Using a funeral director

This page is designed to help you understand the services provided by funeral directors, and also make you aware of the choices available when using these services.

The funeral director is there to provide a professional and sympathetic service and ensure that your funeral arrangements for a loved one are carried out in accordance with your wishes.

Most funeral directors are members of professional organisations such as The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). These organisations work to a Code of Practice which sets standards and provides for a complaints procedure.

Their services usually include:
· 24 hour service
· Private Chapel of Rest
· Pre-paid and pre-arranged funerals
· Choice of coffins and furnishings for cremation
· Special services such as a horse drawn hearse
· Hearse with matching limousines
· Bearers

The Funeral Director will:
· collect the body
· liaise with us to arrange the cremation service
· make the necessary payments to us on your behalf
· arrange the attendance of a minister or other qualified person
· ensure all necessary official documents are completed and delivered to us
· transport the coffin and any floral tributes to the crematorium

Additionally, on request he will:
· prepare the body for viewing, a procedure which may include cosmetic treatment
· arrange for the publication of obituaries
· organise a collection for a named charity, hospice or other deserving cause. This is often facilitated by requesting family flowers only (or no flowers by request)
· remove the cremated remains from the crematorium on your behalf, to their chapel of rest, pending a decision on their final resting place
· arrange private burial of the cremated remains at a cemetery or churchyard of your choice
· arrange for floral tributes to be donated to a nursing home or hospice of your choice

Your Choices
If you wish, you can:
· use your own vehicles to meet the hearse at the church or crematorium
· use your own bearers
· ask for jewellery to be worn by the deceased
· have a religious or non-religious service
· have a church service followed by a short committal service at the crematorium
· choose the music, hymns and text at the service
· specify the final resting place of the cremated remains
· choose your own floral tribute supplier

Booking a Funeral Director
While we can advise you about funeral arrangements, we cannot recommend a particular funeral director. However, we will be pleased to supply a list of all local funeral directors together with their contact details.

You can also obtain details of local funeral directors in telephone directories, newspapers, online or through the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The executor, or the person arranging the funeral, should telephone the funeral director of their choice to make the necessary arrangements.

Helpful Publications

Questions people ask about cremation - link to more detailed information
This is available from our office, local funeral directors, public libraries, town hall reception areas and ‘one-stop shops’.

Help when someone dies (leaflet FB29) and
What to do after a death (leaflet D49)
Both of these are available from the Benefits Agency offices.

Arranging a funeral
Age Concern offers this fact sheet (PDF, 98kb).

National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)

The National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)

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