Arranging a funeral with Westcountry Funeral Service

You can begin planning the funeral whenever you feel ready. If you already have some information or would like guidance with your options and decisions, we’re here to help. Our support is available well before any details need to be finalised. Typically, there are about fourteen days between a person’s passing and their funeral. However, if the death was unexpected or there are complications, this timeframe may be longer.

This is a question that will be asked of you perhaps surprisingly early on. The reason is that the paperwork is not the same for a burial as it is for a cremation. Don’t worry if you haven’t had time to think about every detail or are undecided, you have choices and you can take your time and talk it through with people before making a decision. Visit our Cemeteries and Crematoriums' page for more information.

You may not need any paperwork right away. Often, you will be asked to wait until the person’s doctor’s surgery is open or to contact the hospital’s administration office to obtain the necessary documents, so there may be no paperwork initially. In the meantime, if you wish, we can bring the person into our care. The paperwork needed to manage the deceased’s personal affairs, such as the Death Certificate, is usually issued later.

If the death occurs at home, you will need to contact the deceased person’s GP or regular doctor. The doctor will usually visit to officially confirm the death before we can bring your loved one into our care. If the death takes place in a Care Home or Nursing Home, the staff will typically contact us on your behalf once the doctor has certified the death. You are welcome to contact us at any time to arrange an appointment and begin discussing the funeral arrangements.

The hospital or Trust staff will usually complete all necessary paperwork before the person can be placed in our care. You will need to make an appointment with them to collect any personal belongings. This is typically done during office hours. They will also issue the certificate needed to register the death at the Register Office.

If the person that has died has died unexpectedly (this can also be interpreted as not having been treated by a medical doctor for the last 14 days), the matter may be referred to Her Majesty’s Coroner. The Coroner would then take overall responsibility for the deceased until such times as they have looked into the circumstances. Visit our Advice Guide page for more information about H. M. Coroner.

When someone passes away, there are often many people who need to be informed. At first, it can be helpful to share the news only with close family and friends. They can then support you and assist with tasks that might otherwise feel overwhelming, such as notifying a wider circle of people and organisations. The details of the funeral service are usually confirmed within a day or two and can be shared later. Organisations like Tell Us Once can make this process much easier. Visit our Advice Guide page to learn more about Tell Us Once.

In terms of the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements, this is usually completed by the next-of-kin but may be completed by others, for various reasons. There is statutory paperwork to complete in many cases and these must usually be signed by the next-of-kin or an executor. Visit our Advice Guide page for more information on Wills and Executors.

A death should be registered at the Register Office in the registration district where the death occurred. There are exceptions to this, please visit our 'Registering a Death' page for full information.

It’s important to check the person’s Will and to speak with family members, close friends, or anyone who lived with or cared for the person who has died, to see if they are aware of any specific wishes. Often, there are documents or membership certificates related to pre-paid or pre-arranged funeral plans, which may include these wishes. Be sure to review any such paperwork carefully and confirm all details. For more information, please visit our Pre-Planning a Funeral page.

Most new graves are purchased with space for two burials, although some have room for only one. In some cases, older graves may be able to accommodate more than two people. This will need to be confirmed with the burial authority at the time, but we can handle that on your behalf.

This is a personal matter. Where appropriate, we recommend embalming so that the decision about visiting can be deferred and made at leisure and that the person looks at their best should anyone wish to pay their respects. We would also recommend embalming due to likely timescales.

Very often, the person is dressed in their own clothes. This can be "Sunday best" or casual or anything in-between. There may be restrictions on what the person can wear due for environmental reasons but natural fibres are generally acceptable.

This is usually planned together with the Officiant leading the service, such as a Minister of Religion, Community Leader, Elder or Non-Religious Celebrant. You may also be arranging everything yourselves. In either case, there may be time constraints to consider, so it’s important that we all work together to get it right. You might be thinking about having family and friends carry the coffin, choosing someone to deliver a eulogy or reading, selecting music, poetry, or photographs, or identifying special locations. All of these details come together to create a meaningful service and to provide support in the days ahead.

You will need a hearse for the funeral. We offer a fleet of traditional black funeral cars, but alternative options such as motorcycle hearses, horse-drawn carriages, and specialist vehicles are also available. Our limousines feature a glass partition between the driver and passengers, allowing us to provide them for safe use.

We will collect your loved one’s ashes and return them to our funeral home within a couple of days of the service. We will then notify you that they are in our care. Ordinarily, we will look after these ashes for a maximum time period of three months from the date of the funeral. There can be exceptions to this, but they must be by specific arrangement or agreement. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

The person who signs the funeral director’s paperwork is entering a formal agreement to pay for the funeral. Before signing anything, make sure you understand who will be responsible for covering the costs. If your loved one had a pre-paid funeral plan, the expenses may already be covered. Otherwise, the funeral costs are usually paid from the deceased’s estate. However, it can sometimes be difficult to access these funds in time to pay for the funeral. Banks should release money from the deceased’s account to cover funeral expenses if you provide them with an itemised invoice from the funeral director and a copy of the death certificate. If the funds cannot be released quickly enough, the family may need to pay for the funeral upfront and be reimbursed later. Family members might choose to contribute together, or you may need to take out a loan to cover the costs until probate is completed. Visit our Advice Guide page for more information about getting help with funeral expenses.

There are many types of memorials and keepsakes. These can include a lock of hair, jewellery that incorporates a small portion of ashes or a fingerprint, or even a commemorative tree or bench. Gravestones and plaques usually require authorisation from the current grave owner or deed holder (though there are some exceptions). This person must give permission for any changes or additions to the grave or memorial. In addition, most established burial grounds, churchyards, and cemeteries have specific rules about the types, sizes, and styles of memorials allowed. To provide accurate guidance, we would need to discuss your individual circumstances in detail. For more information, please visit our Keepsakes and Jewellery page.