We'll call you back
William Purves (Funeral Directors) Ltd will be in touch shortly.
You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and William Purves (Funeral Directors) Ltd 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
William Purves (Funeral Directors) Ltd is a family-run funeral business with a proud heritage spanning five generations, founded in Edinburgh in 1888 by William Purves. What began as a joinery and cabinet-making business in Marchmont has grown into one of Scotland's most respected funeral companies, with its registered office and principal branch at Oakvale Funeral Home, 106 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh. The business has remained in the Purves family throughout its history, passing through successive generations and continuously expanding its services and reach across Scotland and northeast England.
The Edinburgh branch offers a comprehensive range of funeral services, including both burial and cremation options, personalised funeral arrangements, repatriation services, and support with flowers, transport, and catered celebrations. The team assists families with every aspect of the process, from writing newspaper notices for publications such as the Edinburgh Evening News and The Scotsman, to online obituary listings and social media guidance.
William Purves is a member of both the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), reflecting their commitment to professional standards and compassionate care. They also offer pre-paid funeral plans with fixed director fees, as well as free Plan of Wishes services to help families prepare for the future.
"The gentleman who gave me my Mum's ashes and helped me with the small bit of paperwork was friendly, empathetic and professional. I have had only good experiences with all of the staff of William Purves."
— David Gilmour
"The team at William H Purves did an exceptional job of guiding our family through a difficult time and making it as stress-free as possible. The day of the funeral could not have gone more smoothly and struck exactly the tone we were all looking for."
— Craig Simpson
"The attention to detail and the empathy from all their staff was outstanding. Organising a funeral is emotional and stressful. Purves assisted throughout, providing useful support and advice. I would recommend them without hesitation."
— Gavin Collinson
"Graeme has been so reassuring, helpful & compassionate in dealing with all the arrangements for my dad's funeral. Would highly recommend trusting your loved ones to William Purves' care."
— Valerie Bruce (about Graeme)
"The professionalism, responsiveness and personal touch from our funeral director, Rohan Hepburn, and the whole team was hugely appreciated and ensured a perfect send off for our father."
— Craig Simpson (about Rohan Hepburn)
"The care and compassion that the team at William Purves showed our family when conducting the funeral of my late father was nothing short of flawless. Nothing was too much trouble for them and we were treated with compassion, dignity and respect at every stage. Thank you for standing with us - we truly appreciated having you conduct this funeral for us."
— Niels Calvert
Take a moment to reflect on the care you received
Not displayed publicly — used for verification only
This helps other families understand your experience
Share what your experience was like — other families will read this when choosing a funeral director
characters — please write a little more
Your review will appear on this page once verified. This usually takes 1–2 days.
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 01314475858We'll call you back
William Purves (Funeral Directors) Ltd will be in touch shortly.
You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and William Purves (Funeral Directors) Ltd 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 Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh. All members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family the care and protection you deserve.
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors serving Bonnyrigg and the wider Midlothian area. Every listed director meets strict professional standards, giving your family peace of mind at the hardest of times.
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors in Dalkeith, Midlothian. All members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family the care and protection it deserves.
Serving families in EDINBURGH and the surrounding area
So we can help families like yours better.
Your answers help us support families going through this.
You might find our step-by-step guide helpful →
