Frequently asked questions

When someone dies, the steps depend on where and how the death occurred. If the death was expected, contact the person's GP or the hospital. If the death was unexpected, call 999. Once a medical professional has confirmed the death, you can contact a funeral director to begin making arrangements. Requirements vary depending on circumstances, and professional guidance may be required.

If the death was expected, contact the person's GP or the out-of-hours GP service. The doctor will visit to confirm the death and issue a medical certificate of cause of death. Once this has been done, you may contact a funeral director to bring the person into their care. If the death was unexpected, call 999. The police and coroner may become involved. Requirements vary depending on circumstances.

Hospital staff will issue the medical certificate of cause of death, usually from the bereavement office. You will need this certificate to register the death. The hospital may ask which funeral director you have chosen so they can coordinate transfer. Most hospitals have a chapel of rest where you may visit the person who has died, subject to availability.

Call 999 immediately. The police and coroner will attend. The coroner may order a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Funeral arrangements may need to wait until the coroner releases the body. This process can take days or weeks. A funeral director can advise on the likely timescales once the coroner is involved.

You must register the death within five days in England and Wales (eight days in Scotland). Visit the register office for the district where the death occurred, with the medical certificate of cause of death. The registrar will issue a death certificate and the green form needed for burial or cremation. You can order additional copies of the death certificate for a fee.

A direct cremation is a cremation without a service at the crematorium chapel. The person who has died is cared for and cremated at a suitable time. Families may hold a separate memorial or celebration of life afterwards. This option is often chosen for simplicity or when a larger gathering is planned at a later date. Our Simple Direct Cremation demonstration package starts from £1,495.

A burial funeral typically includes a service at a place of worship or at the graveside, followed by interment in a cemetery or churchyard. You will need to purchase or have access to a grave plot. Cemetery and churchyard fees apply separately from funeral director charges. Our Traditional Funeral demonstration package starts from £3,295, excluding burial plot costs.

Funerals can be personalised in many ways: choice of music, readings, photographs, floral tributes, and the venue. You may wish to include personal items, write your own eulogy, or choose a non-religious celebrant. Our Personalised Funeral option includes unlimited consultation to design a service that reflects the life of the person who has died.

Many families wish to visit the person who has died before the funeral. This can take place at the funeral home's chapel of rest or, in some cases, at home. Visits are usually by appointment. We will prepare the person with care and respect. Not all families choose to visit, and there is no obligation to do so.

A funeral can usually be arranged within one to two weeks, depending on the availability of the crematorium, church, or cemetery. If the coroner is involved, arrangements may take longer. We will discuss realistic timescales during your first arrangement meeting and work to accommodate any specific dates that are important to your family.

You will need the medical certificate of cause of death to register the death. After registration, the registrar provides the green certificate for burial or cremation. If the person had a prepaid funeral plan, you will need the plan documents. For cremation, additional medical forms may be required. We will guide you through the documentation needed for your specific circumstances.

Willow & Grace Funeral Care serves Berkshire and surrounding areas. This is demonstration coverage only for the purposes of testing the Luna Concierge platform. We do not provide real funeral services in any area.

Funeral costs vary depending on the type of service, coffin, vehicles, and third-party fees. Our demonstration packages start from £1,495 for a Simple Direct Cremation, £2,495 for an Attended Cremation, and £3,295 for a Traditional Funeral. All prices on this website are demonstration prices only. A full itemised estimate is provided during an arrangement meeting.

Funeral costs are typically settled from the estate of the person who has died, or by family members. Some people have prepaid funeral plans. Payment is usually requested before or shortly after the funeral. We can discuss payment options during your arrangement meeting. This demonstration website does not process real payments.

Repatriation involves bringing a person who has died back to the UK, or sending them to another country. This requires coordination with airlines, embassies, and local authorities. Requirements vary significantly depending on the countries involved. Demonstration estimated costs start from £2,500, but final costs require confirmation.

Yes. A memorial service can be held at any time after a cremation or burial. It can take place in a village hall, hotel, garden, or place of worship. This is often chosen after a direct cremation, allowing families time to plan a meaningful gathering. We offer memorial service coordination from a demonstration price of £350.

This demonstration website does not provide real emergency or out-of-hours funeral support. In a real situation, many funeral directors offer a 24-hour telephone line. For genuine emergencies, contact your GP, NHS 111, or 999 as appropriate. Our demonstration opening hours are Monday to Friday 9:00am–5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am–12:00pm.