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See the full checklistLeave your number and James Hawes and Goodchild Funeral Directors will call you back.
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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
James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors recognises how important it is to be at the heart of our local Hackney & Highams Park, London community.
The teams at our Hackney and Highams Park funeral homes will provide advice at every stage of the funeral planning process, and will arrange an individual and unique funeral to help you celebrate the life of your loved one.
Sorcha Sinead
6 months ago
Kirsty and Ray looked after my late Mum myself and my family at all stages of the funeral planning.They treated us all with dignity and kindness.The funeral was executed perfectlyThank you to both of you...
james stanley
7 months ago
We would Strongly recommend to anyone who has lost a loved one.The staff at James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors in Well Street Hackney, have gone way above & beyond their call of duty to help me & my family get my Dad's funeral arranged & organised. They remained composed & professional throughout the whole process.I am truly grateful to Ray, Kirsty & all the team for helping us to give my Dad the send off, he could only dream of.Sincerely appreciated & thank you from us allThe Stanley family.
Angel Kelly
a year ago
Kirsty & the team was amazing, went above and beyond. They made special arrangements for us as a family which we truly appreciate. They cared for mum perfectly and helped us give mum a beautiful send off. I had been to 2 previous funeral homes before visiting here and they stood out by far. The compassion and care they put into everything is outstanding and at such a high quality. Highly recommend especially for families, Thank you for everything.
Vy Do
a year ago
I really couldn’t thank Ray, Marissa, Dave and the team enough for how much they helped my family, nor could I recommend their services enough. They were incredibly professional yet understanding, and made this difficult experience so much more bearable for us throughout. We were repeatedly reassured not to worry, and to allow them to take some of our stress away around the planning of the day.They were able to accommodate all of our wishes and paid so much attention to detail. My grandad’s favourite colour was red and the coffin bearers even offered to wear red ties/details to reflect that, just small details that really meant a lot to us. Thank you so much again.
John Nguyen
a year ago
Marissa and her team at James Hawes & Goodchild Funeral Directors provided us with the most professional, compassionate and caring service for my father's funeral. All of the arrangements were taken care of from start to finish with all of the family's wishes respected and accommodated throughout the whole experience.We really appreciated the expert advice, professionalism and patience which was provided by the whole team at James Hawes and Goodchild, who ensured the time leading up to and on the day ran as smoothly as possible and according to schedule.
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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 02089854231We'll call you back
James Hawes and Goodchild 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 Hawes and Goodchild 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
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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.
Direct cremation is the UK's fastest-growing funeral option, typically costing £895–£1,500. This guide explains what it involves, how to arrange one, and who it suits best.
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