Arranging a funeral

You’ll usually arrange a funeral if you’re: 

• a relative

• a close friend

• an executor named in a will - for example, a solicitor

The person named by the deceased in a will or declaration should arrange the funeral. If they don’t want to, or there’s no named person, there’s a hierarchy of people who can arrange it, starting with the nearest relative. If there is no one, the local council will arrange a simple funeral. 

The person might have left instructions about the type of funeral and burial they wanted. There's no legal obligation for these instructions to be followed, but they usually are.

Planning your own funeral in Scotland

The Scottish government has produced a booklet you can use to note down your wishes. You can download 'Planning Your Own Funeral' from the Scottish government website.

If you need to arrange a funeral

There's guidance on arranging a funeral on mygov.scot.

There's also information about what to do after when someone dies on mygov.scot.

Most funerals are arranged through a funeral director.

You can usually choose from different types of funerals, depending on your budget.

A simple funeral is likely to include:

• a plain, lined coffin

• moving the body to the funeral director's location

• looking after the body until the funeral - this won’t include embalming

• a hearse to take the body to the nearest crematorium or burial ground

• people to carry the coffin

You can ask the funeral director about other services they provide. Other companies might be able to offer these instead.

This includes:

• flowers

• a more expensive coffin and fittings

• a medical certificate required for cremation, and any doctor's fees for signing this

• a burial or crematorium fee - the burial fee usually includes the cost of preparing the grave

• embalming

• a memorial - for example, a headstone or memorial plaque

• catering arrangements

Finding a funeral director

Make sure your funeral director belongs to one of the professional associations, such as the National Association of Funeral Directors or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. These associations have codes of practice and complaints procedures. Some local authorities also run their own funeral services by arrangement with a local firm of funeral directors.

If you want to compare costs, you can contact another funeral director or crematorium. If you don’t have a written estimate yet, you can use the standard price lists to compare costs.

You might 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.

You can search for a funeral director on the Funeral Directors Register website.

If you don't want to use a funeral director

You can arrange a funeral without a funeral director. If you want to do this, you can get help from tbe Cemeteries and Crematorium department of your local council for help. Find your local council on GOV.UK.

You can also contact the Natural Death Centre, a charity which gives free advice on funerals.

Paying for a funeral

If you arrange the funeral, you have to pay for it.

You should first check if the person who died had an insurance policy that will pay for funeral costs.

If the person who died left any money, you can ask their bank to pay for the funeral. 

You can ask the bank to pay for the funeral costs even if the bank froze the accounts when the person died. When you get the final invoice from the funeral director, give it to the bank and they’ll pay.

You can also ask your funeral director if you can pay when the money of the person who died has been sorted out.

If the person who died got a war disablement pension

Veterans UK are part of the Ministry of Defense. They can help with the cost of a simple funeral. Check how to contact Veterans UK on GOV.UK.

If you’re struggling to pay for a funeral

You might be able to get help if you get certain benefits. You must apply within 6 months of the funeral. Check if you can get help with paying for a funeral on GOV.UK.

You might only get help with paying for some funeral costs. For example, you might get money for a cremation but not for embalming the body. You’ll have to pay any other costs yourself.

If you need help with transport

If you get benefits and the funeral is for a close relative, you might be able to get a budgeting loan to help pay for your travel. Check if you can get a budgeting loan on GOV.UK.

If the person paying for the funeral gets certain benefits, you might be able to get a Funeral Support Payment to help pay for your travel. Check if you can get a Funeral Support Payment on mygov.scot.

If you’re finding things difficult

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You should talk to your GP if you are struggling with your mental health. 

You can find other ways to get help with your mental health on the Mind website.

If you need help with grief

You can call the Cruse Bereavement Care helpline or get help on their website.

If you need someone to talk to

You can speak to a trained volunteer at organisations like Samaritans or Shout.

Samaritans

Helpline: 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time)

Welsh Language Line: 0808 164 0123 (Monday to Sunday 7pm to 11pm)

Calls to Samaritans are free.

You can find other ways to get in touch with Samaritans on their website.

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else’s is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

You can also find a list of urgent mental health services on the Mind website.