Process
How to arrange a funeral, step by step
Last updated 30 April 2026
Arranging a funeral takes about a week from first call to the day itself. The main decisions cluster around three things: cremation or burial, attended or unattended, and which funeral director. Most of the rest follows from those.
Step 1 — Choose a funeral director
Compare two or three published Standardised Price Lists. Look at the attended funeral price, the direct cremation price, and the professional fee. Distance matters — many funeral directors charge mileage above their standard collection radius. Use the postcode search to see published prices nearby.
Step 2 — First meeting with the funeral director
The arrangement meeting typically covers:
- Cremation or burial; which crematorium or cemetery.
- Date and time of the funeral (subject to availability of the venue and clergy).
- Coffin specification.
- Hearse and any mourners’ cars (limousines).
- Whether you’ll view the deceased before the funeral.
- Any flowers, music, or specific arrangements.
- Officiant — minister, celebrant, or humanist.
- Death notice in a newspaper.
Most funeral directors will send a written quote after this meeting, itemising the funeral director’s charges and the expected disbursements.
Step 3 — Registration and paperwork
The death needs to be registered before the funeral can go ahead. The registrar issues the “green form” that authorises burial or cremation. Most funeral directors will guide you through this and will not begin transport to the crematorium or cemetery until the form is in hand.
Step 4 — The day itself
For an attended funeral, the funeral director coordinates collection, the hearse, mourners’ cars, arrival at the venue, the service, the committal, and any onward arrangements (a wake, scattering of ashes, interment at a separate plot). For a direct cremation, there is no service — the family receives the ashes a few days afterwards.
Step 5 — Settling up
The funeral director sends a final invoice within a couple of weeks. Disbursements are itemised separately from the funeral director’s charges. If the deceased had a prepaid funeral plan, the funeral director will deal with the plan provider directly. If applying for the DWP’s Funeral Expenses Payment, the application can be submitted before or shortly after the funeral.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to arrange a funeral?
Typically 1–2 weeks from first call to the day of the funeral. The main constraint is availability at the crematorium or cemetery, plus registration of the death.
Can I arrange a funeral without a funeral director?
Yes, although it's uncommon. UK law doesn't require a funeral director — families can collect, transport, and arrange a burial or cremation themselves. Most crematoria and cemeteries will work with private arrangements, but the practical demands are significant.
What if the deceased had a prepaid funeral plan?
Tell the funeral director in the first call. Most prepaid plans are honoured by the original provider; if the original firm has closed or transferred its plans, the FCA's plan register is the place to start.
Methodology
Prices are taken from funeral directors’ published CMA Standardised Price Lists where available. Funeral Cost Index does not sell placement to funeral directors and does not rank providers by commission.
Find published prices near you
Search by postcode or browse cities to see funeral directors’ published Standardised Price Lists in your area.