Funeral Costs Explained
The cost of a funeral will reflect the personal, cultural, and financial needs of your family, and the choices you make. In this blog we set out what makes up the costs of a funeral.
The main costs include the funeral directors’ costs which cover the administration and staffing of the funeral. This will be variable depending on the type of service you choose. Then there is the choice of coffin, the choice of flowers, mortuary costs, transport costs, and catering and the venue costs should there be any. Certain costs are fixed such as the fees charged by doctors, clergy and those officiating as well as burial or cremation costs. You will also have to factor in professional costs such as solicitors’ fees for administering the estate. Added to this there may be costs associated with funeral notices and the death notice.
To help you to better understand and plan we have broken down the funeral costs so that you can fully understand what makes up the price of a funeral. We understand that it can be confusing determining what you must include and pay for, and what could be deemed as optional extras or third-party costs.
Administration
A team of trained funeral professionals provides administrative support. You will be able to make the funeral arrangements in person, by phone or video call. Most funeral directors will take care of all the necessary legal and administrative arrangements.
Staffing
The person will need to be transferred from the place of death to the mortuary, where two people are usually required. The funeral director and staff will also be needed at the funeral venue for the service. Typically, four people are required to carry the coffin.
Facilities
Facilities at the funeral directors include Chapel of Rest, embalming facilities, and transport such as the hearse and limousine. It must be remembered that not all funeral directors are large companies with extensive range of facilities. Sometimes, particularly in rural areas, the funeral director may be a one-person operation and may not be able to offer all the facilities as described.
Funeral arranging and supervision
Most funerals are arranged through a funeral director. Make sure you find one who belongs to a professional association such as the National Association of Funeral Directors or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. The funeral director you choose will be responsible for supervising and overseeing the funeral service. You can arrange a funeral without a funeral director and guidance can be sought at the Natural Death Centre or Cemeteries and Crematorium department of your local authority.
Mortuary
Your funeral directors will provide mortuary care from the moment a deceased person is taken into the funeral directors’ care. You can expect the body to be washed and dressed in the clothes you provide or in a selected robe or gown.
Chapel of Rest
This is a remembrance room where family and friends have the chance to say goodbye and pay their final respects. It is usually part of the funeral home. Visits can be arranged by contacting the funeral director.
Certification and registration
Advice will be given about registering the death with the registrar and if at all possible many funeral directors will register the death for you. You will also receive advice and assistance in completing burial or cremation applications and digital submission of completed forms to the Burial or Cremation Authority as relevant. Help can also be provided with liaising with hospitals, doctors, or HM Coroner.
Obituaries and Funeral Notices
An obituary gives an account of a person’s life and acts more like a tribute including details about their life, family, career, and achievements. Funeral Notices announce the death of a person and provide information relating to the upcoming funeral. This can include date, time, and place. Newspapers usually treat these notices like classified ads with standard sizes and placements and charge by the number of words or lines. Funeral Notices are increasingly published online so that information can be shared more easily. Most funeral directors will offer the family the opportunity to publish both in the local newspaper.
Floral tributes and charitable donations
Funeral Directors can help you to choose the perfect design for a personal floral tribute. This can be in the form of a bouquet, wreath, or spray. Check with your funeral director whether the flowers can be taken home or perhaps donated to a local hospice or hospital.
Often families restrict the number of floral tributes as these can become overwhelming. Charitable donations are often encouraged to a charity that was particularly poignant to the person that has died. CPJ Field can organise all of this for you providing a list of the charitable donations and forwarding the monies to the chosen charity. We will also ensure all the notes and cards collected from flowers are given to you.
Third-party costs (disbursements)
Doctor’s certification fee
Following a death, a doctor involved in their care must complete a medical certificate of cause of death. This is then sent to the register office to register the death. Once the registrar has all the information, a death certificate is issued. Currently, the cost in England and Wales is £11, in Scotland, £10 and Northern Ireland £8.
Minister or officiant fees
You do not need to use a registered or ordained person to lead a funeral service. A family member or friend can do it although often those close to the family will not feel up to the task. In this case, you can choose a minister or a celebrant.
Cremation and burial costs
Fees for a burial include the exclusive right of burial (EROB), internment, adding or removing the headstone, maintenance, and memorial masonry. Cremation fees include minister or officiant, cremation documents, medical certificate, returning the ashes outside the local area, internment or scattering of the ashes and death certificate copies. Burials are more expensive than cremations and the cost of a burial plot with fees varying dependent on location. Cities are more expensive than rural areas.
Personalised send-off funeral costs
These are on top of the funeral costs and include ways that you can personalise the funeral to suit your wishes. Additional services include the venue hire and catering for the wake. Other additions are flowers, limousines for family members, order sheets and service cards as well as the death notice. Decide what elements are important to you to make the service both meaningful and memorable.
How can CPJ Field help with the funeral of your loved one?
As a family-owned business, we offer services for all budgets. We will provide you with a clear estimate of expected costs including our fees and third-party costs (disbursements), which we will pay on your behalf. You may be entitled to receive help towards the costs of the funeral if you receive any form of state benefits. We are completely transparent about our pricing for your unique funeral and want it to reflect your loved one and the wishes of the family.
Our trained Funeral Arrangers and Funeral Directors are on hand to provide a no-obligation advice and guidance on what to expect and what to do when someone dies.
