The cost of a funeral goes up, so it pays to plan your final trip

All of this, of course, is a matter for the many funeral directors, celebrants, coroners and attorneys who guide families through the sad aftermath of a death.

The associated costs are significant. While some people organize their own funeral in advance, buying land and writing plans, for most it is left to the families to arrange everything, often at short notice, and this is where a good funeral director can be invaluable.

According to Carnegies, you can expect to pay anywhere from €1,750 to over €7,000, with the amount varying depending on the coffin, grave or property purchase, transport, grave opening – €450 to €1,200, with some municipalities charging up to €400 “registration fees” on top of that – Obituaries, musicians, church donations and refreshments for mourners.

While many people have life insurance, it can take weeks or months to pay out, so the costs have to be borne up front. Keeping expenses down without skimping on a goodbye can be financial juggling.

cremation or burial

About 40 percent of urban remains are cremated in one of six crematoria. The numbers are half those in rural Ireland. It was by far the preferred option during the pandemic.

“We’ve certainly seen an increase in the number of cremations over the past 10 years, where earlier burials would have been more popular,” says Mary Cunniffe of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors The rise in inflation and the cost of living is affecting by how much some families want to spend on funerals.”

According to Staffords, it is a “common but incorrect perception” that cremation costs considerably less than burial. “The significant difference in cost only occurs when a family does not already own a family plot and must bear the cost of a new plot, which can be expensive.”

Cremation fees range from €490 to €750 depending on the service and urn. Graves in Dublin start at around €2,000 and typically cost around €2,600 including opening fee, although in some areas they can cost upwards of €10,000. In other cities and commuter districts, graves start at 1,000 to 1,200 euros, in rural areas at 600 euros.

Burial sites are managed and maintained by local authorities or, in some cases, by parishes. Many are already full or restrict pre-sales to those over 65. The cost to open an existing grave in Dublin is €900 to €1,120.

It is possible to bury a loved one on family land outside of an official cemetery, but it is advisable to arrange this in good time as it may be impossible to organize this legally in the short term. A visit from an environmental health inspector is required to determine that the proposed burial site will not pollute watercourses.

Most cemeteries have memorial walls for placing urns, and unlike coffins, they also offer many more options for disposing of the remains of a loved one (see panel below).

Burial at sea is less common, with Department of Transportation guidelines. There is an emphasis on preventing distressing situations involving bringing a corpse back to shore, so ash is usually preferred. Biodegradable floating urns remain visible for a short time before decaying. Prices start at irishurns.com from €232.

finance

A funeral can cost anywhere from €3,000 to well over €10,000, depending on how elaborate the farewell is.

It can take weeks or months to complete a life insurance policy. The Bereavement Grant was discontinued in 2014, but a means-tested Exceptional Needs Payment is available from community social workers for those who need it.

legal fees

Whether you die with a will (testate) or without (testament), there are costs associated with the transfer of ownership (probate) over a person’s estate.

Although this can be done in person by the executor or a family member (see courts.ie), the fees are usually double those of hiring a solicitor.

They are paid in instalments, based on the value of the property, so the more left over, the higher the probate fees. The most important thing anyone can do to relieve their loved ones is to make a will. It saves time, stress and money for those left behind. This is the only way you can ensure that those who want to benefit from your assets do so in the way you want and in the most tax-avoiding way possible.

going out with a bang

While most families want a somber funeral ceremony, others like the idea of ​​something a little different. Nowadays, even death is no reason to miss out on a somewhat unusual celebration.

Tying the ashes of your loved one to fireworks and sending them off into the afterlife is possible through Heavenly Stars Fireworks, a UK-based organization that does just that. Her ‘Spirit in the Sky’ package – £299 (€340) – promises ‘a delightful low noise effect of blue tail and strobe waterfall silverfish with stunning gold brocade horsetail over a two minute duration’ and means that You can really go out with it with a bang.

There is a wide range of silver and gold jewelry that contains a “symbolic” amount of ashes and can be memorialized. Sterling silver pendants are available from €39 at legendurn.ie.

Planting a tree in memory of a loved one is a great idea and good for the environment. A heart shaped mulberry urn is fully biodegradable, with prices ranging from €36 to €75 from greencoffinsireland.com. The Grow Me A Tree urn combining ashes and a tree seedling is available at feehilys.ie.

If your recently deceased was a music lover, what better way than turning their ashes into a compressed vinyl record. AndVinyly.com will create a bespoke LP with up to 22 minutes of selected tracks on each side, a unique sleeve design and delivery ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 depending on your needs.