This guide covers the practical steps involved in planning a funeral in the UK, including registering the death, choosing a funeral director, selecting cremation or burial, planning the service and understanding the costs. Current funeral prices vary by location, provider and the services selected. Insurance or a funeral plan may help with costs subject to eligibility and policy terms.
By: LifePro Protection Team · Updated: 5th January 2026
Run a Free Quote Comparison »Planning a funeral will never be an easy task. But we’ve put together this planning a funeral checklist and detailed guide to assist you begin with the necessary arrangements.
Here are the key steps to planning a funeral when someone passes away:
1. Register the deathto obtain the death certificate
2. Check if they have left any funeral instructions in their Will (or elsewhere)
3. Check if they had life insuranceor a prepaid funeral plan to contribute towards the cost and if not, think about your budget and how you’ll cover the funeral
4. Hire a suitable funeral director(if you wish to use one)
5. Decide if it will be a cremation or burial
6. Choose the coffin(traditional, eco-friendly, personalised etc)
7. Decide the type of funeral service(religious, non-religious etc)
8. Choose the funeral venue(place of worship, chapel, burial site etc)
9. Organise transport for the family to and from the service(limousines, taxis etc)
10. Choose the flower arrangements (or pick a charity for donations)
11. Plan the service details(dress code, funeral music, readings, eulogy etc)
12. Create the order of service
13. Book the venue and catering for the wake(if you’re having one)
14. Send out invitations(e.g. phone, email, social media etc)
Continue reading as we guide you through the process of arranging a funeral, from obtaining the right paperwork after someone passes away, to covering the funeral cost.
As mentioned above, it’s worth checking if your loved one had arranged life insurance before they passed away, such asover 50s life insurance.
If they have a policy in place, then you could make a claim to receive the guaranteed cash payout to contribute towards their funeral expenses.
Planning a funeral and finding payment for the funeral can raise thoughts of your own funeral in the future.
If you’d like to help protect your family from inevitable funeral expenses, then you may consider over 50s life insurance through LifePro.
You could secure up to £20,000 of cover (depending on your age, smoking status and budget), and assure a payout when the time comes.
Acceptance is guaranteed for over 50s life insurance if you’re a UK resident aged between 50 – 85 and no medical information is required.
LifePro can compare quotes for you. Simply contact us for your complimentary quote comparison.
1. When to start planning a funeral »
2. How to cover a funeral »
3. Funeral director services »
4. The type of funeral service »
5. Burial or cremation? »
6. Planning a funeral service »
7. Planning a funeral reception »
8. How long is a funeral? »
9. The cost of a funeral»
Continue reading as we run through each step and outline all the things to consider when planning a funeral...
Enter your financial commitments below to understand the level of over 50 life insurance you require.
The amount of life insurance you need depends on your financial obligations and what you want to provide for your loved ones. A common rule of thumb is to have cover worth 10 times your annual salary, though your individual circumstances may require more or less.
Consider the following when calculating your life insurance needs:
For example, if you have a £200,000 mortgage, earn £40,000 per year, and want to provide 10 years of income replacement, you might need around £600,000 of cover (£200,000 + (£40,000 × 10)).
Use our comparison service to compare available policies, premiums and cover from a wide range of UK insurers.
Run a Free Quote Comparison »Average funeral costs in UK (2025): Basic cremation funeral: £3,500-£4,500, Basic burial funeral: £4,500-£6,000, Full-service cremation with wake: £5,000-£7,000, Full-service burial with wake: £6,000-£9,000, Direct cremation (no service): £900-£1,500. These include funeral director fees, coffin, venue, transport, flowers. Additional costs: Headstone £500-£2,000+, Catering £200-£1,000+.
In UK law, responsibility falls to: 1) Person named in deceased's will as executor, 2) Next of kin (spouse, civil partner, children, parents, siblings), 3) If no family, local council arranges basic funeral. Payment can come from: Deceased's estate (bank accounts, assets), Life insurance payout, Funeral plan (if prepaid), Family contributions, Funeral Payment from DWP (if eligible). Executor can claim costs back from estate before distributing inheritance.
Direct cremation is cheapest at £900-£1,500. This includes: Collection of deceased, Simple coffin, Cremation fees, Return of ashes. Does NOT include: Funeral service, Viewing, Flowers, Expensive coffin, Limousines. Family can hold separate memorial later. Saves 50-70% vs traditional funeral. Many now choose direct cremation for affordability while still honoring loved one.
Life insurance may help with funeral expenses if a claim is accepted. Options include an existing policy, term cover, whole-of-life cover, over-50s products and a pre-paid funeral plan. Check eligibility, qualifying periods, claim requirements, cover limits and current policy terms.
Typical UK funeral timeline: Death → Register death within 5 days → Arrange funeral 7-14 days after death. Most funerals held 1-2 weeks after death. This allows time for: Registering death and obtaining certificates, Arranging funeral director, Booking crematorium/burial plot (availability varies), Notifying family and friends, Planning service details. Can be quicker (3-5 days) for direct cremation. May be longer if coroner investigation or waiting for overseas family.
No, funeral directors are optional but commonly used (95% of UK funerals). Benefits of using funeral director: Handle logistics and paperwork, Provide coffin and transport, Coordinate with crematorium/cemetery, Arrange flowers, service details, Support and guidance through process. DIY funeral (without director): Legal and possible, Must handle all arrangements yourself, Saves £1,500-£3,000 in director fees, Requires significant time and knowledge. Most families use directors for peace of mind during difficult time.
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