When someone dies you need to decide to use a Funeral Director or you can organise the relevant information yourself. If you can choose a Funeral Director you need to choose someone you feel comfortable with. This post will help you to understand some of the things to consider. It’s also important to think about the associated costs of a funeral, and make sure you are able to pay and how you plan to pay for the relevant services.
Getting started:
If you choose to use a Funeral Director, all or some things can be dealt with, but it can be more expensive. Using a Funeral Director presents several options:
There are many ways to find the right Funeral Director. First of all you need to know if the person had a funeral plan already in place. In some cases there may be a plan with a particular funeral company and may already be paid for.
If you’re looking for a funeral director yourself, it might help to think about the following:
When instructing a Funeral Director you may want to speak to them and ask some of the following questions:
Contact some different Funeral Directors in your local area to compare prices and options available to you.
When you receive a quote, the Funeral Director should list their fees including set fees from third parties (eg cemeteries, crematoriums, churches or doctors) so you can compare costs. If you don’t get a detailed quote ask for a price list or cost breakdown to help you decide you way forward.
Here are some things to think about:
Funeral director fees vary across the UK but the average fee is £3,953*. This will often include a coffin, hearse, collection and care of the deceased, and professional guidance.
You can ask for a simpler or less expensive option, and don’t feel pressured to make choices beyond what you can afford. Having a less expensive funeral doesn’t reflect on the person who’s died or how much they meant to you. Many people arrange funerals which they then struggle to pay for.
*Figures are from the COST OF DYING REPORT 2023 from Sunlife (insurance and funeral plan company).
You don’t have to use a Funeral Director if you don’t want to. You can contact your local cemeteries and cremation department to get information about arranging a funeral yourself.