Paying For A Funeral

[Greedyfly]

Hello

I've never been in a situation to arrange a funeral before and it will be upon us soon.

How do you pay for a funeral if the only assets a person has is their house. The house will be sold and will go on sale soon but what if it doesn't sell quickly?

We have no means to get a loan and no way of paying for a funeral besides the sale of the house. There is a life insurance but again I don't know how quickly the insurance company will pay out.

Do funeral directors offer a payment scheme?

Any advice appreciated as I want to make this as easy as possible for family when the time comes.

Thank you

GF

[murraymints]

undertakers are normally willing to wait for the deceased's assets to be realised...if the deceased is in receipt of any benefits..pension credits..or simply has no funds then financial help is also available from DWP ...undertakers can usually also give advice there..

[murraymints]

..and payment schemes are available normally too...

[EDDIE51]

You can apply for a funeral grant from the Government. This will have to be paid back once the house is sold. The local' Job Centre Plus 'will help you make the application. Funeral directors will give credit and monthly payments but like all credit it has interest to pay as well. The Funeral grant is interest free you just repay the amount you get.

[murraymints]

I have arranged (other than dad) several funerals for elderly people where their assets were the house and not much else, and in every case the undertaker has been willing to wait for said property to be sold before payment is taken..with no added interest..once the time is here select a local undertaker and explain the circs...I have never had any problems with any undertaker ..

[Greedyfly]

Thank you both, that puts my mind at ease. One less thing to stress about at an already stressful time. Thanks!

[EDDIE51]

You can get the funeral grant no matter what the persons circumstances were, but as Murrymints says if there was only benefit money or pension you get some help that does not have to be repaid.

[Svejk]

If you have a solicitor involved, you could have a word with them. They can 'release' money for things like funerals. (I believe)

[murraymints]

only if there are any funds to release sve

[EDDIE51]

DO NOT get solicitors involved unless it is absolutely vital. They are only out to make money, they will charge you for every single action they take,at least £60 just to write a letter!
You can very soon find that a large % of the estate has been eaten up by solicitors fees !

[murraymints]

I echo EDDIE.....no need for a solicitor to arrange funeral..executor of the will can close any accounts and place house on market with estate agent..clearly conveyancing will then need to be done by solicitor..but they are also happy to wait until such time as assets are realised...the only snag is if probate is required...then it is unavoidable ..

[EDDIE51]

Greedyfly when the time comes go to the nearest Job Centre and ask for advice. I did not know until last month when we had a death in the family that Job Centres are also the place to go for advice about funeral expenses .

[Dogsbody2]

I'm not sure if Murraymints is suggesting that if an application for a grant of probate is required, then one has to employ a solicitor.
That's just untrue, plenty of executors do DIY.
Obviously most executors elect to use a conveyancer to help them in transacting the house sale, but that ought to be the extent of the need for their £100 per hour services charge (plus VAT at the prevailing rate).

[Greedyfly]

Thank you all! Great advice, much appreciated..

[bookbinder]

Some advice here:
https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/overview
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/legal-issues/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/what-to-do-first-when-someone-dies/
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/what-to-do-when-someone-dies-a-checklist

[mikey4444]

Having worked in Life Assurance for a few years, I can say that companies normally pay out very quickly, as soon as they have sight of a death certificate. I am sure that the undertakers will wait a few weeks.