Frequently Asked Questions
What are doctors forms?
When a funeral is a cremation, a doctor MUST attend and certify death. The doctor must be the one who attended the deceased during his/hers last illness. For this service, the doctor will charge for the service, which we, the Funeral Directors usually pay on behalf of the deceased’s family.
Does the coffin move after the funeral service at the crematorium?
No. After the service has ended, the coffin does not move until all relatives and friends have left the Crematorium Chapel.
At some Crematoria there are curtains that close at the head of the coffin, but this is only done at the request of the relatives.
Are the handles on the coffin removed before the cremation takes place?
No. There are strict laws regarding cremation. Nothing may be removed from the coffin before cremation without the permission of the Home Office.
Do I get the cremated remains back that belongs to me?
Yes. Once the cremation has taken place, the cremated remains are removed and left to cool before being placed in an urn. This urn is clearly identified as to whose remains they are.
What can I do with the cremated remains?
- You can place them in the Garden of Remembrance but you may not know where they are and you can not place a head stone with them.
- You may wish to purchase a grave just for the purpose of interring the cremated remains. This allows you to have a headstone and have other members of the family buried there in the future.
- You may keep them at home in a special urn or memorial.
- You may scatter them in a special place.
- The remains may be buried in an existing family grave.
If you would like to discuss any of the above alternatives, please contact us and we will be pleased to help you.
How soon after a burial can I put a headstone on the grave?
If the grave is earth rather than bricked then the grave will take six months or more before the ground is firm enough to place the weight of a headstone. If the grave is bricked inside, then it does not take as long.
How many people can be seated in the limousine?
In each limousine there is room for six people in the rear compartment and room for one in the front with the chauffeur.
How do we know what to do at the funeral?
On the day of the funeral the Funeral Director is there to help and guide you, your family and friends. If you are unsure of any thing please tell the Funeral Director.
Can we visit the deceased and pay our last respects?
We welcome families to visit their loved one and appointments can be made with your Funeral Director or any of the team.
Can we have the deceased brought home?
Yes, we can bring your loved one home.
Can we choose what music is played at the crematorium?
Yes, if you have a special request or would like a particular piece of music playing, either as you walk into or out of the Crematorium Chapel, please let the Funeral Director know as soon as possible. Please note that only original recordings are allowed because of copyright laws.
Can we request donations to charity?
Yes, if donations to a charity are requested, we will provide a box.
Can the family carry the coffin?
Yes, although we would ask that you contact us as soon as possible to ensure that it is safe to do so.
Is each cremation carried out individually?
Yes. The identity of the coffin name plate is checked by the Crematorium Attendant before it is placed in the Cremation Chamber. This only holds one coffin or casket at a time and again there are rules that must be abided by.
What about catering after the funeral?
If you require catering after the funeral, you can make your own arrangements or contact us to make a booking at a hotel or restaurant. Alternatively, we can provide catering and staff at your home or at a venue.
Notices for the newspaper
If you require either a Death Notice or an Obituary in a local or national newspaper, please let us know at the time of making the funeral arrangements. If you wish to place an Acknowledgement after the funeral service has taken place, please contact us within 7 days of the funeral and we will be happy to arrange this for you.
When is the Funeral Account payable?
The Funeral Account is sent to the person responsible for the arrangements or the solicitor, after the funeral service. We reserve the right to ask for disbursements and payment for flowers in advance of the funeral service.
The account can be paid for by cash, cheque debit or credit card.
Is there a cost difference between a burial and a cremation?
Costs can vary depending on whether you need to purchase a grave, and cremation fees vary in different councils.
I’d like to have a private funeral but a big party - can you help?
We can assist with event planning for all elements of your funeral from a simple send-off to an extravagant celebration.
Are we limited to the number of cars?
You can have as many cars as you like, and if this is not enough, we can explore coaches or other options.
How long should we keep the ashes?
There’s no right or wrong answer. Retaining ashes is a very personal thing. Some people want to scatter them at a later date, others can’t bear to part with them. We can help by providing practical storage advice and guiding you to make the decision that is most fitting for you and your family.
Can we take the flowers home after the funeral?
You can keep or leave, all or part, of any tribute just as you please. Often a memento is taken by family members or sometimes sprays can be donated to a church, hospice or nursing home. There is no “rule”.
How many people can be seated in the limousine?
In each limousine there is room for six people in the rear compartment and room for one in the front with the chauffeur.
How do we know what to do at the funeral?
On the day of the funeral the Funeral Director is there to help and guide you, your family and friends. If you are unsure of any thing please tell the Funeral Director.
Can we visit the deceased and pay our last respects?
We welcome families to visit their loved one and appointments can be made with your funeral director or any of the team.
Can we have the deceased brought home?
Yes we can bring your loved one home.
Can we choose what music is played at the crematorium?
Yes, If you have a special request or would like a particular piece of music playing either as you walk into or out of the Crematorium Chapel, please let the Funeral Director know as soon as possible. Please note that only original recordings are allowed because of copyright laws.
Can we request donations to charity?
Yes if donations to a charity are requested , we will provide a box.
Can the family carry the coffin?
Yes, although we would ask that you contact us as soon as possible to ensure that it is safe to do so.
Is each cremation carried out individually?
Yes. The identity of the coffin name plate is checked by the Crematorium Attendant before it is placed in the Cremation Chamber. This only holds one coffin or casket at a time and again there are rules that must be abided by.
What about catering after the funeral?
If you require catering after the funeral you can make your own arrangements or contact us to make a booking at a hotel or restaurant. Alternatively we can provide catering and staff at your home or at a venue.
Notices for the newspaper
If you require either a Death Notice or an Obituary in a local or national newspaper, please let us know at the time of making the funeral arrangements. If you wish to place an Acknowledgement after the funeral service has taken place, please contact us within 7 days of the funeral and we will be happy to arrange this for you.
When is the Funeral Account payable?
The Funeral Account is sent to the person responsible for the arrangements or the solicitor, after the funeral service. We reserve the right to ask for disbursements and payment for flowers in advance of the funeral service.
The account can be paid for by cash, cheque debit or credit card.
Is there a cost difference between a burial and a cremation?
Costs can vary depending on whether you need to purchase a grave and cremation fees vary in different councils.
I’d like to have a private funeral but a big party - can you help?
Are we limited to the number of cars?
You can have as many cars as you like, and if this is not enough, we can explore coaches or other options.
How long should we keep the ashes?
There’s no right or wrong answer. Retaining ashes is a very personal thing. Some people want to scatter them at a later date, others can’t bear to part with them. We can help by providing practical storage advice and guiding you to make the decision that is most fitting for you and your family.
Can we take the flowers home after the funeral?
You can keep or leave, all or part, of any tribute just as you please. Often a memento is taken by family members or sometimes sprays can be donated to a church, hospice or nursing home. There is no “rule”.
What are doctors forms?
When a funeral is a cremation, two doctors MUST attend and certify death. The FIRST doctor must be the doctor who attended the deceased during his/hers last illness. The duty of the SECOND doctor is essentially one of confirmation. This doctor must not be related to the first doctor either through family or practice. For this service, each doctor makes a separate charge, which we, the Funeral Directors usually pay on behalf of the deceased’s family.
Does the coffin move after the funeral service at the crematorium?
No. After the service has ended, the coffin does not move until all relatives and friends have left the Crematorium Chapel.
At some Crematoria there are curtains that close at the head of the coffin, but this is only done at the request of the relatives.
Are the handles on the coffin removed before the cremation takes place?
No. There are strict laws regarding cremation. Nothing may be removed from the coffin before cremation without the permission of the Home Office.
Do I get the cremated remains back that belongs to me?
Yes. Once the cremation has taken place, the cremated remains are removed and left to cool before being placed in an urn. This urn is clearly identified as to whose remains they are.
What can I do with the cremated remains?
- You can place them in the Garden of Remembrance but you may not know where they are and you can not place a head stone with them.
- You may wish to purchase a grave just for the purpose of interring the cremated remains. This allows you to have a headstone and have other members of the family buried there in the future.
- You may keep them at home in a special urn or memorial.
- You may scatter them in a special place.
- The remains may be buried in an existing family grave.
Â
If you would like to discuss any of the above alternatives, please contact us and we will be pleased to help you.
How soon after a burial can I put a headstone on the grave?
If the grave is earth rather than bricked then the grave will take six months or more before the ground is firm enough to place the weight of a headstone. If the grave is bricked inside, then it does not take as long.
Take care of everything
We can handle every aspect of the funeral arrangements so you don’t have to.
We are only a call away
The first steps to take when death occurs are often the hardest.