The Only Independent Funeral Director in Fakenham

Dedicated to supporting you in your time of need.

Compassion & Experience

Gowards Independent Funerals offer a complete funeral service to Fakenham and North Norfolk with the assurance of being wholly independent. We have offered many years of experience, sympathy and care to our clients.

This experience enables Adrian and the team to be able to meet any requests you or your family may have. Whether you wish to visit our office in Bridge Street, Fakenham or would like us to visit you in the comfort of your own home, we offer a sympathetic and discrete efficient service.

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

01328 851313

Our Services

Funeral Packages

A comprehensive range of options tailored for your family.

Proudly Independent

Quality Assurance

Proud members of SAIF offering trusted independent care.

Coffin Range

Dignified selection of handcrafted traditional and modern coffins.

Ashes Caskets

Caskets, Urns and Scatter Tubes

NAFD - National Association of Funeral Directors

NAFD Member

Proud members of the National Association of Funeral Directors, upholding high standards of care and professional service.

Visit NAFD Website

Memorial Jewellery

Beautiful keepsakes to hold cherished memories close.

Explore Collection

5.0

Reviews

What to do when someone dies

"With our help and guidance, we will endeavour to make it as straightforward as possible."

Sometimes a death may be expected, but nothing prepares us for the emotional shock of losing someone close. Making funeral arrangements can seem very confusing but with our help and guidance, we will endeavour to make it as straightforward as possible.

Changes From the 9th September 2024

Following a death and after being notified, the doctor will complete the death certificate (MCCD) and then email it to a Medical Examiner along with the medical records. The Medical Examiner looks at all the information and contacts the next of kin/family to confirm that the information is correct. Once satisfied, the Medical Examiner will then email the certificate to the registrars allowing the next of kin/family to make an appointment to register the death.

When someone dies at home

Please contact your own Doctor or on call Doctor, district nurse or terminal care nurse, if you cannot reach your doctor call 111. When one of these medical professionals has confirmed the death, you can then contact ourselves. It does not matter what the time of day it is, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

There is no rush and if you wish to spend more time with your loved one at home you are welcome to do so. When you are ready, two members of our staff will then bring your loved one into our care.

When someone dies in hospital

You no longer need to attend the hospital to collect the medical cause of death certificate, this will be sent electronically from the hospital to the Medical Examiner. The Medical Examiner will contact you.

When someone dies in a nursing home

The staff may be qualified to confirm that death has taken place or alternatively the home will arrange for a doctor to visit. Once the death has been confirmed, the home or yourselves can contact us to make arrangements for bringing your loved one into our care, at any time day or night. The doctor will send the medical cause of death to the Medical Examiner and the Medical Examiner will contact you.

When someone dies unexpectedly

If a doctor is unable to confirm the cause of death, if it is unexpected or an accident, the coroner may be involved. The coroner will arrange for your loved one to be taken to a local hospital, this will be carried out by a funeral director who is contracted by the coroner (you do not have to use this funeral director for the funeral arrangements). The coroner and ourselves will keep you informed as to what to do next depending on the situation.

Registering a Death

You can register a death with Norfolk Registration Service either in person at a registration office or over the phone. You should register a death within five days of a Medical Examiner's Office or Coroner advising you to register. You should only book an appointment once they have told you to do so.

How do I book an appointment?

You can book an appointment online at Register a death - Norfolk County Council or by calling Norfolk Registration Service on 0344 800 8020.

Please note that death registration appointments cannot be booked more than five days ahead.

Where can I register?

If the death happened in Norfolk

You can register either in person at a Norfolk registration office or over the phone.

Norfolk registration offices:

Dereham, Diss, Downham Market, Earlham, Fakenham, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Norwich County Hall, Norwich Archive Centre, North Walsham, Thetford.

Full details of all Norfolk offices are found at Registration offices in Norfolk - Norfolk County Council.

If you cannot travel to Norfolk and do not want to register over the phone

You can register by declaration at any registration office in England or Wales. That office will take the information for the registration and send it to the Norfolk Registration Service. We will then produce any death certificates and email required paperwork to the funeral director. There may be a delay in receiving these.

To register by declaration please contact your local register office where you'd like to attend the appointment. Find your local register office on GOV.UK.

If the death happened outside of Norfolk

If travelling to the register office where the death occurred would be difficult, you may be able to register the death over the phone with the registration service for that area. This will depend on whether that registration service offers telephone appointments.

If you cannot register by phone, you can register by declaration in person at a Norfolk registration office. Norfolk Registration Service will take the information for the registration and send it to the district where the death happened. That registration district will produce any death certificates and paperwork for the funeral director. There may be a delay in receiving these.

To book a declaration appointment you can book online or contact us (as above).

What paperwork will I receive after registering a death?

The Death Certificate £12.50 each

Certificates cost £12.50 each. We recommend reading about the GOV.UK Tell Us Once service before deciding how many you need.

If you book your appointment online, you can order certificates when booking. These will be given to you at the end of an in-person appointment, or sent by first-class post if you register by phone. If you register in person, you can buy certificates at your appointment.

Payment can be made by debit or credit card, or a smart device with contactless payment. We cannot accept cash, cheques or American Express.

If you register by phone, you can order certificates after your appointment online at Copy certificates - Norfolk County Council or by calling on 0344 800 8020.

Certificate of Burial or Cremation

This certificate, sometimes known as a 'green form', is required by the funeral director. After registering, the registrar will email this directly to your appointed funeral director and the place of burial or cremation. In some circumstances this form will be issued direct from the Coroner.

Tell Us Once reference number

At the registration you will be given more information about the GOV.UK Tell Us Once service which lets you tell various local and central government organisations of the death in one go.

You can view a British Sign Language Video about Tell Us Once on the Department for Work and Pensions YouTube channel.

What do I need for the appointment?

We want to ensure the official death record is accurate. If a correction is needed after the registration has been completed, you may need to pay a fee.

Examples of the most useful documents to have available during the appointment are:

Passport, driving licence, birth certificate, deed poll, marriage/civil partnership certificates, a council tax bill, recent utility bill etc.

Please note that having these for the appointment is not mandatory.

Details required & Guidance notes

Details required	Guidance notes
Date of death	Date the death occurred.
Place of death	Name of the hospital or nursing home, or the name or number of the house, the street and village town etc. If the death took place in an ambulance or car please provide information on the vehicle's location when the death happened and the intended destination.
Name and surname	The name they were known as and used at the time of their death. Include any other names the deceased is known by or has used previously. A note of any name changes and the reason for them will help the registrar record the information correctly.
Sex	Male or Female.
Maiden surname of woman who has married or formed a legal civil partnership	The surname used immediately before her first marriage or legal civil partnership.
Date of birth	Please provide approximate dates if exact date not known.
Place of birth	Town and county/London borough or country of birth. Country only if born outside UK.
Occupation	Most recent occupation, including whether the deceased was retired.
Usual address	This should include the house name or number, street and village or town. Where the death occurred in a hospital the deceased's usual address will be recorded.
Spouse/legal civil partner's name, occupation, and date of birth	Full name of the deceased's most recent spouse/legal civil partner, their most recent occupation (whether retired), and their date of birth.
NHS Number (if known)	Found on NHS medical cards or Doctor's/hospital correspondence.

Making Arrangements

Funeral arrangements can be made at our office or if it is more convenient, in the comfort of your own home. At our initial meeting we will explain the many options available and ask a number of questions. It is probable that you will not know all the answers and rather than rush into making the wrong decision, it is often best to take your time and to discuss it further with your wider family.

Regardless of beliefs or culture we are able to offer you many different ways to make the funeral an individual, special and memorable experience. We can arrange a traditional funeral or an alternative funeral that suits your needs.