Introduction
When someone close to you dies, alongside coping with all the emotional aspects, there are practical things that need to be done. One of the first things you need to consider is planning the funeral.
Whether you’re planning a traditional service or something a bit different, this article will look at what you need to think about when planning a funeral, including what you need to do first, and a simple funeral planning checklist.
Check for a will or pre-paid funeral plan
Before making any decisions, check whether the person who died left any instructions. Information might be stored with the will, or with other important paperwork. Some people may have written down their wishes in a letter and you might like to check with any other relatives or friends to see if they have spoken about it.
You should also check if they had a pre-paid funeral plan. This might cover certain costs or services and could help guide you on what kind of funeral they wanted. If you think there was a plan, but can’t find information, you could try contacting local funeral homes, to see if they have any record. You could also ask their solicitor or financial adviser (if they had one).
Starting to plan
Before finalising a funeral date, you will need to register the death. (This might be delayed if the death is reported to a coroner).
Once you have registered the death, and checked whether the person left wishes or plans for a funeral, you can start to plan. If you or the person who died followed a particular faith, it might be helpful to start by speaking to their faith leader (or a local faith leader if they didn’t have a regular place of worship). They will be used to dealing with funerals. They will be able to advise you on a service appropriate to yours and/or the person who died’s faith, and any other rituals around burial or cremation.
For non-religious funerals, the The British Humanist Association and Institute of Civil Funerals can help with ideas and planning.
Traditional funerals and funeral directors
Many people choose to work with a funeral director. These are professionals who can take care of the body and help with all parts of funeral planning.
You can search for local providers in a directory or online, or ask family or friends if they have personal recommendations.
GOV.UK suggests using a funeral director who is a member of a professional body, and who will follow a defined code of practice. You could look in the following directories:
It’s worth contacting several providers so you can choose one which feels right for you.
Be clear with any providers about your budget and ask for a full list of prices. A standard funeral in the UK costs over £4,000 in 2025. However, this can vary a lot depending on what type of funeral you would like. Many elements of a traditional funeral are optional. There will be a range of options, which providers should be open about.
Non-traditional funerals
You don’t have to hold a traditional funeral if it doesn’t feel right. While there can be value in following set traditions, it’s becoming more common for people to consider alternative ways of marking someone’s death, and celebrating their life.
Some people choose a direct cremation and then plan a gathering for family and friends, which could be at a later date.
A direct cremation is one where the person who died is taken straight to the crematorium, without a funeral service beforehand. The ashes are returned to the family later.
A memorial or celebration of life can be as simple or creative as you like. You could hold the gathering somewhere special, play music they loved, and invite people to share memories informally. There are many options and you can find stories of non-traditional funerals online which might give you ideas.
Paying for the funeral
If the person who died left money in their estate, this can be used to pay for the funeral. Costs can either be paid back out of the estate once probate is granted, or sometimes banks will release funds to pay for a funeral before the process is complete. Read more about paying for the funeral before probate is granted.
If you are struggling to pay for a funeral and receive certain benefits you can sometimes get a Funeral Expenses Payment. If no one is able to arrange a funeral the local council can arrange a Public Health Funeral. Contact your local council to find out their rules. It is up to the council if relatives can attend a Public Health Funeral, and they may allow only a few relatives, or none at all.
Keeping people informed and involved
Whatever type of funeral you are arranging, it’s a good idea to keep close family and friends informed and (if appropriate) ask how they would like to be involved. Good communication can help avoid hurt feelings or even disputes.
Funeral planning checklist
When you’re thinking about the elements to include in the funeral, the following list includes some things you will need to consider, and some elements which are optional.
Burial or cremation: what did the person want to happen to their body? What’s the right choice for your family and your faith?
Location of the service: Will it be at a crematorium, a church or place of worship, a community hall, or somewhere else?
Flowers: Do you want family flowers only or will you welcome contributions? Sometimes people suggest contributions to a charity that was meaningful to the person instead of flowers.
Coffin: There are lots of choices, from traditional wooden styles to wicker and eco-friendly options.
Transport: Funeral directors will offer a range of choices, and you can also consider transporting the body yourself.
Wake or gathering: Do you want to invite people to come together after a service to share food and memories? Sometimes people chose to have a small family funeral and another service or memorial gathering at a later date.
Music and readings: During a service people often share favourite songs, poems, or pieces of writing. Read more about choosing readings, poems and music for funerals.
Eulogy: Would someone (or more than one person) like to give a eulogy (a speech remembering the person)? If you are using a celebrant they may also be happy to talk to you about the person and put together some words about their life.
Dress code: Would you prefer that people wear traditional funeral dress, or would the person have preferred bright colours?
Letting people know: How will you tell people about the funeral? You can contact important people directly and put out a notice on social media. Many local papers still publish funeral notices. Include information about when and where the funeral will take place, and any decisions you have made about dress code, flowers and charity donations.
After the funeral: There is still a lot to be done and considered after the funeral is over. Read our article on the next steps.
Frequently asked questions about planning a funeral
How long after someone dies is the funeral?
In the UK the funeral is usually arranged for between 1 to 3 weeks after someone dies. It will vary depending on the availability in the area, and also on family preference. Funerals can take place sooner in some cases – some faiths require funerals to take place within 24-48 hours. Or it can take longer, for example if someone’s death has been reported to the coroner and/or there needs to be a post-mortem. Finally, with a more modern celebration of life held separately from a burial or cremation, the family may decide to wait longer to find a suitable date and location.
Who is responsible for arranging the funeral?
If there is a will, the executor has the legal duty and right to arrange the funeral. If there wasn’t a will, the responsibility usually falls to the next of kin. If there are no family or friends able to arrange a funeral, the local council may arrange what is known as a public health funeral.
Do I have to hold a traditional funeral?
No, you don’t. There’s no legal need to have a service or follow any set traditions. Some people prefer a direct cremation followed by a personal celebration later. The most important thing is that it feels right for you and the people who cared about the person who died.
Should children come to funerals?
It’s a personal choice and will depend on the child, and the cultural and religious beliefs of your family. Children often find comfort in being part of the farewell, and whether they come to the funeral or not, explain everything that’s happening clearly according to their level of understanding. If they’re old enough, you could talk to them about what to expect and let them decide. Some families choose to include children in small roles, like placing flowers or reading a poem. If you do bring a child, it’s a good idea to have someone available who can sit with them and take them out if they are feeling overwhelmed, so that close family don’t have to miss any of the service.
What happens if no one can pay for a funeral?
If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral and receive certain benefits you can sometimes get a Funeral Expenses Payment. There is government support to pay for funeral costs of a child under the age of 18 in England and Wales.
Organisations like Down to Earth and the Child Funeral Charity also offer support and guidance for those struggling with funeral costs.
If no one is able to arrange a funeral the local council can arrange a Public Health Funeral. Contact your local council to find out their rules.
Trustestate can help
Arranging a funeral is one of the biggest practical steps after someone dies, but there’s a lot more to be done. Applying for probate is often one of the next steps. Getting support with this process can reduce your family’s stress during an already difficult time.
Let Trustestate take the hassle out of probate for a fixed transparent fee. We offer a simple, streamlined service with expert support at every stage. Book a free call with one of our experts to find out more.
What we offer
Use our Probate and estate administration service and we’ll manage every stage of the process. We’ll take over all the admin, apply to the court for probate, and share out the estate.
Or if the estate is simple, and you have time, you can use our Grant of Probate only service, and we’ll apply for probate using information you provide.
Whichever service you choose, you’ll get dedicated advice every step of the way, and an online platform to keep track of everything.
