A funeral parlour is a business that provides burial and funeral services for the deceased and their families. These services may include a prepared wake and funeral, including providing a chapel for the funeral. Funeral parlours also have facilities for preparing the dead for burial or cremation and viewing at funerals.

Funeral homes arrange their services following the deceased’s wishes, if available, or surviving friends and family. 

What to do in case of Natural vs Unnatural deaths 

In case of natural death, you need to contact the General Practitioner (GP) who last worked with the deceased.  

In case of unnatural death, the first people you need to contact are the police to report the death.

Once you have phoned either the GP or police, your next call needs to be to the funeral director. Followed by calls to the immediate family to inform them of the death.

Next, the death needs to be certified by a medical professional, and you will need the following documents on hand:

  1. Copy of ID
  2. Copy of spouse’s ID
  3. Surname and Full names
  4. Streed Address
  5. Postal Address
  6. Contact Number
  7. Medical Information 
  8. Marriage Certificate

Living Will and Testament 

A Will is the most crucial document after death. A will or testament is a legal declaration in which the deceased reveals their wishes regarding their estate. A Will prevents unnecessary legal costs and uncertainties for the deceased’s dependents. 

A will contains the deceased’s wishes with regards to assets like:

  • Property 
  • Jewellery 
  • Art
  • Cash 
  • Insurance policies 
  • Financial Portfolio

If a person dies without a Will, it delays the finalisation of the deceased’s financial affairs.

Essential things to keep in mind when creating a Will:

  1. Make sure it has all the signatures from you and the required witnesses.
  2. Make sure that people are aware where your Will is kept; loved ones do not want to be searching for a Will when a person dies.
  3. It’s crucial to appoint reliable executors and trustees to administer your estate. 

Important things to keep in mind with your Funeral Policy:

  • Make sure your current policy is enough to cover your funeral costs.
  • If you don’t have a funeral policy. Have you made provision for the cost of your funeral? And do the people close to you know how to access it?
  • Have you decided if you want to be buried or cremated, and do the people closest to you know what that is 
  • Do you prefer to have funerals at your funeral, or do you choose a donation be made? 

Include information such as:

  1. Financial Advisor – Include their name and contact details
  2. Policies – It’s essential to keep the original contract documents on file as proof of ownership and to indicate at which companies the policies are being held
  3. Retirement Annuities – The original contract document must be kept on file, along with the latest statement or correspondence from the relevant company with whom the annuity is held
  4. Short-term insurance contract – It is important to ensure that your short-term insurance cover is up-to-date and sufficient to satisfy your current circumstances 
  5. Title deed – When referring to finances and financial planning, this section is probably the most important. Keep the title deed of the property which is registered in your name or of which you are the co-owner 
  6. Lease Agreement 
  7. Outstanding loads/debts – The original contracts for any loans need to be kept along with the details from the company where you took out the loan. 
  8. Other – Cellphone Contract and Share Certificates 

Business Documents:

  • Mortgage 
  • Business Contracts 
  • Trade Licences
  • Details of Sureties
  • Details of Companies, Partnerships, trusts, closed corporations and sole ownerships 

Contact B3 Funeral Parlours to talk about what happens when you or a loved one dies