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Paying for the funeral Supplementary charges
These include bringing the deceased into our care, presentation of the deceased, embalming
and provision of a hearse and all necessary staff for the funeral. The cost of the coffin or casket
chosen. Additional charges such as limousines, additional mileage and casket for cremated
remains. Payments made on your behalf to third parties, which are known as disbursements. We
kindly ask for payment for these at the time of making the funeral arrangements
The first thing to be done when starting to prepare for your loved ones funeral is to find out if
the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, which will set out some or all of what they would like Paying for a funeral
at their funeral. Alternatively, they may have left instructions in their Will. If there is no instruction
from the deceased, you must work out what type of funeral would be appropriate and how it will You will receive your fully itemised invoice within 7 days of the funeral. The invoice can be paid in
be funded. person at your funeral home or at any bank, or by post. You can pay with cash, by cheque or with
a debit or credit card.
Every funeral we arrange is unique and it is the choices that you make that will determine the final
cost of the funeral. When arranging a funeral, there are a number of choices to be made which If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral arrangement, you may not need to worry about the costs.
makes up the final cost. For example, you will need to choose between a burial or a cremation, If this is not the case, the costs of the funeral would usually be covered by the estate of the
the type of coffin, transport for the day, embalming, funeral flowers and so on. In addition to the deceased, as funeral costs have priority over any other debts. Provided that there is money in the
cost for our services there are also third party fees for essential services delivered by others that bank account of the deceased and that an invoice is presented, a bank will usually send payment
we will manage on your behalf. to the Funeral Director directly. In some cases, you may need to arrange for a short-term loan to
pay for the funeral deposit and final invoice, until you can be reimbursed from the estate.

What’s included in third party fees?
What should you do if no one is able to arrange and pay for the funeral?
If there is not enough money left in the estate and the nearest relative is in receipt of a means-
For cremation third party fees usually include:
 Cremation fees tested benefit from the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) or Local Authority (such as
 Doctors’ fees (Not applicable in Scotland) council tax benefit), the person can apply to the Social Fund for funeral payment.
Applications can only be made after the funeral and the Social Fund should make a significant
 Officiant/minister/celebrant fee to lead the service
contribution to the cost, but it may not cover all of it.
For burial third party fees usually include:
 Interment (burial) fee
 Service fee (at a church or other venue for example)
 Officiant/minister/celebrant fee to lead the service
 The cost to purchase a grave/burial plot should also be considered if you choose a burial.

Other third party costs could also include: musician fees for the service, grave digger fees
(sometimes these are included as part of the interment fee), fee to remove a headstone for burial
to take place, permit fee to erect a headstone, a fee for the scattering or burial of ashes plus
other fees relating to memorial options.

We will provide you with a written estimate
When you have made your choices we will then provide you with an itemised written estimate
of the funeral costs. If, at this stage, you would like to change anything we will help you do this,
although any changes may affect the final funeral costs. The costs of a funeral are made up of the
following:

Professional services
This is a fixed fee that covers the full arrangement of a funeral. This includes personal supervision
of all the arrangements preceding, during and following the service, liaison with third parties,
such as clergy, crematorium, cemetery and florists, use of the funeral home facilities, such as
our Chapel of Rests and private remembrance rooms, preparing and attending to all essential
documentation and provision of all necessary funeral staff to provide a dignified and personal
service.

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