Funerals
A funeral is a purchase that is often made at a very difficult time, so it is worth knowing what you should expect.
- Choosing a funeral
- Choosing a funeral director
- Financial help
- Pre-paid funerals
- If you have a complaint
The main legal requirements in England and Wales are:
- the death has to be certified by a doctor or coroner;
- the death is registered with a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths;
- the body should either be cremated or buried.
There are many different types of funeral and it is useful to remember that:
- you do not have to have a funeral ceremony;
- you do not have to have a religious minister;
- you do not have to use a funeral director;
- a ceremony does not have to take place in a crematorium or place of worship.
The majority of consumers make their arrangements through a funeral director, but some people prefer to make their own arrangements as they consider this to be more personal and less expensive. You are likely to have more control over the content and length of these types of funeral.
The cemeteries and crematorium department of your local authority will give advice on other options, while the Natural Death Centre provides information on woodland and green options.
Some funeral directors may have an alternative option available.
Funeral directors can manage funeral arrangements and give advice and support. If they belong to a trade association they have to provide full information about their services and prices.
Factors that may affect your choice of funeral director include:
- location of the firm's premises;
- do they belong to a trade association?
- range of services provided;
- cost;
- recommendation of those who have used the service and trusted advisers;
- the way you are treated by the staff;
- ownership – are they a large or small firm, a family business or company?
- advice or recommendation of family or friends;
Most people would probably require the funeral director to provide the following services as a minimum:
- make all necessary arrangements;
- provide appropriate staff;
- provide a suitable coffin;
- transfer the deceased from the place of death to the funeral director's premises;
- care for the deceased prior to the funeral;
- provide a hearse to the nearest cemetery or crematorium;
- arrange for burial or crematorium as appropriate.
Embalming, viewing of the deceased, or providing a limousine for mourners are optional extras. Discuss these fully with your funeral director and make sure you receive an itemised written quotation.
Funeral costs for the same services may vary considerably from one funeral director to another. It is advisable to get more than one quote to compare costs and services. Funeral directors should provide detailed price lists for you to take away.
Disbursements are fees paid to others, i.e. for doctor's certificates, a minister, newspaper announcements, flowers, and crematorium. Ask the funeral director for a written quotation detailing all these fees.
In addition, it should be remembered:
- when you arrange a funeral, you are responsible for paying the bill;
- funeral payments are normally recoverable from the dead person's estate;
- check that the price includes what you require and whether there are any additional costs that will be added on.
If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, you may be able to get a social fund funeral payment from the Benefits Agency, so long as you or your partner receive one of the following:
- income support;
- housing benefit;
- council tax benefit;
- job seeker's allowance (income based);
- disabled person's tax credit;
- working family's tax credit.
Contact your local social security office for more information.
If no one is able or willing to arrange and pay for the funeral, the local council, or in some cases the health authority, may do so, but only where the funeral has not already been arranged.
Some people choose to pay for their own funeral in advance with a pre-paid plan - this gives the opportunity to select the type of arrangements you would like.
If you are arranging a funeral, try to find out if the deceased had made any such arrangements.
If you are buying a pre-paid funeral plan for yourself read the contract very carefully. The contract terms must be fair and not put you at a significant disadvantage in relation to the plan provider - if you are in doubt about any terms get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau (www.citizensadvice.org.uk or www.cas.org.uk in Scotland), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland or by contacting Consumer Direct.
In addition:
- check what the contract covers and what it doesn't;
- find out what should happen after you die and leave appropriate instructions with your solicitor or next of kin, as an incorrect decision could cause problems;
- shop around, and check whether a plan provider is a member of one of the trade associations who are members of the Funeral Ombudsman Scheme.
You might also ask other useful questions, such as:
- what happens if you die before payments are completed?
- what happens if you chose a funeral director who goes out of business?
- how is your money protected over the years?
- what happens to the money you have paid if relatives do not know of the pre-paid plan and organise the funeral independently?
See Know your rights - Funerals for what to do if you have a complaint.
