Check if there is a funeral plan in place

Once the death has been registered, you can start to make the arrangements for the funeral. You may have a local Funeral Director in mind; you will need to check if there is a funeral plan in place as a Funeral Director may already be specified.

Contact us if you would like help finding a Funeral Director

If you think there might be an existing Funeral Plan in place, but you can't find any of the information you can trace a funeral plan here.

Finding the Will

Some Wills will include a Memorandum of Wishes, usually covering religious preferences and burial or cremation preferences. If your loved one had a Will in place, check this before proceeding with your arrangements.

If you are aware that the person who has died has left a Will, it is important to locate the most recently dated, valid document. For a Will to be valid, it needs to have been signed and witnessed in a particular way, to comply with the law. The Will should be in writing, signed and dated by the person who has died and witnessed by two independent witnesses, who must not be benefiting from the Will.

If you are unsure of where the Will is held, we strongly recommend that you carry out a search with Will Registration companies to see if they have any details of a later Will. We recommend using Certainty – The National Will Register. They will search their own database as well as make local and national searches with Solicitors and Will Writers.

Selecting a Funeral Director

You may already have a local Funeral Director in mind, you will need to check if there is a funeral plan in place as your loved one may have already specified a preferred/specific Funeral Director. To help you locate this or if you are not sure you can trace a funeral plan here:

What does a Funeral Director do?

The funeral director will guide you through the whole process and can make all of the practical arrangements on your behalf. You may choose to hand everything over to them or to retain some involvement.

The main duties the funeral director will carry out are:

• Take care of the body
• Ensure that all the necessary documentation is completed to legally allow the burial or cremation
• Make it all happen, at the right time, in the right place and with the right people present
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Things you may want to think about are:

• Burial or cremation?
• What type of coffin?
• Religious or non religious ceremony?
• Flowers or donation?
• Should there be a wake?
​

Remember, you do not need to make all the decisions or all the plans together at the initial appointment. It can be a work in progress. The Funeral Director is there to support you and take most of the hard work off of you to allow you time.

The person who has died may have created their own Funeral Wishes, search the register here:

​Search the Funeral Wishes Register

Burial or cremation?

Both burials and cremations both offer meaningful ways to honour and remember loved ones who have passed away.

Here are some key things to think about when making your decision:

Burials provide a traditional approach, allowing for a permanent resting place that can be visited by family and friends, fostering a sense of continuity and remembrance. They also offer the opportunity for elaborate ceremonies and personal touches, such as customised headstones and grave markers.

Cremations provide flexibility and portability, as ashes can be kept in urns, scattered in meaningful locations, or integrated into memorial objects. Headstones and markers are also available for cremations. Cremations are often more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Both methods enable families to find closure and peace in ways that resonate with their beliefs and values.

Who can lead a Funeral Service in the UK?

In the UK, a funeral service can be led by various individuals depending on the family's preferences, religious beliefs, and the nature of the service. Common leaders of funeral services include:

Religious Leaders: Clergy or ministers from the person who has died's religious community, such as priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, or other religious figures, often lead funeral services, incorporating traditional rites and prayers.

Humanist Celebrants: For non-religious ceremonies, humanist celebrants or secular officiants can conduct the service. They focus on celebrating the life of the person who has died without religious elements.

Funeral Directors: Many funeral directors are trained to officiate services, especially when no religious or humanist celebrant is available or preferred.

Family Members or Friends: In some cases, a close family member or friend may lead the service, providing a deeply personal and intimate tribute to the person who has died.

Civil Celebrants: Civil celebrants offer a middle ground, creating bespoke ceremonies that may include a mix of secular and spiritual elements according to the wishes of the family.

The range of options available allows for a tailored approach to honouring your loved ones memory

Who is responsible for paying for a funeral in the UK?

In the UK, the responsibility for paying for a funeral typically falls to the following parties, in order of priority:

The Deceased’s Estate: The primary source of funding for a funeral is the person who has died’s estate. Funeral expenses are considered a priority debt and are usually paid before any other debts or bequests from the estate are settled.

Contact us for more information about releasing money from a deceased estate.

Immediate Family Members: If the estate does not have sufficient funds, immediate family members, such as the spouse, children, or parents, often take on the responsibility for the funeral costs. This is usually arranged informally among family members.

Insurance or pre-paid Funeral Plans: Life and funeral cover insurance plans and pre-paid funeral plans are designed to be paid out after the death of your loved one is registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If the person who has died had a pre-paid funeral plan, the costs are covered according to the terms of the plan. These plans are designed to pay for specific funeral expenses and are managed by funeral plan or insurance providers.

Social Fund Funeral Payment: For those who are unable to afford the funeral costs, the government provides assistance through the Social Fund Funeral Payment. Eligibility for this payment is means-tested and is available to those receiving certain benefits.

Visit the Gov website for more information about eligibility for the Funeral Expenses Payment.

Local Authority: In cases where no one is willing or able to pay for the funeral, the local authority has a duty to arrange a Public Health Funeral (often referred to as a “pauper’s funeral”). This is a basic service provided by the council to ensure the person who has died is buried or cremated with dignity.

People who typically require this type of action are those who die intestate and with no next of kin. Local Authorities will typically only take responsibility for arranging funerals and estates in extreme circumstances and will first try to locate living relatives or friends of the person who has died

Contact your local council directly to learn more about eligibility for Public Health Funerals.

These measures ensure that, regardless of personal financial circumstances, a funeral can be arranged for every individual.

Informing friends and family (with templates)

The size of the funeral and the circle of friends of your loved one will determine the best way to notify everyone. You'll likely use a combination of phone calls, emails, and social media to reach all necessary parties. All of these options are perfectly fine.

When informing people about the funeral, ensure you include:

• The full name of the person who has died
• Date and time of the funeral service
• Location of the service, including the address
• Any specific instructions, such as dress code or requests for donations instead of flowers
• Contact information for further questions

Sometimes it can be hard to start a notice from scratch. Here are some examples of email notices from everloved.com which you can use or adapt.

Subject: [name], age [age], has passed away

Message: To our community, we regretfully announce the passing of [full name] on [date]. We would be touched if you helped us memorialize [first name]’s life by joining us in a celebration of life on [date] at [time]. It would mean a lot if you brought some of your favourite memories to share with others attending. There will be a lantern release in [first name]’s honour near the end of the ceremony. Please head to our memorial website to keep up to date on funeral event information and to share your memories and photos of [first name].

Subject: The [last name]’s announce the passing of [full name]

Message: On [date], our family lost our cherished [first name] after [he/she] succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident. Our family would love to see those who [first name] loved most gathered to celebrate [his/her] life at our home on [date] at [time]. Please RSVP on the memorial website, which you can find here:

Subject: Our brightest star, [Full name], has passed away at the age of [age]

Message: Friends and family, it’s with heavy hearts and great difficulty that we announce the passing of [full name]. [Full name] passed away on [date] at [time] surrounded by [his/her] loved ones. [First name] requested a private service with only immediate family present, which our family will be honouring. Please join us in remembering [first name] by posting to [his/her] memorial website with your most cherished memories and photos.

Subject: We regret to inform you that [full name] has passed away

Message: Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of [full name], who unexpectedly passed away after an accident. We want to honour their wonderful life by inviting their loved ones to our home for an intimate celebration of life. We’re still working out the details for this event but will keep you up to date along the way.

You can use the content of these emails in other forms of communication (such as letters, texts, or messages sent on other platforms) as well, if email isn’t your preferred method of communication.

Settle the estate

It is usually after the funeral that tasks will crop up to do with Probate and Estate Administration.

• View our comprehensive Bereavement Toolkit to see each task and get help with your next steps.
• The Executor Toolkit includes tools to help Executors with forms and tax.
• Talk to a professional about Probate and Estate Administration now

Support is available throughout this process.

Free online Grief Counselling:

If you are strggling with Grief, there is free online grief counselling available for you and your family via our partner, Grief Chat.

To access the Grief Chat online service, follow these steps:

1. Visit the home page
2. Navigate to ‘Online Grief Support’
3. Select ‘Start’.

A chat box will appear in the bottom left corner and you will be able to talk to someone between the hours of 9am – 9pm, or leave a message outside of these hours.