officiant to provide Order of Service sheets at the funeral service
- Record the names of those attending the funeral in order to provide you with a list afterwards
- Order floral tributes on behalf of the deceased’s family and/or friends and colleagues
- Accept and care for floral tributes delivered to their premises prior to the funeral
- Accept donations for a nominated charity in lieu of flowers on your behalf, providing the family with a list of those who have donated after the funeral
- Arrange for transfer of either the deceased or the cremated remains to another area of the country, or repatriation overseas, for a subsequent funeral or disposal, in accordance with your wishes
- Provide advice and transport to assist with the registration of the death. Please be aware that Funeral Directors cannot register a death – this is something which must be done by a family member or person closely connected with the deceased
- Supply obituary cards or ‘thank you’ cards for use by the family following the funeral service
- Place “Thank You” and acknowledgement notice, or obituary notices in local newspapers following the funeral
- Provide information on how to arrange a pre-paid funeral plan
- Offer a choice of coffins and caskets to suit a range of budgets and individual choice
Funeral directors provide an important service to all communities, yet not all firms meet the high standards set by the profession’s leading trade organisation – the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD). Before choosing your firm, you might want to check they are registered with NAFD at www.nafd.org.uk
Occasionally, things do not go to plan and to protect your interests – and those of the funeral director – disputes which cannot be resolved by the funeral director and the family are referred to the independent Funeral Arbitration Scheme for a recommendation/ruling
