Planning a funeral

Planning a funeral is one of the most significant tasks you'll face in the days after a death. Most people have never done it before – and yet the decisions come quickly, often before you've had time to process what's happened. This guide explains what's involved, who needs to do what, and how to approach each decision without feeling overwhelmed.

Who is responsible for making funeral arrangements?

There's no strict legal rule in England and Wales dictating who must arrange a funeral. In practice, responsibility usually falls to the executor of the will – the person named to carry out the deceased's wishes. If there's no will, or the executor is unable to act, it typically falls to the next of kin: a spouse or civil partner first, then adult children, then parents or siblings.

If you're unsure whether you're the right person to take the lead, check the will first. The executor has the legal right to make funeral arrangements; other family members do not have the authority to override them, even if they're paying. If there's no will, or there's a family dispute about arrangements, it's worth getting legal advice early – a solicitor can clarify who has standing. More on the wider process of dealing with an estate is covered in our probate guide.

The first 24–48 hours

You don't need to make every decision immediately. If the death has just happened at home and you're not sure who to call first, see our guide to what to do when someone dies at home. Once that's dealt with, the priorities for the first day or two are:

• Obtain the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. This is issued by the GP or hospital doctor. You need it to register the death, and you need to register the death before a funeral can take place. Without it, nothing else can proceed.
• Register the death. In England and Wales, this must happen within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). The register office will give you death certificates – order several originals, as banks, pension providers, and insurers will each want one. Full guidance on registering a death is on gov.uk.
• Contact a funeral director. You don't need to have made all the decisions before you call. A funeral director will collect the body, hold it in their care, and guide you through the choices. They're used to dealing with families who are still in shock. There's no obligation to accept the first quote – it's reasonable to contact two or three.
• Notify close family and friends. Before any wider announcement, make sure immediate family hear the news directly – not through social media or a group message.

For everything else – banks, utilities, government departments – see our who to notify when someone dies guide. Those notifications are important but not time-critical in the first 48 hours.

The key decisions

Burial or cremation?

In England and Wales, around 80% of funerals now end in cremation. Cremation tends to be less expensive and gives more flexibility over what to do with the ashes – scattering, interment, or keeping them at home. Burial is more traditional, keeps a fixed physical memorial, and is required or preferred by some faiths. If the deceased left a clear preference – in a will, a funeral plan, or a conversation with family – that's the obvious starting point. If not, it becomes a family decision.

Type of service

Services range from a simple direct cremation (no funeral service, ashes returned to the family) to a full religious funeral with multiple elements. In between are graveside services, secular humanist ceremonies, and woodland burials. There's no single right answer – what matters is that it reflects the person who died and gives family and friends a chance to mark the loss. A funeral director can talk you through the local options.

Costs

Funeral costs in the UK vary significantly. A direct cremation can cost £700–£1,500. A more traditional cremation funeral with a service typically runs £3,000–£5,000 or more once you add professional fees, a coffin, flowers, and a venue. Burial costs tend to be higher still because of grave purchase and gravedigger fees. Our funeral costs guide has specific figures from crematoriums and councils across the UK.

If cost is a concern, the government's Funeral Expenses Payment can help people on certain means-tested benefits cover some of the basic costs. It doesn't cover everything, but it's worth checking eligibility. More details are in our bereavement benefits guide.

Check for a pre-paid funeral plan

Some people arrange and pay for their own funeral in advance through a pre-paid funeral plan. These plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) since July 2022, which means providers must meet minimum standards and hold funds in trust. If the deceased had a plan, the funeral director named in it should be contacted as early as possible – the plan will specify what's been paid for and what the person wanted. Plans vary in what they cover: most include professional fees and a coffin, but not disbursements such as crematorium fees or a plot. Check the small print before assuming everything is covered.

If you're thinking about pre-paying for your own funeral, our planning ahead guide covers what to look for and the questions worth asking.

What to do next

The guides below cover individual aspects of planning a funeral in more detail. If you're in the middle of dealing with an estate at the same time – applying for probate, closing accounts, claiming benefits – those topics are covered in the other sections of this site. Planning a funeral and administering an estate are separate processes, but they often run in parallel, and it helps to understand both.

Alongside the practical decisions, many people are grieving while they plan. Our guide to understanding grief covers what to expect generally, and our guide to losing a parent looks at what's specific to that particular loss.