When a person dies, life is changed for many. For you and those closest to you, the change will be the greatest. It can feel chaotic and difficult to accept what has happened. Nevertheless, there are many practical things that have to be done after a death with many people having to be notified and a funeral to be planned.
Plan a funeral
In the event of death occurring at home, the next of kin must contact emergency services. The death certificate will need to be completed before the deceased’s body can be collected. The funeral home can collect the deceased once the doctor has been there.
In the event of death occurring in an institution or hospital, a physician will be notified automatically.
In certain cases, it is necessary to contact the police. The police must be notified if a dead body is found. This also applies to accidents and suspicious deaths.
We are available 24/7 and can assist you quickly.
The collection of the deceased’s body will be arranged together with the next of kin. Some people prefer that we do this immediately whereas others need more time.
When collecting the deceased at an institution or hospital, the deceased is usually brought to the location’s cooling room on the same day or the day after the death. In case of death at home, we bring the deceased to the nearest chapel or hospital after agreement with the next of kin.
If death occurs abroad you should contact the deceased’s insurance company, the closest Norwegian embassy or consulate, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway. If the deceased held valid travel insurance, the insurance company will arrange for the repatriation. The costs, will in most cases, be covered by the insurance. If the deceased did not hold valid travel insurance, the costs will need to be covered by the next of kin.
In some cases, the deceased has expressed special wishes for the funeral. The burial should be conducted with respect for the deceased’s religion and wishes.
If the deceased has other wishes, it is the person responsible for the funeral and the person who is to arrange the funeral who decides whether these should be followed. In some cases, the deceased has made a written statement of intent.
Following a death, it is normal for the family to attend a planning meeting with one of our representatives. Arranging a time for this meeting is often one of the first things we agree upon.
Here we agree on what is important to consider before the ceremony, what the funeral will cost, and how we can host the ceremony in the best possible way.
The planning conversation usually takes 2 to 3 hours but it is also possible to distribute the planning over several meetings.
Our phone lines are staffed 24/7, including weekends and holidays. This means that you can contact us at any time for immediate assistance, or to arrange a meeting.
After a death, it is important that you notify the immediate family, relatives, friends, and other bereaved, so that everyone gets the opportunity to participate in their own way of mourning.
This can be done with an obituary or a memorial page that contains information about the funeral.
We facilitate the bereaved to view the deceased. In case of death at an institution or hospital, the staff usually facilitates viewing in the deceased’s room.
There is also an opportunity for viewing later when the deceased has been prepared and laid in the coffin. This is agreed directly with the funeral home.
We will arrange the transportation of the coffin. Where the deceased will be transported to depends on where the death occurred, where the ceremony will take place, and whether it is a burial or a cremation.
We can also assist in transporting the coffin over greater distances, both nationally and internationally.
The funeral ceremony usually takes place within 1-2 weeks after a death. The bereaved or next of kin usually choose where the ceremony will be and how it will be conducted.
The ceremony often takes place in a church or chapel, but there are also other options available.
After the ceremony, it can be good to gather for a memorial service. We have an overview of available venues and catering places that are suitable for this.
We can also assist with catering and delivery of food to a memorial gathering at the bereaved’s home.
Several public offices must be notified in the event of a death, and we will ensure that this is done according to local requirements.
During your meeting with us, you will receive accurate information about the agencies you will have to notify yourself.
A possible will and relatives determine how the inheritance should be distributed.
If there are several heirs, they themselves must decide on the form of probate to be used in the inheritance settlement, and who will distribute the inheritance after the deceased.
Inheritance settlement and probate are outside our field of expertise to advise on. We have therefore associated ourselves with Arvespesialisten AS, which is our external collaborator.
We assist you throughout the entire process, ensuring both the deceased and the bereaved have a dignified and meaningful farewell.
All our agencies consist of experienced funeral consultants with great local knowledge. Once you’ve found your nearest agency, you can arrange a conversation with us.
In the planning meeting you will get in touch with one of our funeral consultants who will help you get started with planning the funeral and help with any other questions you might have.
For a ceremony, there are many decisions to be made. We assist you with everything you need in order to carry out the funeral so that the deceased receives a dignified farewell.
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