Useful To Know
We’re here to help
We’re here to listen, answer your questions, address your concerns and support you in any way we can. We offer these services freely and without any obligation.
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Registering a death
Unless a Coroner is involved you must register the person’s death within 5 days this includes weekends and bank holidays. Most registrars have an appointment system so it’s best to ring or email them first. The government offers a good, clear step by step guide What to do when someone dies along with the Natural Death Centre Charity.
You may also find Life Ledger useful. It is a free, easy to use service which enables families and friends to inform all business – banks, utilities, insurance and pension companies, subscription and streaming services etc., connected to the person who has died from one place.
Pause
Pause Once you’ve registered the person’s death, pause. Take your time with arrangements – be kind and gentle with yourself, there is plenty of time to think, to make decisions and act.
Funeral rules
There are very few ‘rules’. Funerals don’t need to be expensive. There is nothing to say you have to hire a funeral director, hold a funeral service, have flowers or special vehicles. You’re in charge, so do things the way you want and that reflect the unique person who has died.
You can do it all yourself
There is an assumption that you will want to use a funeral director, but you don’t have to. You can have a home based funeral. People may be amazed, try to dissuade you, disapprove or tell you it’s against the law, put them right. It’s not. Tell them you are the funeral director. We’ll support you, act as consultants throughout the process and drop in whenever you want to check that all is well.
Compare prices
From the 16th September 2021 all funeral businesses are legally required to prominently display this Standardised Price List (in format and wording) for a set of products and services, to enable you to compare prices. To inform your decision making further, we have answered questions the Natural Death Centre Charity suggests you may want to ask and left space for responses from other companies you contact.
Getting help with funeral costs
In certain circumstances you can get help towards funeral costs. The government offers comprehensive funeral payments information while Down To Earth provides practical support and excellent guides. For both services we strongly recommend you view these sites before the funeral has taken place. In addition, we can also help with information and advice.
Cremation
Nowadays cremation is the most popular choice in the United Kingdom. It cost less than a burial and offers flexibility regarding when, where and how the persons ashes are dealt with. For example, scattering in a unique location, to storing them in an attractive urn, or keeping a small portion for memorial jewellery or keepsakes.
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Burial
There is a wide choice of places to be buried from your own garden, to private land; from natural burial grounds to church yards and cemeteries’.
Coffin choices
Choosing a coffin is probably not something you have ever given much thought to, if any! When it actually comes to it, it can feel surreal. Take your time, there’s a huge range and you can buy direct, but please speak to us before you buy as we may be able to get it at a lower price.
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Plan ahead
A funeral plan could be a good way to prepay for your funeral as long as you choose a company regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority, have the money available to pay for your plan and completely understand how it works. Alternatively, you could regularly save money with a Credit Union such as Moneywise or Community Bank. In the event of your death Northumberland Community Bank will pay your family a one off payment up to a maximum of £5,000.
Easy read booklets
‘Easy read’ focuses on main points. It uses easy words and pictures to help people get information and make better choices. We have easy read booklets about dying, death and feelings that you can borrow or download.
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Get in touch
At Forget me not funeral Services, our aim is to help answer any questions that you might have. If we don’t know the answer then we can happily point you in the direction of someone who will.