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See the full checklistLeave your number and C S Boswell Independent Funeral Services 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
C.S. Boswell Independent Funeral Services is a family-owned and managed independent funeral business based in Summertown, Oxford, located at 364 Banbury Road. Founded by Carl Boswell, who began his career in the funeral profession in 2004 at just 14 years of age, the business was established in 2014 with a commitment to continuing independent traditions within the industry. Carl grew up locally in Kidlington and has spent his career serving families throughout Oxfordshire and beyond.
The Summertown branch offers a truly personal, non-delegated service, providing individual care and attention that larger organisations cannot match. Funeral arrangements can be made in the privacy of clients' own homes or at the funeral home, which has been designed to provide a warm, homely and relaxed environment. Free client parking is available on the premises, along with a private Chapel of Rest.
The team of Funeral Directors includes Carl S. Boswell, Ryan Boswell, Joy Davies, Greg Buzzard, Sophie Hastings-Blaine, and Bernice Steeples, all personally chosen by Carl. The business is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offers a wide range of services including traditional funerals, simple funerals, direct cremations, children's and babies' funerals, cremated remains services, repatriation, pre-arranged funeral plans, and memorial consultancy.
"We took the time to speak to the majority of funeral directors in Oxford and were very comfortable choosing Carl and his team due to their caring but practical approach. Everything was clearly communicated and the day of the funeral went perfectly"
— Patrick Durrant (about Carl)
"as we followed Mum from Boswell to the crematorium we were so glad we'd chosen Boswell who took great care in every detail - even down to Greg's special 'pocket watch'"
— Annette Herman (about Greg)
"Patience and assistance around the Order of service, Photos, paperwork and liaising with the vicar, as well as a change of plan with the car and route at the last minute was equally appreciated"
— Simon Lisemore (about Sophie)
"The care they took of my father was so professional and we couldn't of asked for better people to look after him. At one of the hardest times in our lives we were shown complete compassion and they worked so closely with us to ensure we gave my father a send off he would be proud of"
— Jenny Clarke (about Carl)
"Following the unexpected death of a family member who was only 25, Sophie at C.S.Boswell and the whole team were empathic, professional and completely incredible at supporting us through the funeral planning"
— Eleanor Shearer (about Sophie)
"when you are drowning in grief you just need someone who can hold your hand and organise everything and they did this wonderfully"
— Tina Emberton (about Joy)
Bernice Steeples
Funeral Director
Bernice Steeples is a Funeral Director at C.S. Boswell, personally chosen by Carl to provide compassionate care to fami…
Carl S. Boswell
Principal Funeral Director & Founder
"The care they took of my father was so professional and we couldn't of asked for better people to look after him. At on…"
Greg Buzzard
Funeral Director
"as we followed Mum from Boswell to the crematorium we were so glad we'd chosen Boswell who took great care in every det…"
Joy Davies
Funeral Director
"when you are drowning in grief you just need someone who can hold your hand and organise everything and they did this w…"
Ryan Boswell
Funeral Director
Ryan Boswell is one of the Funeral Directors at C.S. Boswell, personally chosen by Carl to offer the best level of serv…
Sophie Hastings-Blaine
Funeral Director
"Following the unexpected death of a family member who was only 25, Sophie at C.S.Boswell and the whole team were empath…"
Annette Herman
a month ago
On Monday 2 March we bid a final farewell to a very much loved Mum. Greg of Boswell was superb throughout - kind, caring & responding to emails quickly. As we followed Mum from Boswell to the crematorium we were so glad we’d chosen Boswell who took great care in every detail - even down to Greg’s special “pocket watch”! Thank you all. You helped make a difficult time so much easier.
Tina Emberton
5 months ago
A huge thank you to Joy and the team who were all amazing in organising my dad’s funeral. They were kind, warm, friendly and sensitive everything was done so professionally at such an incredibly sad time. I would highly recommend them as they are so compassionate and kind and when you are drowning in grief you just need someone who can hold your hand and organise everything and they did this wonderfully.
Simon B
6 months ago
Joy and her team were terrific in organising my wife's funeral; kind, sensitive, efficient and organised. Would definitely recommend.
Eleanor Shearer
a year ago
Following the unexpected death of a family member who was only 25, Sophie at C.S.Boswell and the whole team were empathic, professional and completely incredible at supporting us through the funeral planning. Cannot recommend them more highly as a compassionate, organised funeral director.
Simon Lisemore
a year ago
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the teams help over the past few weeks and especially for their time and compassion yesterday at the funeral of my father. The organization and way in which Sophie and Joy took us through the process was brilliant and very helpful to us all, especially as it’s the first funeral I have ever had to help organize. Patience and assistance around the Order of service, Photos, paperwork and liaising with the vicar ,as well as a change of plan with the car and route at the last minute was equally appreciated. Any email I sent was always responded to in a timely manner and communication was always on point. I would recommend without question. .
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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 01865553737We'll call you back
C S Boswell Independent Funeral Services will be in touch shortly.
You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and C S Boswell Independent Funeral Services 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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