Cremation Costs

[bad company]

My mum very sadly died yesterday.

She wanted a direct cremation rather than a funeral. All fair enough but the crematorium want payment in advance for this. I can pay it but does anyone know how I go about reclaiming the money? There’s plenty in her estate and bank accounts but I haven’t told them that she’s died yet.

[dalenorth]

Sorry for your loss. If you go to the banks with proof and her death certificate then they will be able to release small amounts. Are you getting a solicitor involved?

[bad company]

dalenorth said:

Sorry for your loss. If you go to the banks with proof and her death certificate then they will be able to release small amounts. Are you getting a solicitor involved?

Yes, seeing the solicitor next week but I need to pay for the cremation now.

[dalenorth]

Yes, my Mum died a couple of years ago and the banks/building society’s were very helpful. Give them a call and I’m sure the funeral directors can wait a couple of days.

[bad company]

dalenorth said:

Yes, my Mum died a couple of years ago and the banks/building society’s were very helpful. Give them a call and I’m sure the funeral directors can wait a couple of days.

Thanks for that. Did the bank agree to keep paying stuff like the utility direct debits until the house/flat was sold? This is all very new to me.

[Jockman]

IIRC Probate is not required before Funeral Costs can be paid so there should be no delay in getting money from the Estate. If you've paid it personally then a receipt goes into the estate to pay you directly.

Most Funeral Directors now ask for deposits upfront or payment of disbursements like Crem costs upfront. These are costs that they MUST secure before their own costs for their services, cars, chapel use etc.

Disbursements are arguably >the< biggest driver in Funeral costs as local councils and large groups increase fees annually at a rate that bears no resemblance to RPI.

[The Leaper]

Correct. Funeral/cremation related costs are usually paid ahead of getting probate. Probate can take a few weeks to several months depending on type and range of assets, all of which have to be valued ahead of probate. If funeral/cremation costs are paid by a third party, he/she should send the invoice(s) to the executor who should arrange settlement by the bank ahead of probate. Banks usually have no problem with this. In fact, what usually happens is that as the deceased's funds are not accessible until probate is obtained, the executor opens his own bank account with the deceased's bank and therefore has a chequebook to pay disbursements ahead of probate; in effect, this is a loan account any charges for which are charged against the deceased's assets later as part of the estate administration.

At least this is what has happened in the seven or so cases of a family member passing where I've been the executor.

R.

[bad company]

Well had accounts with 4 banks and a building society. I went to them all today with the required paperwork.

NatWest - Account frozen pending probate
Barclays - Sending me a cheque for the full balance of her account to deal with as an executor
Nationwide - Freezing the account but cannot release funds until after probate as her balance was too far.
Halifax - Transferred the full balance of my mum's account to my Halifax account on the spot.


So I opened a new online account with the Halifax and will use the money to pay the cremation costs and other expenses. I also intend using the money to pay utilities as I obviously need to keep the gas and electric on in mum's flat. I will also pay the Barclays cheque into this account.

All in all it was much easier than expected.

Thanks for the help guys.