# How to plan a funeral, step by step

> To plan a funeral, check for a will, funeral plan or written wishes, register the death, then choose a funeral director or arrange it yourself. Decide on burial or cremation, book a date with the crematorium or cemetery, plan the service, tell people and agree costs in writing. UK funerals commonly take place one to three weeks after a death.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/how-to-plan-a-funeral/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially when you're grieving. It helps to know that it happens in a clear order, you don't have to decide everything at once, and a good funeral director will guide you through each step. This guide sets out what to do, from the first phone calls to the day itself.

## Key points

- **Check for wishes first**: a will, written wishes or a prepaid funeral plan.
- **Register the death** before the funeral. The deadline depends on the nation.
- **You don't have to use a funeral director**, and you're free to choose which one.
- **Compare prices.** Every funeral director must publish a Standardised Price List.
- **Only a few decisions are urgent**: burial or cremation, the date and the venue. The rest can follow.
- **Funerals commonly happen one to three weeks after a death**, and sooner for some faiths.

## Before you start: check for wishes and plans

Look through the person's papers for:

- **A will.** It names the executor, who often leads the arrangements, and may include funeral wishes.
- **A prepaid funeral plan.** Contact the provider before booking anything. The plan may name a funeral director and cover some costs. Plans are regulated by the FCA; see our [funeral plans guide](/uk/guides/funeral-plans/).
- **Written or spoken wishes**, such as burial or cremation, music, faith, or donating their body. Body donation must be arranged by the person in life; see [donating your body to science](/uk/guides/donating-your-body-to-science/).
- **Faith requirements.** Muslim and Jewish funerals often take place within a day or two. See our [faith guides](/faiths/).

If you're planning ahead for yourself, our [funeral wishes tool](/tools/funeral-wishes/) helps you record your choices.

## Step 1: The first calls

What happens first depends on where the person died. After an expected death at home, contact their GP (or NHS 111 out of hours) so the death can be confirmed. In hospital or a hospice, staff will guide you. If a death is sudden or unexpected, call 999. Our guide to [what to do when someone dies](/uk/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/) covers this in detail.

You can contact a funeral director at any time, including at night. They can bring the person into their care once the death has been confirmed.

## Step 2: Register the death

| Nation | Deadline | What you get for the funeral |
|---|---|---|
| **England and Wales** | Within **5 days** of the medical examiner's office confirming the death can be registered | Certificate for burial or cremation (the "green form") |
| **Scotland** | Within **8 days** of the death | Certificate of registration (Form 14) |
| **Northern Ireland** | Within **5 days** of the death | GRO21 certificate for burial or cremation |

If a coroner or procurator fiscal is investigating, registration and the funeral may take longer. Check your deadline with our [registration deadline tool](/uk/tools/death-registration-deadline/) and read [how to register a death](/uk/guides/how-to-register-a-death/).

## Step 3: Choose a funeral director, or do it yourself

You can use any funeral director you like, not only the one a hospital or care home suggests. Under the CMA's Funerals Market Investigation Order, every funeral director in the UK must show a **Standardised Price List** in branch and online, including an attended funeral price and an unattended funeral price.

- Compare two or three local firms. Start with our [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Ask for a **written, itemised estimate**.
- Read [how to choose a funeral director](/uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-funeral-director/).

Some families arrange everything themselves. See [arranging a funeral without a funeral director](/uk/guides/arranging-a-funeral-without-a-funeral-director/).

## Step 4: Choose burial, cremation or another option

- **Cremation** is the most common choice and usually costs less. See [cremation vs burial](/uk/guides/cremation-vs-burial/).
- **Direct cremation** has no service at the crematorium; many families hold a memorial later. See [direct cremation](/uk/direct-cremation/).
- **Natural or woodland burial** takes place in a more natural setting. See [natural woodland burial](/uk/guides/natural-woodland-burial/).
- **Burial at sea** is possible but rare and needs a licence. See [burial at sea](/uk/guides/burial-at-sea/).

## Step 5: Book the date and venues

Your funeral director will check dates with the [crematorium](/uk/crematorium-near-me/) or [cemetery](/uk/cemeteries/), any place of worship, the person leading the service and the venue for the wake. Early-morning or weekday slots may be easier to get and sometimes cost less.

## Step 6: Plan the service

Decide who will lead it: a minister or faith leader, a celebrant, a humanist officiant or a family member. Then choose:

- **Music** for entering, reflection and leaving. See [funeral music, hymns and readings](/uk/guides/funeral-music-hymns-and-readings/) and [funeral poems](/uk/guides/funeral-poems/).
- **Tributes.** Our [eulogy guide](/uk/guides/how-to-write-a-eulogy/) and [eulogy writer](/tools/eulogy-writer/) can help.
- **An order of service.** See [order of service](/uk/guides/order-of-service/).
- **Flowers or donations.** See [funeral flowers](/uk/guides/funeral-flowers/).
- **Extras** such as a livestream, a viewing, a special coffin or cars.

## Step 7: Tell people

Share the date, time and place, plus any requests about dress, flowers or donations, and whether the funeral is private. Families often use phone calls, messages, social media, and a death notice in a local newspaper or on the funeral director's website. Say whether there will be a [wake](/uk/guides/what-is-a-wake/) and who is invited.

## Step 8: Agree costs and check for help

SunLife's Cost of Dying Report 2026 puts a simple attended funeral at **£3,828** on average and **£5,140** with typical extras. Costs can usually be paid from the estate; ask the person's bank whether it can pay the funeral director's invoice from their account.

If you get certain benefits, you may qualify for a **Funeral Expenses Payment** (England, Wales and Northern Ireland: up to £1,000 for other costs, plus burial or cremation fees) or a **Funeral Support Payment** in Scotland. See [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/) and our [cost calculator](/uk/tools/funeral-cost-calculator/).

## Step 9: The day itself

The funeral director usually leads the hearse, guides mourners into the service and keeps to the timings. Read [what happens at a funeral](/uk/guides/what-happens-at-a-funeral/) for the running order at crematoria, churches and gravesides.

## Decisions checklist

- Funeral director, or doing it yourself
- Burial, cremation or another option
- Coffin, and what the person will wear
- Whether to have a viewing
- Date, time and venues
- Who leads the service
- Music, readings and tributes
- Order of service and flowers or donations
- Cars, and where they leave from
- Wake venue and catering
- What will happen to the ashes, if cremated

## A typical timeline

| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| First hours | Death confirmed; close family told; funeral director contacted |
| First few days | Medical examiner review (England and Wales); death registered; funeral director chosen |
| First week | Burial or cremation decided; date booked; service planning begins |
| One to three weeks | The funeral and wake |
| Weeks after | Ashes collected; thank-you messages sent; final bill paid |
| Months after | Headstone or memorial arranged; ashes scattered or interred |

## Next steps

- Use our [when someone dies checklist](/uk/tools/when-someone-dies-checklist/).
- Compare [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Read up on [funeral costs](/uk/funeral-costs/).
- After the funeral, see [thank-you messages after a funeral](/uk/guides/thank-you-messages-after-a-funeral/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is responsible for planning a funeral?

Usually the executor named in the will or the nearest relative, but in practice it is often whoever takes the lead in the family. The person who signs the contract with the funeral director is responsible for paying the bill, although the cost can usually be reclaimed from the estate.

### How long does it take to plan a funeral?

Most families plan a funeral over one to three weeks. The death usually has to be registered first, and the date depends on when the crematorium, cemetery, venue and officiant are free. Some faiths hold funerals within a day or two, so tell the funeral director straight away if that applies.

### Can I plan a funeral without a funeral director?

Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a funeral director anywhere in the UK. You would need to register the death, arrange a coffin and transport, and book the crematorium or cemetery yourself. See our guide to [arranging a funeral without a funeral director](/uk/guides/arranging-a-funeral-without-a-funeral-director/).

### What is the first thing to do when planning a funeral?

Look for any wishes the person left, and check whether they had a prepaid funeral plan. A plan may name the funeral director you need to use and will affect what you pay. Then register the death, because the funeral can't go ahead without the paperwork that registration produces.

### How much does it cost to plan a funeral?

SunLife's Cost of Dying Report 2026 puts a simple attended funeral at £3,828 on average, or £5,140 with typical extras. A direct cremation averages £1,628. Get a written estimate and compare Standardised Price Lists. See our [funeral costs guide](/uk/funeral-costs/).

### Do I need to plan everything at once?

No. The funeral director will tell you which decisions are needed first, usually burial or cremation, the date and the venue. Music, readings and the order of service can be settled over the following days, and ashes or a headstone can wait for weeks or months.

## Sources

- [GOV.UK – Register a death](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/register-the-death)
- [mygov.scot – Registering a death](https://www.mygov.scot/register-death)
- [nidirect – Registering a death](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/registering-death)
- [GOV.UK – Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funerals-market-investigation-order-2021)
- [FCA – Funeral plans: check your provider is authorised](https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/funeral-plans)
- [GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment](https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments)
- [mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment](https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment)
- [SunLife – Cost of Dying Report 2026](https://www.sunlife.co.uk/over-50-life-insurance/funeral-costs/)