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You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and Hergest and Cavell 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
Hergest & Cavell Funeral Directors is a trusted, independently owned and family-run funeral business serving Dartford, Gravesend, and the surrounding areas of Kent. With over 100 years of combined experience, the business is led by Paula and Peter Hergest along with their family team, who are committed to providing caring and personal attention to every family they serve.
The Dartford branch is located at 99-101 Lowfield Street, DA1 1HP, and is available 24 hours a day, every day, ensuring families can reach them whenever they are needed most. Their approach combines a modern business ethos with traditional family values, and their friendly, compassionate manner stems from a genuine passion for the work they do.
Hergest & Cavell aim to offer quality funerals at affordable prices without restricting the choices available to families during a difficult time. They are recognised as a top-rated funeral director for all-round service excellence, as reflected in their Google reviews. In addition to funeral services, they also offer pre-paid funeral plans, memorial masonry, and funeral finance options.
"It was an amazing farewell for an amazing man and the family will be forever grateful. Everyone was kind, respectful and thoughtful, frequently checking that every detail was covered and we were happy with the end result."
— Hergest & Cavell Funeral Directors (about Rachel, Peter, Gemma Grant)
"They went out of their way to cater to our needs, were extremely compassionate, and communicated well throughout. Despite covid restrictions Hergest & Cavell ensured we were able to give our dad the best send off possible."
— Mary Raveendran (about Sharon, Peter)
"I cannot come anywhere close to finding the words to adequately express my and my family's gratitude to Sharon and the team for looking after my Mum and helping to deliver a fitting and uplifting service in her honour."
— Memoriant Celebrant Services (about Sharon)
"It was very touching to see the staff paying their respects standing outside the funeral parlour as Dad completed his last journey to the crematorium."
— Sukhbir Khunkhun (about Sam)
"Even on the evening before the service I received a phone call from Pete explaining the procedure for the following day which alleviated some of my anxiety. Sharon is an amazing person, sympathetic, loving and very caring, nothing was too much trouble — nothing was rushed."
— Nicky Britt-shaw (about Sharon, Pete)
"From my first phone call on that Sunday in the early hours, you just made everything a little easier. Your gentle guidance and thoughtful personal touches made such a difference to us. The last six months have been a challenging time for us, but your support helped ease the burden more than you know."
— Jackie Barton (about Rachel, Peter, Paula)
Joanne Hergest
Funeral Arranger & Operations Manager
Joanne is the eldest daughter of Peter & Paula, who at the age of 30 changed her career in special care dentistry to jo…
Paula Hergest
Co-owner / Funeral Director
Paula Hergest is a co-owner of Hergest & Cavell Funeral Directors, providing caring and personal attention to families …
Paula Hergest
Owner & Managing Director
Paula started as a funeral arranger in 1995, instantly falling in love with the profession. Her career spans 35 plus ye…
Peter Hergest
Co-owner / Funeral Director
Peter Hergest is a co-owner of Hergest & Cavell Funeral Directors, committed to delivering compassionate funeral servic…
Peter Hergest
Owner & Funeral Director
Peter has been a Funeral Director for over 25 years serving the communities of Dartford & Gravesend. Opening his own fu…
Simon Jones
Funeral Director
Simon joined the Team in 2026 to help deliver a quality service on the day of the funeral, bringing a wealth of knowled…
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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 01322464044We'll call you back
Hergest and Cavell 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 Hergest and Cavell 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
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors in Dartford, Kent. All members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family compassionate, professional care when it matters most.
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors in Broadstairs, Kent. All members uphold a strict Code of Practice, giving families peace of mind during one of life's most difficult moments.
Find trusted, NAFD-accredited funeral directors in Chatham, Kent. All members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family professional, compassionate care when it matters most.
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