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You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and Shields of Donaghadee Funeral Directors 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
Shields of Donaghadee Funeral Directors was founded in 1960.
Our dedicated teams at our Donaghadee funeral homes are committed to creating tailored funerals that reflect the unique life of your loved one.
We can be contacted 24 hours a day, by telephone, and are here to discuss your needs. Or if you prefer, we can visit your home to discuss funeral arrangements.
"You made a very emotional and hard time for our family a peaceful and serene experience."
— Ruth Spiers (about Ryan)
"They helped me and my family through the loss of both my parents in such a short time. They made me feel at ease and comforted by their warmth and kindness."
— Jodie Stretton
"Judith gave my mother such respect and took a personal interest in all the family. She thought of absolutely everything. What was a difficult time was made as painless as possible."
— Fiona Bell (about Judith)
"The playing of the piper and the attention and dignity of the funeral director made mum's last journey to see the lighthouse profoundly moving and absolutely just right for our mum."
— Michael Thomson (about Judith)
"Ryan was kind, compassionate and very respectful, I felt like I was talking to a friend and he made the whole process bearable."
— Frances Mccready (about Ryan Richardson)
"The fact that we had full confidence in them was a genuine comfort at a very upsetting, difficult and uncertain time. There was nothing whatsoever either Ryan or Sam could have done to improve the service they provided - it was perfect."
— Mark Simpson (about Ryan Richardson)
Mark Simpson
7 months ago
From the point my brother and I arrived at Shields', just a few hours after our dad had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, Ryan Richardson looked after us with professionalism, kindness, care and compassion. He talked us through the options and the arrangements and made everything easy and clear to understand, and made suggestions (such as some images for the orders of service) which helped make Dad's funeral feel very special. When we requested changes to things he sorted what we wanted immediately and - really importantly - he communicated frequently and effectively with us throughout the week. Any query was answered quickly either by phone or by email. Sam, who was Funeral Director on the day of the funeral, was also fantastic in her communication the night before and throughout the morning when Dad's funeral took place. As far as I am concerned there was nothing whatsoever either Ryan or Sam could have done to improve the service they provided - it was perfect. The fact that we had full confidence in them was a genuine comfort at a very upsetting, difficult and uncertain time.
Andrew McLellan
8 months ago
Josh, Ryan, Sandra, Mark and Andrew were all excellent, professional, efficient, patient and kind. Andrew conducted the funeral on the day with dignity and style. First class.
Frances Mccready
2 years ago
I was happy with all of the staff who looked after me before and during the funeral. I was especially happy with Ryan who was my first contact after the death of my husband. Ryan was kind, compassionate and very respectful, I felt like I talking to a friend and he made the whole process bearable.
Keith Meharg
2 months ago
Ryan was very respectful and professional, he dealt with my fathers funeral impeccably and greatly contributed in helping me through this very sad time. On the day of the funeral the team were fantastic, the Funeral Director took charge and endured all went smoothly.
ruth spiers
3 months ago
Thankyou Ryan and all the staff at Shields funeral home. Our entire experience when arranging our father James Mc Gibbon final farewell was absolutely incredible. You made a very emotional and hard time for our family a peaceful and serene experienceThankyouRuth Spiers
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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 02891882825We'll call you back
Shields of Donaghadee 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 Shields of Donaghadee 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 serving Donaghadee, County Down. Every listed member upholds a strict Code of Practice, giving your family the care and protection it deserves.
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The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,141. This guide breaks down every fee, explains regional differences, and shows you how to manage costs without compromising dignity.
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