Adding value to your funeral services

Death is overwhelming; From the early crushing grief and simply surviving the first few days, to funeral preparations, tackling administration and dealing with those emotive annual milestones, the process can seem never ending. As the first professional service families turn to after a bereavement, funeral directors play an often overlooked role. In addition to the practical funeral arrangements, many also provide that all-important emotional support and a wealth of guidance on the administrative tasks needed to be carried out once the funeral has passed.

Handling the complex administration involved can be a daunting task at an already difficult time – and something not traditionally associated with the role of a funeral director. However, establishing relationships with after-death service providers can prove beneficial for everyone. Creating a referral pathway to other related professionals not only adds value to the services funeral directors are able to offer families but, perhaps most importantly, it gives consumers a more effective, streamlined and less stressful experience.

COVID has been a time of unprecedented crisis, with the sector stretched to its limit. An increase in unexpected deaths, restrictions on funeral arrangements, and the financial fallout from the huge probate backlog have put enormous strain on funeral homes and added extra complications for those saying goodbye to their loved ones.

Customer expectations are changing and forward-thinking funeral homes have been adapting to meet these needs. Now, more than ever, consumers need increasingly flexible, comprehensive, and integrated after-death services – a professional partnership model that astute funeral service providers embrace.

As a family-owned probate specialist company, Laurelo has seen first-hand how partnering with funeral homes has benefited those who have lost a loved one. John Harris, Funeral Director at T Cribb & Son recognises that, “while funeral directors do an incredible job of helping families with compassion and professionalism, there are limits to the services they can provide in-house.” Funeral homes that forge the right specialised professional connections are in a prime position to help their families access essential services, alleviating additional burden and unnecessary angst.

Having received only positive feedback, Harris acknowledges the value of onward referrals and the synergy between services: “what’s lovely about working with Laurelo is we’re handing over to a similar sort of ethos, that can guide someone through what is a very difficult period. Strengthening their overall offering, he believes, also casts a positive light on the wider company: “It’s a good reflection on us because, like all funeral directors, I rely on florists to do their job, I rely on ministers doing their work well, and it all comes together to make a family’s experience of dealing with you a good one.”

The very nature of probate means that it is not something many people will experience often during their life; The word alone can feel intimidating. Probate is a process that begins most often during a time of grief and vulnerability, potentially exacerbated by a lack of knowledge and confusion. This can prove costly in both time and money if incorrect decisions are made on impulse, without consideration.

Working with a dedicated provider, funeral directors are able to offer integrated probate and estate administration services that allow their families more flexibility, choice and support. Families no longer have the stress of searching for administration services or the worry of how they will manage the workload involved. Instead, they can concentrate their time and energy on processing their grief and starting to move forward.

Laurelo was proud to be awarded Probate Provider of the Year (south) at last month’s fifth annual British Wills and Probate Awards, a testament to the company’s ongoing care and commitment. Their goal is to consistently make the path to probate as straightforward as possible. Providing full support and guidance throughout the Probate Estate Administration process, they have dedicated case managers nationwide, so are on hand no matter where in the country a family is based.

By working with specialist providers, funeral directors can provide their families with more flexibility, choice, and support; By working together, everyone can enhance their offerings and further help the families in their care.

If you’d like to speak to someone about working together, please get in touch with the Laurelo team for an informal chat, on 0203 058 2329 or email info@laurelo.co.uk.