Professional Fees and Disbursements Explained

Our funeral pricing is made simple and clear. There are no hidden costs, and you will receive an itemised estimate of charges once the arrangements have been made.

If you have any concerns about the cost of the funeral, please discuss these with the funeral director at your earliest opportunity.

Understanding the Estimate of Charges

The estimate is separated into two categories – Funeral Director’s charges (fees & services provided by us) and Disbursements (third-party costs).

What are the Funeral Director’s charges?

These are our fees for the funeral services we provide to you and the deceased person. You will be invoiced for our charges one week after the funeral has taken place, and payment should be made within 28 days.

Our ‘Professional Fees’ cover the day-to-day work we do to arrange, manage, and oversee the funeral arrangements, including liaising with hospitals, GP’s, clergy, crematoriums and cemeteries. It includes advise on registration and support to complete all necessary documentation for cremation or burial, and if required, arranging third-party services, such as floral tributes and order of service. It also includes, managing charitable donations and the collection and delivery of cremated remains, if applicable.

Other charges we make include the following –

• Bringing a deceased person into our care
• To provide housing and care of the deceased until the time of the funeral
• Preparations and dressing
• Chapel of rest visits
• The services of the funeral director to conduct the funeral with the provision of a standard motor hearse and bearers
• Limousine(s) if requested
• The provision of a coffin.

Other items that may also be charged for by us, if requested, are for

• Embalming
• Ashes caskets/scattertubes/urns
• Stone masonry

If you don’t require any of the above services, for instance, limousines, then you will not be charged for them.

What are disbursements (third-party charges)?

Disbursements are the costs we pay on your behalf. They are included on the estimate of charges, and will need to be paid for before the funeral takes place

Essential disbursements include the following –

• Crematorium fees
• Interment fees (grave preparation)
• Cemetery fees (buying a burial plot/fee to erect a memorial)
• Church/clergy fees
• Celebrant fees

Non-essential disbursements include the following –

• Floral tributes
• Order of service/condolence stationary
• Newspaper notices
• Funeral tea/catering
• Webcasting / service recording / tribute screen
• Specialised hearse
• Bagpiper

We will ask you to check and sign the estimate, and to pay the cost of the disbursements in advance of the funeral.

The estimate will usually be an true reflection of the actual costs, but occasionally we may not know the exact cost of a specific requirement at the time of making the arrangement; should the estimate need to increase by more than £30, then a revised estimate will be raised for your approval.

One week after the funeral, a final invoice will be raised. This will show any minor adjustments made to the costs. You will have 28 days in which to settle the account.

If you have any concerns about the cost of the funeral, or if you don’t think you can afford to pay, please discuss this with the funeral director at your earliest opportunity.