Frequently asked questions

Yes, of course. Our team will guide you remotely and send the necessary paperwork to you via e-mail for signature if you prefer.

It usually takes approximately two hours to go through the Funeral Arrangements. We will be guided by you of how much or how little you wish to go through in one appointment.

We’ll ask for some key details about your loved one and any preferences you may already have. Don’t worry if you’re unsure, our team will help you every step of the way. We recommend bringing the following:

• A recent photo of your loved one if you have one
• Clothing you'd like them to be wearing and any items to be placed with them
• Documentation from the Registrars Office (if you have already attended to Register the death. Please note, this may have been emailed to us rather than you being handed a physical copy)
• Any pre-payment funeral plan paperwork, if applicable

We can help arrange services quickly if required, however we are reliant on the necessary legal documentation being prepared by The Medical Examiners Office and The Registrars Office. Typically, Funeral Services take place within 2-3 weeks from the person passing away. Please talk to us about your timing constraints.

Yes. Mortons offers both burial and cremation services, including traditional and more modern options such as direct cremation. We’ll explain the differences and help you make the right choice for your family.

Funeral costs can vary depending on the type of service and specific arrangements. We provide transparent pricing and will work with you to create a meaningful service within your budget. From direct cremations with no service element, to a complete bespoke style of funeral; and everything in between.

In most cases, yes. You’ll need to register the death before the funeral can take place. We can guide you through the process, including how and where to do this.

Yes, if you wish to. Mortons has dedicated viewing suites at our Northfield and Rubery branches, offering a peaceful space for private goodbyes.

No. You may wish to opt for a direct cremation, where there is no ceremony and no mourners in attendance. There are also options for simpler, shorter services with limits of either 8 or 20 mourners but still gives those attending the opportunity to see the coffin be committed and listen to a piece of reflection music.

Burial involves placing the body in a coffin or casket and interring it, in the ground, usually at a Cemetery or Churchyard. Cremation is the process of reducing the body within a coffin or casket to ashes, which can be kept in an urn, scattered, or buried. We can discuss options to help you make an informed decision.

It's natural to feel overwhelmed. Our team is here to provide compassionate guidance every step of the way, taking care of the details and presenting the choices available to you for consideration, ensuring that you can focus on honouring your loved one.

Yes. We can arrange for military honours, including flag presentation, Taps, and we coordinate with Veterans' organisations.

Yes, we can assist with transporting remains locally, nationally, or internationally. We handle all necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth process.

Legal requirements may include registering your loved one's death, obtaining a death certificate, and paperwork necessary to facilitate the burial or cremation. We guide you through the paperwork and processes, ensuring that we comply with local regulations too.

If a death occurs away from home, contact us immediately. We can coordinate with local professionals to ensure your loved one is transported safely back home or to the desired location. It may be that the repatriation of your loved one is covered by insurance and we can liaise with the nominated agent on your behalf.

Funerals can be delayed to accommodate family members traveling from afar or other scheduling needs. We can preserve the body or prepare the cremated remains to allow flexibility, we would advise on each individual basis to ensure that we were providing the best level of care for your loved one.

Yes. Pre-planning for a loved one allows you to ensure their wishes are honoured and provides peace of mind during a challenging time.

If your loved one has passed away at home, or at a care or nursing home, we can usually attend locally within 1 hour. If your loved one has passed away in Hospital, a different procedure will need to be followed and we would advise you of this based on your circumstances.

If your loved one has passed, contact us immediately. We will guide you through the necessary steps, including transportation, legal documentation, and planning the service.

We accept bank transfers, credit or debit card, cheque, and payment from insurance policies, including prepaid Funeral Plans. We partner with FuneralSafe to enable you to spread the cost of the Funeral subject to successful competition of an approval process.

Yes, we offer environmentally friendly options such as biodegradable caskets, natural burials, and other sustainable practices.

A traditional funeral service typically includes a formal ceremony, with a burial or cremation. There are many ways that the Service chosen can be personalised to reflect your loved one and our team are on hand to offer options of how this might be possible through transportation, floral arrangements, and Funeral stationery.

Yes. We can arrange services at various venues, including places of worship, private homes, outdoor locations, or community centres, depending on your preference.

A memorial service is a ceremony honouring the deceased without the coffin present. This can take place immediately after burial or cremation or weeks, months or a year later if preferred.

A graveside service is a ceremony held at the burial site, often simpler and shorter than a traditional funeral, focusing on the act of interment.

Choosing between cremation and burial is a personal decision based on cultural, religious, financial, and emotional factors. If your loved one didn't leave specific requests, we can guide you through the pros and cons of each option.

Green burials emphasise sustainability and involve natural materials like biodegradable caskets or shrouds, usually with no embalming. The body is returned to the earth in an environmentally friendly way.

We are experienced in honouring diverse cultural and religious practices. Share your loved one's preferences with us, and we will tailor the service accordingly.

The committal part of the service is the formal act of saying goodbye. At a crematorium, this could be where something specific happens i.e. curtain may close, or the coffin could lower; the choices vary depending upon location. At a burial service, it is where the coffin is lowered and committed to the ground.

No, we can help you to arrange a Funeral Service for your loved one at any crematorium within the UK!

Crematoria are required to abide by a strict code of practice and The Cremation Act, ensuring proper identification follows the coffin through the entire cremation process, ensuring that you receive the correct ashes back after cremation.

Ashes are usually ready for collection the following working day and we will call you to advise you as soon as they are received back into our care.

Yes, children can attend funeral services. Each child is different and we recommend the decision on whether they attend be down to their parent or guardian. Explaining what they can expect in an age-appropriate way and encouraging them to express their feelings often helps their grieving process.

Yes, but please talk to us to ensure that your chosen item will be accepted by the chosen Cemetery or Crematorium.

Absolutely. We encourage families to include personal touches, such as favourite music, photos, readings, or cultural and religious traditions, to make the service unique and meaningful. We will guide you through the arrangements to incorporate your loved one's personality and passions.

This is quite usual as no one knows how they will feel on the day of the funeral. It's a good idea to have sent the person who is officiating a copy of what you hope to say so that they can step in if you're unable to deliver it. You may prefer that a family member of friend is your back up, its all in the planning.

Funerals requesting mourners to wear a particular colour are becoming more common. Speak to the Funeral Director, family or visit and online announcement page for more guidance on the families requested dress code.

Some Churches may have restrictions on what can be played at a religious ceremony, however, at Crematoriums, as long as the music has been commercially produced, you can choose the pieces you feel best reflect your loved one! We also offer music facilities for graveside services.

Within our traditional black or silver Jaguar Limousines, there are 6 rear seats of which all are forward facing. If you'd like a 7th passenger to travel next to the driver, please do let us know.

Ordinarily, the limousine would return you to a venue after the Funeral Service, i.e. a pub, social venue or to a home address. Following this, it would be your responsibility to make additional travel arrangements. Please talk to us about your requirements and we’ll do all we can to help.

This is entirely up to you. Please let us know how long you'd like your appointment for and we can make sure your appointment is schedule with plenty of time for you to pay your respects.

Our premises are closed over the weekend; however, we can accommodate appointments within our Chapels of Rest for a small charge.

Our offices are open from 8:30am-5:00pm Monday - Friday. However, our telephones are answered by a member of our own team 24 hours a day. If you have a query out of normal office hours, we have an on call duty Funeral Director who will be able to assist with any queries you may have.

Yes. We have private Chapels of Rest for you to spend time with your loved one at each of our locations.

Yes we do - please call us if you need further directions.