How Long After Death do I Arrange A Funeral?
How long after death do I arrange a funeral? This article explores how long it takes to organise a funeral and what is involved at each stage.
Shropshire Funerals are independent, family-run funeral directors based in Oswestry, Shropshire. Our trusted team of experienced funeral directors are here to guide you through each step at difficult times.
How long does it take to organise a funeral?
There are a lot of external factors and details which can affect how long it takes to plan a funeral.
Some individuals or families may already have plans that can allow for much sooner services, but this time period can be much longer without funeral plans in place.
According to data from 2016, in the parliament of the United Kingdom, the average time was reported to be around 15 days.
How long after death is a funeral?
Often, local funerals will take place within around one week, two weeks or three weeks after a loved one's death, but this is dependent on all preparations and arrangements being made and planned.
A funeral may also be later than this if there are extenuating circumstances, such as if a death needs looking into by a coroner.
It can also often be the case that more time can be allocated in between the death and the funeral if some people would be travelling or for religious beliefs, as generally, it will be what is best for the bereaving.
After someone dies, one of the first things to be done is to acquire a medical certificate from a qualified medical professional.
This can be the person's GP or someone qualified within the hospital they were in, often a doctor.
Death certificates often will be issued as early as possible, only to be delayed by coroner's inquests if required, meaning other processes can be completed quicker.
While a funeral does require all paperwork to be in place, a funeral director can be contacted for advice and funeral planning, and some arrangements can be made before the full acquisition of the paperwork.
Funeral directors can also make arrangements for moving the body for appropriate storage and safety.
Organising a funeral can be done soon after the death. Before the funeral process is carried out, the appropriate death, cremation, or burial certificates must all have been issued.
To get a death certificate, the death must be registered with the relevant registrar office. For England, Wales and Northern Island, this must be within five days of the death; in Scotland, this is eight days.
The time it takes will be dependent on the appointment times at the registrar. There is no charge to register the death; however, copies of the death certificate have charges depending on where you are and will be needed when dealing with banks and utilities.
The costs for this are as follows: England and Wales £4, Northern Island £8, Scotland £12.
It is important to tell the funeral director whether the deceased is to be buried or cremated. The priority is if the deceased had a personal preference to either, and if not, then the choice falls upon the family.
Funeral directors can often assist with paperwork to a degree; however, both death and medical certificates will be required at this stage.
Waiting times for cremations and burials will often average out to be similar but can very easily vary from situation to situation.
It is important to tell the funeral director whether the deceased is to be buried or cremated. The priority is if the deceased had a personal preference to either, and if not, then the choice falls upon the family.
Funeral directors can often assist with paperwork to a degree; however, both death and medical certificates will be required at this stage.
Waiting times for cremations and burials will often average out to be similar but can very easily vary from situation to situation.
This can impact some more than others, but time may need to be allocated for travel or for availability from work or other constraints. Having a rough date can be a great way for other people to be available and to plan.
One of the best ways to shorten the time between death and a funeral is to plan ahead, whether it's arranging a funeral director or some of the specificities such as music or other wishes.
How long can a funeral be delayed?
Funerals can be delayed for various reasons, whether its constraints because of those coming to the service or by other events or limitations or delays.
One of the ways which can delay a funeral considerably is to have a direct cremation near the time of death, later followed by a memorial service that can be held at a time that is convenient for all involved.
Funerals can be held any day of the week, and it is important to discuss dates and times with a funeral director to find the best scenario possible and work towards the desired date.
Having services held on Saturdays or Sundays may lead to extra charges, and planning may suffer from fewer available dates or times.
What Are The Most Common Days And Times For A Funeral?
The majority of funeral services will take place either in the late morning or around midday, at some point within the week.
It can be beneficial in allowing those travelling to the event to arrive in good time and can allow for wakes or funeral receptions to follow as soon as possible.
You can be patient with dates and times, and you do not need to take the first date offered by a funeral director.
Can You Have A Funeral On A Saturday Or Sunday?
Arranging the funeral for a weekend may be more expensive, but it is possible, and many do.
Notably, many funeral directors may only take weekend bookings on request, which is another reason for additional charges.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Date
Some important things to take note of in your own circumstances to hold a funeral are:
- If friends, people or family are travelling from afar to attend,
- If there is an existing event that you don't want to overlap with,
- Ensuring that people who would want to be there don't have existing arrangements such as holidays booked
- Arranging too soon may not be enough notice for everyone.
Are you looking for an independent funeral director in Shropshire? Our family run funeral director service provides support for you and your loved ones during the funeral arrangement and service.