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You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and Thomas Ryde and Son 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
Thomas Ryde & Son is a long-established funeral director serving the Belper community in Derbyshire, with roots tracing back to the 1800s when the firm of undertakers was originally situated at Bridge Foot, Belper Lane. Over the generations, the business passed through the Ryde family before being relocated to its current premises at 35 Bridge Street, Belper in 1991, and subsequently acquired by the Jepson family in 2001. Today, the firm continues to honour its rich heritage while combining traditional values with a modern approach to funeral care.
Led by funeral directors Mark Godfrey and Michelle Vickers, Thomas Ryde & Son is committed to guiding families through one of life's most difficult moments with compassion, respect, and professionalism. Their dedicated team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing support from the very first phone call through to the day of the funeral and beyond. Every service is tailored to celebrate the life of the loved one in a meaningful and personal way.
As part of the wider Jepson Funerals Limited group, Thomas Ryde & Son maintains membership with professional bodies including the NAFD and SAIF, reflecting their commitment to the highest standards of funeral service. Additional services offered include flowers, headstones, coffins, pre-paid funeral plans, and the facilitation of charitable donations in memory of the deceased.
"Mark was able to meet with us the next day after calling and spent over an hour helping us curate the perfect send off for our dad. The whole Thomas Ryde & Sons team were always on hand to answer questions and offer recommendations."
— Annie G (about Mark)
"Mark and the team handled my father's funeral with compassion and kindness through the whole process. Nothing was too much trouble and the funeral itself was professional and ran like a well oiled clock."
— David T (about Mark)
"Both Michelle and Mark have such a respectful demeanour and put you at ease at a very stressful time in your life. Nothing was too much trouble, and I know that they treated my mum with the utmost respect on her final journey."
— Karen Scott (about Mark & Michelle)
"On the day of our dad's funeral they made us feel in good hands and that we could focus on saying goodbye, while they took care of the rest. We encourage anyone and everyone to trust them in the saddest of times."
— Annie G (about Mark)
"They treated both myself and my late husband with total respect, great dignity and immense compassion. Nothing was too much trouble. They demonstrated consistently high standards in everything they did, their utter professionalism shone through."
— Alison Wetton (about Mark)
"I remember going for the first time to see mum, and wanting to kiss her, sadly being short in height, I could not reach her, but that was made possible thanks to Mark and Michelle for the ladders. Anything we wanted was there, nothing was too much trouble. Sadly I lost my mum and best friend, but one thing for sure, I have two new friends now. Thank you Mark & Michelle for being you and all you have done for us. We love you."
— julie lawson (about Mark & Michelle)
Fiona Allen
Funeral Arranger & Administrator
Fiona serves as a Funeral Arranger and Administrator at Thomas Ryde & Son, supporting families through the practical ar…
Mark Godfrey
Funeral Director
"They treated both myself and my late husband with total respect, great dignity and immense compassion. Nothing was too …"
Michelle Vickers
Funeral Director
Michelle is a funeral director at Thomas Ryde & Son, working alongside families to ensure every detail is carefully con…
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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 01773822059We'll call you back
Thomas Ryde and Son will be in touch shortly.
You've just taken the first step — contacting a funeral director.
See the full checklistLeave your number and Thomas Ryde and Son 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 Belper, Derbyshire. All listed members follow a strict Code of Practice, giving your family compassionate, professional care when it matters most.
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