5 COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED

If you recently lost a family member or friend, you might have to make arrangements on top of managing your own grief. It will never be easy. Many have no idea where to start.

To help you out, here are the five questions to use as your guide.

Question 1: Did they have an existing pre-paid funeral plan?

The first thing you need to know is whether the person who had died has funeral arrangement in place. This may be a pre-paid funeral or an informal record of their wishes recorded with an undertaker. You should then contact the plan company or funeral director, or start arranging one on your own if arrangements have not been made prior to the death. If you have no clue where to check, try tracing a funeral plan through the Funeral Planning Authority page. If a plan exists it is important to carefully check what costs are included in the plan.

Question 2: Did they have a life insurance policy?

Some people prepare in advance by having a pre-paid funeral plan and a life insurance policy. Both can be financially beneficial for the bereaved family, so make sure that you check if your deceased loved one has prepared for both.

Should the deceased already have life insurance, make sure to complete their required paperwork. As soon as you submit all necessary documents, the insurance company can immediately provide their promised service. Make time to go through their records so the family can get the financial assistance they need.

Question 3: Did they leave a will or funeral instructions?

It is also crucial to determine if the deceased has special wishes or a specific plan for their funeral. After all, their final wishes must be respected. Did they have a formal will to determine their plans or only tell close friends and family members about their wishes? By looking into this, you may get an understanding of whether a cremation or burial is preferred.

An important note: according to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, surviving family members or close friends are not, in any way, obligated to follow the deceased’s wishes. However, most people see fulfilling the wishes as a way to pay respect to their loved ones.

Question 4: Do you have the appropriate paperwork?

Before you proceed with the funeral, there will be statutory and non-statutory paperwork that must be submitted to the crematorium or cemetery where the committal is taking place. The death must be registered unless there is an inquest . To know how to register the death of a loved one, refer to this GOV.UK site.

Question 5: Would you need a funeral director’s help?

If everything is too overwhelming for you, you can always seek the assistance of the funeral director. Their role is to help the bereaved plan a funeral that meets their wishes. The funeral director is in charge of arranging the transfer of the body and organising the funeral. They take care of all your concerns about the funeral from its inception to the last day of service.

Conclusion

It is okay to feel clueless and lost when we lose someone. Answering these five questions, however, can help you identify and proceed with your next steps. Go through them one by one and deal with them one step at a time.

If you need help, Holmes Funerals can assist you. We are your local funeral home dedicated to helping you celebrate the life of your loved one. We have been serving various areas in the UK for over 30 years now, and we work hard to ensure that each funeral is conducted with dignity. Contact us to know more about our services.