Paying for funeral costs from the estate, how does this work?

Sorry to hear about your Dad

Unfortunately I've done this twice in the last couple of years with 2 different banks. Both times the funeral director invoiced me after the funeral had taken place. I took the invoice to the bank and they wrote me a Cheque to give to the funeral director, and took the money from the accounts.

It is actually very straightforward, the funeral directors/banks are very used to this and will practically do it for you.
My Ddad died completely unexpectedly but the death certificate was all that was required to get it done and dusted.
The remainder of the estate - probate, accessing bank accounts, shares, investments, pensions, settling council tax, house insurance etc was all sorted out later when we were more able to cope.

I paid for my dm's and claimed it back from the estate, I was the executor.
I found out after I'd paid that the bank would have paid it from her account on presentation of the death certificate (HSBC)

What happens is that the funeral directors will invoice you after the funeral. You get a form emailed from the bereavement team at the bank (they are so kind and helpful) and fill it out and then they will pay them direct.

They will also pay any other needed estate expenses direct, and can talk you through it all. I also found the funeral directors massively helpful at a very difficult time when I lost both parents in quick succession.
While you still have access to the accounts, print out a years worth of statements so you know all the payments and who is getting paid so you know who to contact, it will make life easier than having to find it all out later.

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with all this.

AFAIK the bill for the funeral can be settled from the estate ie payment from the bank account against invoice. The bill for any wake following the funeral cannot though and is an expense to the family organising it.

Is it just you as beneficiary or you and close family? If it were me, I'd withdraw the money in advance so the bills could be paid and keep the receipts and any money left over for proof of how the money was spent.

Some banks will release funds under 50k even without probate. Or as others have said, will pay direct to funeral directors if needed. Without a will probate may take a long time - it took us almost a year. So if you can get the funeral settled from his bank account, definitely do so.
And I'm very sorry you are having to deal with this. It's really challenging.

Sorry to hear about your father. Banks will release funds for the funeral- they usually need to see the funeral director's invoice and the death cert. Your funeral director will know all about this so don't let it add to your worries.

I'm sorry to hear you're in such a difficult position OP.

First thing to check is if there's a policy or payment plan in place.

Then some undertakers will let you delay payment, others will only need a deposit - shop around and ask.

Otherwise it's a case of paying upfront then 'claiming it back' from the estate - funeral expenses get first call, before any debt or anything like that. Probate I can't advise on as I'm in Scotland.

Sorry for your impending loss. DH just lost his dad and we've been told that once the banks are told the accounts are frozen but they will settle up directly with funeral directors (I would guess if you are doing it yourself you would need to check what evidence they'd need to release the funds). Probate is not needed for this.