Arranging A Funeral Guide

You should contact a funeral director as soon as you feel ready to do so but it is advisable to do this as soon as possible.

Choose a funeral director who are members of the NAFD, SAIF, BIFD or The Good Funeral Guide or you may receive recommendations from family or friends. It may also be worth contacting a few funeral directors as funeral costs do vary. It is a legal requirement that funeral directors publish a standardized price list for comparison.

The funeral can usually take place after the death has been registered.

The funeral directors are available to provide support and guidance to ensure the funeral is arranged properly.

After you have discussed your requirements with the funeral directors they will arrange all aspects of the funeral for you.

They can arrange everything before the funeral, such as transferring your loved one to the funeral home, providing viewing prior to the funeral and place notices in local newspapers or online obituaries. Arranging the funeral service, such as funeral vehicles, types of coffins available and the order of service and after the funeral, such as arranging ashes to be scattered or preserved in a memorial casket.

You may however wish to plan the funeral yourself, for help and guidance on this, contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council or contact the Natural Death Centre.

What Type of Funeral? Burial Or Cremation

There are few legal controls governing the disposal of a body in the United Kingdom. The only requirement is that the death is certified and registered and the body properly taken care of, by either burial or cremation.

Burial is virtually free of regulations; individuals can be buried in almost anything and almost anywhere. All that is required is a death certificate signed by a doctor and a certificate for burial from the registrar of deaths. It is possible, for example, for a person to be buried on private land, such as their own garden. The grave should be deep enough to dissuade wild animals from digging up the soil and away from standing and drinking water. You would have to include the whereabouts of the grave on the deeds of the property. For more information visit the National Death Centre website.

Check the Will to see if the deceased has left instructions for the funeral. Without guidance from the deceased, the executor or nearest relative usually decides whether your loved one or family member is to be cremated or buried.

Your funeral director will probably have a 'chapel of rest' and he will help you decide where the body will stay until the funeral, as well as the starting point, time and place of the funeral.

Cremation

No-one can be cremated until the cause of death is certain. Four forms must be completed:

• Application for cremation form signed by the next of kin or executor (cremation form 1)
• A cremation certificate, signed by a registered medical practitioner, (cremation form 4) unless the death is referred to the coroner, who will give a certificate of cremation instead
• A Certificate for Burial or Cremation (the green form) issued by the Registrar. This is not required if the coroner has issued a Certificate for Cremation (cremation form 6)
• A certificate signed by the medical referee at the crematorium (cremation form 10)

Cremation is almost always cheaper than burial and the majority of deceased people are now cremated. Ashes can be scattered in a garden of remembrance or in a favourite spot, buried in a churchyard or cemetery, or kept in an urn. Make your wishes known at the outset. If you think you would like to keep the ashes, discuss it carefully first, preferably with someone with experience in bereavement care.

Burial

Check the will to find out if a grave space in a churchyard or cemetery has been arranged. If a grave space has been paid for in a cemetery, there will be a deed of grant.

Natural Burial Grounds

It is hugely important that the final resting place for someone you love, or indeed for yourself is right for you and for your family. It is advised to visit any natural burial ground you are thinking of choosing so you can see for yourself what it looks and feels like. This will also allow you to meet the people who run it and to ask any questions you may have.

A natural burial allows families to have greater freedom to bury their loved one in a place of natural, unspoilt beauty. Natural Burial Grounds are managed according to ecologically sound principles, to create informal and nature-rich areas without the formality and memorials of traditional cemeteries. Dedicated natural burial grounds, usually privately run, are set within the countryside or woodlands, whilst many local authorities are now setting aside parts of municipal cemeteries as 'green' or 'woodland' burial areas, providing valuable choice

What Type Of Funeral Service?

The funeral service expresses what you, as bereaved people, believe about life, as well as trying to take into account the deceased's will, religion or beliefs. Your funeral director will offer to contact the minister of your local place of worship, who will generally be happy to support you even if the deceased may not have maintained close links with the organisation concerned. If you wish to organise a non-religious ceremony, the funeral director will be able to provide you with a list of celebrants to contact or you may wish to find your own celebrant to conduct the service.

What is a Celebrant?

A funeral celebrant is a qualified person that officiates funeral services by planning and overseeing funeral proceedings. Funeral celebrants conduct non-religious, semi-religious and spiritual funeral services. Many celebrants aim for the funeral service to be a 'celebration of life' that honours the person's memory.

This approach places greater emphasis on how the person lived their life, their personality traits and the memories of mourners. This is quite opposed to the traditional religious service, which often encourages people to consider the afterlife where the deceased is understood to be and focuses more on religious last rites. Celebrants are the go-to option for people looking to create ceremonies of substance and meaning.

Your funeral director may have a list of celebrants that they are associated with, however you do not have to use them, any celebrant can officiate your service. Many celebrants work independently, you may have been recommended one by friends or family or you can use a celebrant directory site to search for a celebrant. It is recommended that you find a celebrant who has been registered by a professional body to ensure that they adhere to the highest standards.

Flowers Or Donations?

Flowers are the traditional tribute and symbol of love, respect and loss. After the funeral, you may wish to donate flowers to a local charity or hospice. Some people, anticipating numerous floral tributes, request donations to a named charity instead. If this is your choice, it is a good idea to ask the funeral director to co-ordinate donations so you receive a formal acknowledgement by the charity.

You may decide to request donations to support your favourite charity. It is a good idea to ask the funeral director to co-ordinate donations so that you receive a formal acknowledgment by the charity.

Press Notices And Obituaries

Letting people know that a loved one has died can be difficult and so you may wish to place notices or announcements in your local newspapers or online obituary. Your funeral director, supplying many optional services for your convenience, may offer to handle such insertions on your behalf. You may also wish to mention if you would prefer to receive flowers or donations in memory of your loved ones favourite charity.

Remembrance

An insertion can be made into the Book of Remembrance at the crematorium (the appropriate page will be open for display to visitors on the anniversary of the death).

Venues for Wakes

Many people will attend the wake if they did not attend the funeral. This is a chance for younger children to attend as you may choose not to have younger children at the funeral itself as you may feel it is to distressing for them, however this is all down to personal choice.

The wake can generally take place anywhere you want providing the amount of people you are expecting can fit in comfortably.

The most common venues for wakes are:

• Church halls
• Sports clubs
• Pubs
• Hotels
• Social clubs
• Golf clubs

Some venues also provide catering services. Please check with the venue for this information. If you are on a tight budget, you may otherwise be able to bring your own buffet food. However please check with the venue first as some may not accept external food.

Headstone and Cremation Tablets

A memorial will be a lasting tribute to a loved one. In the case of a burial, it can be either a traditional headstone with kerbs, an upright lawn memorial, or even an angled wedge. In the case of a cremation, usually only one tablet will be allowed. Each churchyard and burial authority will have different regulations and these can restrict the type of headstone or tablet design that you have in mind. Therefore, although choosing the memorial is not something that you should or need to rush into straight after a bereavement, it is important to have an understanding of the memorial regulations where you have chosen to bury your loved one.

In the case of a burial, a memorial usually can't be replaced for at least 6 months (sometimes even a year). As there is no time restriction and the placing of a tablet or headstone is going to be a lasting tribute to your loved one, we would suggest you use this time to research which mason you would like to undertake the work and to also spend time deciding with the mason on the memorial, its shape, colour and lettering.

A local mason will have the benefit of knowing all the rules and regulations that apply in your area and will be able to advise you as well as making all the applications on your behalf and obtaining the necessary permits. Visit the National Association of Memorial Masons' website at www.namm.org.uk for free public information on buying a memorial and finding your local mason.

Paying For A Funeral

Funerals can be expensive, and even a basic funeral in the UK can cost around £4141 but this can vary on region and time of year, so check whether the deceased person purchased a pre-paid funeral plan or contributed to any other relevant scheme. Asking several different funeral directors to quote for the funeral costs can help you control how much you spend and all will offer a 'The Simple Funeral Service' package, you may wish to discuss this with your funeral director.

The bank account/building society of the deceased will be frozen, unless it is a joint account but may be used to pay the funeral account upon request. Building societies may pay out when an application is supported by the Death Certificate. Equally, where life insurance is held, some insurance companies may be able to give you the interest on the money in the policy before probate is granted. National Savings will also consider releasing money for funeral expenses. Payment can be made immediately into a trust set up under the policy.

Help From The Council

If there is no money in the estate to pay for a funeral and there are no relatives or friends to arrange a funeral then the local authorities or hospital can arrange a Public Health Funeral.

The local council has a duty to offer a limited funeral and this can vary between councils when it comes to cost.

Help From The State

If you are on certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income related ESA, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Disability or Severe Disability Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits. You may also be eligible if you are getting support for a Mortgage Interest Loan, then you may be able to apply for help with funeral expenses.

A Funeral Expenses Payment will help towards the costs of a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral, normally within the UK. The State will pay the charges of the burial authority or crematorium, certain necessary travel expenses and up to £1000.

If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan then you can only get up to £120 to help for items not covered by the plan.

If you get a Funeral Expenses Payment, it will have to be paid back from any estate of the deceased. The estate means any money or property. A house or personal possessions that are left to a widow or widower or surviving civil partner are not counted as part of the estate.

You can claim a Funeral Expenses Payment from the date of death and within six months of the date of the funeral. To make a claim call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012. An advisor will also help with other benefits that you may be entitled to, or you can download and fill in the SF200 form via www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/how-to-claim.

Employer's Pension Schemes Or Personal Pensions

Some employers provide occupational pension schemes that pay a lump sum to help with funeral costs and sometimes pension benefits for widows, surviving civil partners and other survivors. Check to see if the deceased has ever belonged to this sort of scheme.

The deceased may have made his or her own arrangements if he or she was self employed, or his or her employer did not have an employer's pension scheme. Employers may also offer a death-inservice payment or have a benevolent fund through which they can offer you some assistance. You should check with your loved one's employer to find out more.

War Pension

If the person who died was a war pensioner, or veteran whos death was due to service before the 6th April 2025, Veterans UK may be able to get help with the cost of a simple funeral if:

• the war pensioner died from the disablement condition for which he or she was getting a war pension
• or the war pensioner died in hospital while having treatment for that disablement condition
• or the war pensioner was getting war pensioner's Constant Attendance Allowance at the time of his or her death
• or the war pensioner was getting a War Disablement Pension assessed at 80 per cent or more and Unemployable Supplement at the time of his or her death.

You will not have to pay any of the money back from the estate of the person who died. Claims must be made within THREE months of the funeral via the Veterans Agency, who can be found on www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk

Other Pensions And Payments

There may be pensions or lump sums payable from the deceased's trade union, professional body or other association, or from a provident club which pays benefit when a member dies. If your loved one was receiving or had recently claimed a social security benefit before death, there may be arrears of that benefit still due. When you tell the Department for Work and Pensions about the death, ask them to send you a form on which to claim any arrears of benefit. If you are the executor or administrator, the arrears will be payable to you. If there is no executor or administrator but you are paying for the funeral, you can claim the arrears up to the cost of the funeral expenses.

Life Insurance Policies

The deceased may have taken out a life insurance policy which will provide a lump sum payment if someone dies before a certain age. Payment is usually made after probate but the insurance company may pay out a limited sum on evidence of death. Payment can be paid immediately into a trust set up under the policy.

The Cremation Society

If the deceased was a member of the Cremation Society, you may be able to get a reduction in cremation fees or a contribution towards the cost.

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans

Check to see whether or not the deceased person had made their own arrangements with a pre-paid funeral plan, there should be a policy or other documents relating to it.

Bereavement is one of the most distressing experiences we face as human beings, and often comes hand in hand with unexpected financial pressure. A pre-paid funeral lets you plan all your funeral arrangements in advance and ensure that the funds are in place to pay for them. This can save your loved ones unnecessary stress and worry in the future. There are a number of pre-paid funeral plans available. To make sure you choose the right plan, think about what it includes, which services are guaranteed (and which aren't), whether you can add your personal wishes, or even pay for extra details that you might want to include.

Since July 2022, the Financial Conduct Authority has been regulating firms that provide and arrange prepaid funeral plans. This means that your money is safe with an authorised provider, you are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme should your plan provider fail and if you have a complaint against a funeral plan provider or intermediary you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.