So many sources of help in your hour of need

worth checking www.gov. uk to see if the Tell Us Once service operates. This makes it possible to report a death to the relevant departments in one contact.

Most funerals are arranged by the nearest relatives and if not by a close friend. If there is no one, the local or health authority will arrange a simple funeral.

The person may have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted. There is no legal obligation for these instructions to be followed, but they usually are.

Most funerals are arranged through a funeral director. It is advisable to find one belonging to one of the professional associations such as the National Association of Funeral Directors – NAFD or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors – SAIF. These associations have codes of practice and complaints procedures. Some local authorities also run their own funeral services by arrangement with a local firm of funeral directors.

Good advice here is to always ask to see a price list, to get written breakdown of all the costs and check exactly what is included in the price.

If you need to sign a contract with the funeral director make sure you read it carefully and ask the funeral director about anything you don’t understand. More guidance on funerals can be found at www. citizensadvice.org.uk

Those who have been recently bereaved may need counselling and support. A good first point of contact is your GP, who can refer to a number of organisations.

Cruse Bereavement Care is a charity providing counselling and care for those who have lost someone. It has a helpline, open Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm. It is 0808 808 1677.

Some people may want to pay for private counselling and most reputable counsellors will be registered with a professional organisation. You