Planning a funeral checklist

A doctor will complete this, either the GP if they treated the person during their last illness, or a hospital doctor.

The certificate is then reviewed by a medical examiner, who checks everything independently.

As part of this process, the medical examiner (or their officer) will contact the spouse or next of kin to discuss the cause of death and give you an opportunity to raise any concerns. Once the medical examiner is satisfied, the certificate is sent electronically to the registrar. You'll be notified when this is done so you can book your appointment to register the death.

If the death was sudden, unexpected, or the cause is unknown, the coroner may need to be involved instead, which can take longer.

Book an appointment at your local register office. You'll need to bring the medical certificate, and it helps to have the deceased's birth certificate, NHS number, and marriage or civil partnership certificate if applicable.

At the appointment, the registrar will give you certified copies of the death certificate. You'll need several, so read our guide on how many death certificates you'll need.

You'll also receive the green form (Certificate for Burial or Cremation), which you must have before a funeral can go ahead.

The registrar will also tell you about the Tell Us Once service, which notifies government departments in one go. Read our full guide on how to register a death in the UK.

This is issued by the registrar when you register the death. The funeral director will need this before the funeral can go ahead. If the coroner is involved, they will issue the equivalent paperwork.

You don't have to decide immediately. Most funeral directors will collect the person who has died and look after them while you take time to plan. Get written price lists from at least two or three funeral directors before committing.

Check they are a member of the NAFD or SAIF.

Ask what's included in the fee, what's extra, and whether they charge for an initial meeting. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to decide on the spot.

This is usually the first decision. A burial means the person is laid to rest in a cemetery, churchyard, or natural burial ground. A cremation means the body is cremated, and the ashes can be kept, scattered, or interred.

Cost comparison: The average burial in the UK costs around £5,198. The average cremation costs around £3,858. A direct cremation (no service, no mourners) averages around £1,597 and is the most affordable option. Figures from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025.

Some religions have specific requirements around burial or cremation. If the person followed a faith tradition, check what's expected. If they left wishes in their will or a letter of wishes, check those first.

There are more options than you might think:

• A funeral, a formal ceremony, usually held at a church, crematorium, or graveside, typically within a few weeks of the death
• A memorial service, held after the funeral or cremation, sometimes weeks or months later, at any venue
• A celebration of life, less formal, focused on the person's life rather than their death, with no set structure

You can also combine approaches. For example, a quiet direct cremation followed by a larger celebration of life later.

Options include a vicar, minister, priest, imam, rabbi, or other religious leader, a humanist celebrant, a civil celebrant, a family member, or the funeral director.

A celebrant will typically meet with you beforehand to learn about the person and personalise the service.

Common venues include a church or place of worship, crematorium chapel, natural burial ground, community hall, or even a garden (though there are legal requirements for burials on private land). Consider capacity, accessibility, parking, and how far guests will need to travel.

Most funerals happen one to three weeks after the death. The timing depends on crematorium or venue availability, whether a coroner is involved (which can cause delays), and any religious or cultural requirements. Some faith traditions require burial as soon as possible. You'll also need to consider travel time if family members are coming from abroad.

You can choose from the funeral director's range or buy one independently. This is perfectly legal and can save money.

Options range from traditional wood to wicker, bamboo, cardboard, and wool. Prices vary from around £150 for a simple cardboard coffin to £5,000 or more for hardwood.

If the person is being cremated, there are restrictions on what can go inside the coffin. Metal, glass, and batteries are not allowed. Check with the crematorium.

A typical order of service follows this structure: entry music, welcome and introduction, a hymn or song, readings, the eulogy, a period of reflection, the committal, and exit music.

You can include as many or as few elements as you like.

Many families print booklets for the service. These usually include the order of events, words to any hymns, the person's name and dates, and sometimes a photo.

A local printer or online service can produce these, and your funeral director can often arrange it too.

Most services include music for the entrance, during the service, and the exit. You can choose hymns, classical music, pop songs, or anything meaningful. Most crematoriums and churches have sound systems, but check in advance. Three to four pieces of music is typical.

Readings can be poetry, prose, religious texts, or something personal. Two to three readings is typical.

Think about who might read. Family members, friends, or the celebrant can read on someone's behalf if they'd prefer not to stand up.

The eulogy is a tribute to the person's life. It's usually five to ten minutes long and can be delivered by a family member, friend, or the celebrant.

Include their story, their personality, specific memories, and even humour if it fits.

If you want to write it but don't feel you can deliver it on the day, ask someone else to read it for you.

You can choose full floral tributes, family flowers only with donations to a charity, or donations only. If you're choosing "family flowers only, donations to [charity]", include this in the funeral notice. Many charities can set up a donation page for you. Your funeral director can also arrange flowers.

A hearse carries the coffin, and family cars follow behind. Traditional hearses are the most common, but you can choose horse-drawn carriages, motorcycle hearses, campervans, or even a tractor. It's entirely your choice.

Some families choose not to have a formal cortege and drive themselves. Discuss the route with the funeral director.

A funeral notice typically includes the person's full name, age, date of death, details of the service (date, time, venue), whether it's open to all or family only, and information about flowers or donations.

You can publish it in the local newspaper, online, or both. See our template wording below.

Close family and friends are usually told by phone. For wider circles, a message, email, or social media post works. There's no perfect way to do this, just be honest and keep it simple.

If someone can't attend, let them know about any livestream options or how they can send condolences.

A wake is traditional but optional. Common venues include a pub, community hall, the family home, or a hotel.

Catering can range from hiring a caterer to asking friends to bring food. There's no right way. Think about drinks, photos or memory displays, and whether children will need anything specific.

Most people choose the person's own clothes, something they loved wearing or something meaningful.

The funeral director will let you know when to bring the clothing and whether there are any practical considerations. If you want jewellery returned after the funeral, mention this early.

You can visit the person who has died at the funeral director's chapel of rest. This can be helpful for saying goodbye, and you can visit more than once. You can also bring items to place with them.

If children want to visit, prepare them gently for what they'll see. There's no right or wrong answer about whether they should attend.

You'll typically need four to six pallbearers. These can be family members, friends, or the funeral director's team. Using friends or family saves around £150–300 compared to using the funeral director's staff. The funeral director will brief pallbearers on what to do.

Check the venue has wheelchair access and adequate seating. Consider hearing loops for those who need them, large print orders of service, and parking close to the entrance for elderly or disabled mourners.

To the celebrant or officiant, anyone who gave a reading or eulogy, pallbearers, and anyone who helped organise.

A short, heartfelt note is enough. There's no rush, people understand. See our thank-you note template below.

The Tell Us Once service lets you report the death to most government departments in one go, including HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the passport office, and the local council. The registrar will give you a reference number when you register the death.

It doesn't cover banks, insurance, or pension providers. You'll need to contact those separately.

You'll need to contact banks, building societies, pension providers, insurance companies, the mortgage lender, utility companies, the landlord (if renting), the employer, the GP, the dentist, and cancel any subscriptions.

Each organisation will need a certified copy of the death certificate. Read our guide on how many death certificates you'll need.

Social media accounts can be memorialised (Facebook, Instagram) or deleted. Cancel email accounts, cloud storage, and online subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon). Check for photos stored in iCloud, Google Photos, or other cloud services that the family might want to keep.

Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's estate (their property, money, and possessions) after they die. You'll usually need it if the estate includes property or is worth more than £5,000. You can apply yourself through GOV.UK or use a solicitor.

Grief doesn't follow a schedule. Be patient with yourself. If you need support, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free counselling and a helpline (0808 808 1677). Your GP can also refer you to local bereavement services.