Advice, guidance and planning for bereavement
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Keep up to date with what is happening at Safe Hands and the global issues that impact on our lives and deaths.
It's never easy to talk about, but we all think about death from time to time. Putting a few things in place now can save a lot on anguish for your family once you’re gone.
There is a lot to think about once someone dies, not least of all how you want to say goodbye, Here are some useful tips.
Finding the right words to say at a funeral is a difficult and delicate job.
Should I take flowers? Your guide to attending a funeral…
If you haven’t been to a funeral for a while, or indeed, ever, then you might be unsure of what to take with you. Funeral Flowers? A card? Tissues or a handkerchief at least? This brief guide will help you know what to take when attending a funeral. First – take a friend. Unless the funeral […]
Understanding a Sikh funeral
If you’ve been invited to a Sikh funeral but you’re not sure about the etiquette involved, this short article will help you. You may be close to a Sikh family, but the rituals and beliefs might not be something you’ve talked about – and that’s normal. What’s also normal, is to be a little […]
Understanding a Muslim funeral
Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity – The word ‘Islam’ in Arabic means submission to the will of God, and the followers of Islam are called Muslims. While the Islamic faith holds some beliefs to be common, there are many different sects so the rituals and beliefs about death can vary. If you’ve been invited to […]
Letters of administration – what are they?
In short, a letter of administration is a document that’s issued by the Probate Registry to let someone to act as the administrator of your estate, after you die. If you’ve appointed executors, in a will, there won’t be need for letters of administration – your executors will need to apply for a ‘grant of […]
Pallbearers – what do you need to know?
In a traditional funeral setting, four to six pallbearers will usually carry or escort the coffin from the funeral director’s hearse, into the funeral venue. If the person is being buried, then the pallbearers will also accompany the coffin to the graveside – it’s an honour to be asked, but you might not be sure […]
What is probate?
Probate, or ‘granting probate’, is the process of proving that a will is legal and valid. This is important: this proof is necessary before the estate of a person who has died can be handled or distributed. In short, bank accounts may be inaccessible, and property may not be sold until probate has been granted. […]