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You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and Shires 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
At Shires Bedford, we are proud of our many years of funeral arranging experience and we work hard to ensure that each funeral is tailored to your unique requirements.
We believe that it is our role to fully support families through each and every step, from the first meeting, to ensuring that our professionally arranged funerals are exactly what you wished for, through to support and advice.
Lisa Young
3 weeks ago
As a family we would like to thank all at Shires for the care that they gave to us during such a difficult period in our lives. What we found helpful was that we were guided through each step and reminded when we needed to meet specific deadlines during funeral planning. This helped us a lot at a time when we were not sure how to cope with such an overwhelming situation. In particular we must thank Clare for helping us each step of the way. The funeral ran smoothly and we were very pleased with the choice that we made to got to Shires. Thank you.
Marian brewer
2 months ago
We couldn't have chosen a more professional company. The staff, Clare and Donna were friendly, kind and listened to what we wanted for our Mum's journey. Mum looked beautiful and at peace when we visited and it was obvious a lot of care had been taken to achieve this. The celebrant, Nikki was amazing and her professionalism throughout the service was perfect. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this possible and would highly recommend them for your loved ones.
Barry Retchless
2 months ago
I cannot praise enough Clare Davies, John and all the people at Shires.Their dedication, professionalism and service are superb. They have guided me, helped me and arranged every step of my mum’s funeral. I would not hesitate to recommend the team at Shire’s, they provide a first class service from a first class team.
Stan Bull
a month ago
When my wife died the prospect of making funeral arrangements appeared overwhelming. Shires very quickly too away a great deal of the stress. Clare's calm professionalism and sympathetic handling of every detail of the arrangements immediately gave me the confidence that everything would run smoothly. On the day of the funeral, Donna manage the proceedings expertly. Clare also introduced Liz Barka as a Celebrant and she made many helpful suggestions for the excellent format of the service. I have nothing but praise for the outstanding service provided by Spires, Bedford.
neil dickens
3 months ago
Shires in Bedford recently supported our family when we lost my Mum, and from the very first call with Clare we felt completely safe, supported, and genuinely cared for. The kindness shown by everyone there meant more than we can say. Throughout all the arrangements and on the day of the funeral itself, their guidance made such a difference. They took the time to sit with us, understand what we wanted, talk everything through, and gently offer suggestions. Sally was there throughout and on the day, ensuring everything felt personal - even down to the colour of the tie she wore. The celebrant that they arranged, Nikki, was the perfect fit for our family. Every detail was handled with such thoughtfulness. They dealt with all the paperwork and the practical side of things, which made an incredibly difficult time that little bit easier. Nothing was ever too much trouble. A huge and heartfelt thank you to Sally, Clare, and Millie for all your care, compassion, and for continuing to check in with us even after the funeral. We are so grateful for all your care, and would absolutely recommend Shires Bedford.
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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 01234356999We'll call you back
Shires 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 Shires 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 Bedford, Bedfordshire. All 10 listed members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family peace of mind when it matters most.
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