A funeral is a get together following a friend or relative's death.
See also - what to do if you discover a friend or relative has died.
The dead person's wishes. You don't have to legally adhere to this, however the person who has died may have left instructions on what to do following a person's death. More importantly it may be appropriate to consult with the nearest living relatives and closest friends for advice on what the dead person (deceased may have wanted).
Comitting to 'what they would have wanted' depends on a range of factors, including practicality, budget and desires of remaining relatives.
The local health authority will arrange for a simple funeral if none is organised. This may be an alternative if there is no budget, or you would rather spend the budget on a celebration or something else.
Arranging a funeral
Typically a funeral director will work with you. There is a National Association of Funeral Directors - NAFD and a Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors - SAIF, In addition, some local authorities also run their own funeral services in conjunction with a local firm of funeral directors.
You can arrange everything yourself - the Natural Death Centre or Cemeteries and Cremation department of the local authority of the deceased can help.
An example on getting help with payment would be through the council - here's Sevenoaks District Council's advice on this.
http://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/services/housing/deaths-funerals-and-cremations/welfare-funerals
Associated costs
If you arrange a funeral with a funeral director, you are required to pay. Make sure you get a price list up front. Ask for an itemised quote if not offered one. If you want to compare costs, either approach another firm or get someone else or a friend to do this. One approach is to state your budget and see what services are available.
Parts of the funeral.
Consider 3 parts to your funeral.
1. caring for the deceased's body - how will the body be formally laid to rest.
2. a formal service might involve a religious venue to allow family members to grieve
3. an informal party or wake that would allow friends or distant relatives to attend and celebrate - if this is at the weekend or the evening it may allow others to join in that wouldn't have otherwise had the chance.
Here's information from the citizens advice bureau
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/relationships/death-and-wills/funeral-services/arranging-a-funeral/
Services provided by funeral directors
A basic funeral is likely to include:
- a plain, lined coffin
- transport of the body of the person who has died to the funeral director's premises, usually up to ten miles from wherever the death occurred
- the care of the person who has died until the funeral. This will include washing and dressing the person who has died and laying the body out, but will not include embalming
- providing a hearse to take the body to the nearest crematorium or burial ground
- providing the necessary people to carry the coffin
- making all other necessary arrangements, for example, getting the required forms.
Other services funeral directors could provide, or which you may want to sort out elsewhere are:
- flowers
- a more expensive coffin and fittings
- press notices
- a medical certificate required for cremation, and any doctor's fees for signing this
- an organist
- fees for religious services
- a burial or crematorium fee. The burial fee will usually include the costs of preparing the grave
- extra cars
- embalming
- extra services by the funeral director, for example, use of the Chapel of Rest, transport from the mortuary, or special viewing arrangements
- the cost of journeys of more than ten miles to the funeral director's premises
- a memorial
- catering arrangements
- stationery.
Signing a contract
You may need to sign a contract with the funeral director. Make sure you read it carefully and ask the funeral director about anything you don’t understand.
Paying for the funeral
Some funeral directors might ask for a deposit before making the funeral arrangements.
You may be offered a discount to pay for the funeral before or soon after it takes place. If you know the money will be released at a later date to cover the cost, you might want to consider a bank loan or overdraft to pay early.
Money may be released later, if the person who has died made arrangements to pay for their funeral through an insurance or other policy, or if money is released after their estate has been dealt with.
If there is a legal claim for negligence against someone for the death, the cost of the funeral can be claimed as compensation.
Otherwise, you may agree payment by instalment, or pay after the legal process of dealing with the person’s estate has been settled.
Next steps
More about what to do after a death
Other useful information
National Association of Funeral Directors
618 Warwick Road
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 1AA
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 1AA
National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
3 Bullfields
Sawbridgeworth
Hertfordshire
CM21 9DB
Sawbridgeworth
Hertfordshire
CM21 9DB
Natural Death Centre
In The Hill House
Watley Lane
Twyford
Winchester
SO21 1QX
Watley Lane
Twyford
Winchester
SO21 1QX
Funeral Directors Register
You can search for funeral directors on the Funeral Directors Register - a service run by the National Federation of Funeral Directors.
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