Funeral Advice

Before the Funeral
Upon receiving your instructions we will make contact with the Church, Clergy and Authorities as required, and complete all the necessary paperwork and pay the resultant fees on your behalf. The clergy will usually contact you prior to the funeral to discuss the service and music with you.

If you do not wish for a religious service we can arrange for an appropriate alternative. A member of your family or a friend can say a few words if preferred, or you can listen to chosen music.

You are welcome to visit the Chapel of Rest by appointment. personal items can be placed in the coffin, but please check with us, as there are restrictions if cremation has been arranged.

Flowers
If you wish to have flowers, you may ask your florist to deliver them to us, or we are happy to collect them from the cortege address. please let us know if you are expecting a large number of flowers at the house so we can allow sufficient time.

Flowers which are to placed on the coffin should be no taller than 8 inches, to prevent them being damaged by the roof of the hearse. If there are several floral tributes, we normally list them for you. (The cards will be left on the flowers unless you give us alternative instructions).

Donations
If you wish to leave donations in lieu of floral tributes, we are happy to receive instructions from you and collect them on your behalf. We usually keep the donations account open for four weeks after the funeral, and send you a full list prior to forwarding them onto the charity. We make no extra charge for this service. (This is not available on the Basic funeral).

On the day of the funeral
It is a worthwhile procedure to decide on the seating arrangements for our limousines, where supplied, before the cortege arrives at the chosen address. Our limousines each hold six or seven people. We have booster seats available for children - please let us know if you will need one.

On arrival at the Church or Chapel, the Funeral Director will first enter to advise both the clergy and the authorities of our arrival. You may then be shown to your seats, or you may follow the coffin in. After the service our drivers will return you to the pre-arranged address.

Health & Safety
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, we have a duty of care to our staff. This means that sometimes we will need to convey the coffin into the Church or Chapel on a wheeled trolley. There are many reasons for this, for instance the size of the Church or Chapel. You may rest assured that we always maintain the greatest dignity possible.

Registration
A death must be registered in the county in which the death occured, within five days. This can be done by attending the Registrars office in person, by appointment, or by declaration at any other Register Office in England or Wales.

If there is to be a Coroners Inquest, the death cannot be registered until after the inquest has taken place. The Coroner will usually open and adjourn the inquest and issue a certificate so that the funeral can take place.

You will need a 'Medical Certificate of Cause of Death' from the Doctor or Hospital, or an authority from the Coroner to Register, and the NHS Medical Card, if this can be located.

Details required by the Registrar:

Full name of the deceased
Home address
Date and place of death
Date and place of birth
Last occupation
Date of birth of surviving partner
Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or allowance from Public Funds
If female, Maiden name and husbands full name and occupation

The Registrar will issue:

Certificate for Burial or Cremation (or the Coroner will issue a Certificate for Cremation or an Order for Burial)
Certificate of Registration (for BD8) for DSS purposes
Certified copies of entry in Register (for which a fee is applicable)

The Certificate for Burial or Cremation issued by the Registrar, or the Certificate issued by the Coroner, must be delivered to us as soon as possible.

Register Office Information

For Norfolk

The Registrar
'Ferryside' High Road, Gorleston
T: 01493 662313 for an appointment

The Registrar
Churchman House, 71 Bethel Street, Norwich
T: 01603 767600 for an appointment

The Registrar
18 Kings Arms Street, North Walsham
T: 01692 403075 for an appointment

For Suffolk

The Registrar
St. Margaret's House, Gordon Road, Lowestoft
T: 01502 405096 for an appointment

The Registrar
St Peter House, 16 Grimwade Street, Ipswich
T: 01473 583050 for an appointment