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You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors will call you back.
Free, no obligation. We'll pass your number to the director.
Ready to speak to someone? A free, no-obligation call can help you understand the next steps.
If anything has changed, a quick call with a specialist can confirm.
A quick call with a specialist can help you figure out what applies.
Question of 3
Did the person who died own a property?
Including any property in their name, even if jointly owned.
Were there savings, investments, or other assets?
Bank accounts, shares, pensions, or valuables above a few thousand pounds.
Was there a will?
Even if you're not sure where it is, knowing one exists can change the process.
This can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to figure it out alone. A probate specialist can walk you through the next steps — no obligation, no pressure.
That's one less thing to worry about. If anything changes or you'd like a quick confirmation, a specialist can put your mind at rest.
Many families don't have all the information straight away — that's completely normal. A quick chat with a specialist can help you understand what applies to your situation.
What the probate process looks like
Apply for Grant of Probate
Collect assets & close accounts
Pay debts & tax
Distribute the estate
A specialist handles all of this for you.
Trusted by thousands of families across the UK
You probably don't need to pay for the funeral yourself
The estate will likely go through probate, which means the funeral costs can be paid from the estate. You need a probate specialist to make this happen.
Sail Probate · Fixed fees, nothing upfront
Probate might not be needed
That means the funeral costs probably can't be covered this way. But every situation is different — a quick chat can confirm.
We need a bit more info
Don't worry — lots of people aren't sure at this stage. A quick chat can work out whether the funeral costs can be covered.
Want to talk it through?
Free, no obligation.
Want to check with a specialist?
Free, no obligation.
Want to find out for sure?
Free, no obligation.
Sail Probate · Trusted by thousands of families
A specialist will call you soon
Free, no-obligation advice from Sail Probate
What happens next
Request received
Just now
A specialist reviews your details
Within 1 hour
You'll receive a call
Within 24 hours
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
Result saved
If you need help later, call Sail Probate free:
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
We'll give you a call
A Sail Probate specialist will talk you through everything and answer any questions.
Interested in: We handle everything (£6,000)
Interested in: Just the probate application (£1,000)
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
No problem
If you'd like to talk about probate or funeral costs, call Sail Probate free:
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors was founded in 1904.
Our dedicated teams at our Belfast and Whiteabbey funeral homes are committed to creating tailored funerals that reflect the unique life of your loved one.
We can be contacted 24 hours a day, by telephone, and are here to discuss your needs. Or if you prefer, we can visit your home to discuss funeral arrangements’
"Her love and understanding helped us through a difficult time. Special thanks to Terry Weir for his care and attention to every detail he gave on the day of the funeral."
— Robert Doherty (about Terry Weir, Liz)
"I cannot put into words how wonderful everyone was from the phone calls through to the drivers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
— Paul Osgood
"Janine and how she came over to the house and explaining everything and then checked up on us. Very kind, professional and handled every part of the funeral with dignity."
— LambFilms (about Janine)
"Lisa at the Lisburn Road branch was incredible. She just took all the stress and worry out of our hands and sorted it all out. NOTHING was too much trouble. They made my Mother look beautiful. Every single member of staff that we dealt with was professional, sincere and sympathetic."
— Joanne Clements (about Lisa)
"Janine was great, she was nearly able to think for us. At a time like that your head is all over the place, you just can't think straight, we were so grateful for that."
— JENNIFER Taylor (about Janine)
"They lifted the stress and worry from our shoulders and handled everything with such care and compassion. Nothing was ever too much trouble. They treated our Mum with such love and dignity, and every single member of staff we encountered was professional, sincere, and sympathetic. Bert, our funeral director, guided us with such kindness and reassurance. We could not have asked for better support during such a heartbreaking time."
— Jacqui Clarke (about Liz, Janine, Bert)
Jacqui Clarke
4 months ago
As a family, we recently lost our beloved Mum, we felt completely overwhelmed. From the moment we walked into the Lisburn Road branch, Liz and Janine were incredible. They lifted the stress and worry from our shoulders and handled everything with such care and compassion. Nothing was ever too much trouble. They treated our Mum with such love and dignity, and every single member of staff we encountered was professional, sincere, and sympathetic. The Newtownards Road staff were equally supportive, and on the day itself, Bert, our funeral director, guided us with such kindness and reassurance. We could not have asked for better support during such a heartbreaking time. As a family, we would highly recommend this firm to anyone. Their kindness and dedication meant the world to us, and we cannot praise them highly enough.
Marjorie McClelland
7 months ago
The team at Brown's were professional sympathetic and helpful throughout this ordeal of arranging a funeral for my husband.They weren't pushy with products and were helpful with all aspects of arranging things. I felt they took control of everything from leasing with the minister regarding order of service and timing of everything. Tom who was looking after us on the day of the funeral was lovely I can't thank him enough he handled everything very professionally. Thankyou.
Meg Nesbitt
a year ago
I bought a funeral plan for my Mum several months before she died. I met Liz who talked me through all the options and made sure I was happy with them. I was upset and really hadn’t been thinking straight. I wasn’t rushed or made to feel that my questions weren’t valid. I left a few things in the air, music that sort of thing. I revisited this at a later date after I had thought it out. Liz made the whole thing positive. I had interaction with Justine and Michael also a positive experience. The funeral went well with people remarking at how personal it seemed. Even the transport, from when my mum was taken from the home, till my sister was transported to the funeral and on to my home was personal. I would have no hesitation in recommending this local business. When a family member is ill then dies, you need all the advice and support you can get, you’ll get it here.
JENNIFER Taylor
a year ago
Janine was great, she was nearly able to think for us. At a time like that your head is all over the place, you just can't think straight, we were so grateful for that. Having said that every member of the staff new their jobs extremely well. THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THINGS SO MUCH EASIER FOR US.
Angela Patterson
2 months ago
Janine, David and Andrew were comforting, informative and helpful. They made a stressful situation much easier. As a family we appreciate everything they did for us.
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Ready to speak to someone? A free, no-obligation call can help you understand the next steps.
If anything has changed, a quick call with a specialist can confirm.
A quick call with a specialist can help you figure out what applies.
Question of 3
Did the person who died own a property?
Including any property in their name, even if jointly owned.
Were there savings, investments, or other assets?
Bank accounts, shares, pensions, or valuables above a few thousand pounds.
Was there a will?
Even if you're not sure where it is, knowing one exists can change the process.
This can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to figure it out alone. A probate specialist can walk you through the next steps — no obligation, no pressure.
That's one less thing to worry about. If anything changes or you'd like a quick confirmation, a specialist can put your mind at rest.
Many families don't have all the information straight away — that's completely normal. A quick chat with a specialist can help you understand what applies to your situation.
What the probate process looks like
Apply for Grant of Probate
Collect assets & close accounts
Pay debts & tax
Distribute the estate
A specialist handles all of this for you.
Trusted by thousands of families across the UK
You probably don't need to pay for the funeral yourself
The estate will likely go through probate, which means the funeral costs can be paid from the estate. You need a probate specialist to make this happen.
Sail Probate · Fixed fees, nothing upfront
Probate might not be needed
That means the funeral costs probably can't be covered this way. But every situation is different — a quick chat can confirm.
We need a bit more info
Don't worry — lots of people aren't sure at this stage. A quick chat can work out whether the funeral costs can be covered.
Want to talk it through?
Free, no obligation.
Want to check with a specialist?
Free, no obligation.
Want to find out for sure?
Free, no obligation.
Sail Probate · Trusted by thousands of families
A specialist will call you soon
Free, no-obligation advice from Sail Probate
What happens next
Request received
Just now
A specialist reviews your details
Within 1 hour
You'll receive a call
Within 24 hours
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
Result saved
If you need help later, call Sail Probate free:
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
We'll give you a call
A Sail Probate specialist will talk you through everything and answer any questions.
Interested in: We handle everything (£6,000)
Interested in: Just the probate application (£1,000)
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
No problem
If you'd like to talk about probate or funeral costs, call Sail Probate free:
Lines open now Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · 0808 196 0258
Get in touch
Call 02890666385We'll call you back
James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors will be in touch shortly.
You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and James Brown and Sons Funeral Directors will call you back.
Free, no obligation. We'll pass your number to the director.
You've completed of 18 steps on the bereavement checklist.
Continue your checklist18 things to sort when someone dies — keep track so nothing gets missed.
See the full checklist
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors in Belfast, County Antrim. All 10 listed members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family peace of mind when it matters most.
What to wear to a funeral in the UK: traditional expectations, modern dress codes, religious variations, what not to wear, and guidance for children.
The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,141. This guide breaks down every fee, explains regional differences, and shows you how to manage costs without compromising dignity.
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