Questions to ask a Funeral Director

Following on from our recent blog, Not All Funeral Directors are the Same, we thought it might help if we compiled a list of questions to ask a funeral director. We understand that at this stressful time you need some support to make sure you get the right funeral and hope this gives some further guidance. We have also added some links to other pages that may help you even further.

• Will you visit me at home to arrange the funeral if I wish?
• Can we choose the date and time of the funeral within reason? Are Saturdays or Sundays available (if so, any additional cost)?
• When can the person be viewed and where?
• Will the body be residing at your local premises or at a central hub?
• What do they advise on embalming if we want to see the person who has died or not? What proportion of bodies do you embalm?
• What types of transport can you offer for the coffin? (Possibilities are hearse, informal vehicle such as estate car, motorcycle hearse, horses and carriage other specialist vehicles, for you to use a car owned by family or friend)
• What choice of coffins are available? (Coffins are now available in traditional wooden styles, in willow, bamboo, cane, banana leaf, cardboard and picture coffins, shroud). As an example, what do you charge for a willow coffin, a cardboard coffin, your simple veneer coffin?
• Do you mark up above cost any of the products you sell in addition to charging your fees e.g. coffin, cars, flowers, celebrant, orders of service, bearers?
• Do you collect and distribute any funeral donations?
• Can family members/friends carry the coffin? If so will they receive instruction on the day?
• What are the costs of the funeral and how are they broken down between:
  • your charges for meetings, time and administration;
  • care of the body until the funeral including visits;
  • funeral director and staff on the day;
  • hearse or other car;
  • limousine or other family car;
  • the coffin (specify type);
  • cremation or burial fees;
  • celebrant or minister;
  • any other charges.

If you require any further advice, please feel free to download our book, We Need to Talk about the Funeral and do not hesitate to contact us.