
Arranging A Funeral
Arranging a funeral after a person has died is extremely difficult for many as emotions run high. In the majority of instances the arrangements are made by either the next of kin or sometimes a close friend. When there is no-one available to commit to the organisation of funeral procedures, the local health authority will arrange a basic funeral.
In this article we hope to provide a summary for the most commonly referenced and utilised services related to funerals.
Average Funeral Costs
Catering Services
Some people choose to have a gathering (wake), after the cremation and or burial, with close friends and family. There are catering companies who can provide a selection of menu options with costs on a per person basis.
Depending on emotional state and the assistance of others it is very popular for food and drink to be prepared without the use of caterers.
Cemeteries and Crematoria
A cemetery (from the Greek ‘sleeping place’) is a place of rest of the interment of deceased persons. In contemporary language, cemeteries are commonly referred to as ‘burial grounds’. They are not always attached to churches (places of worship); presently there are prescribed plots throughout the country usually away from highly populated areas. Church graveyards tend to be consecrated ground whereas cemeteries are often not.
The modern crematoria as many would recognise today came into public use during the 1870’s. A cremation uses a specially designed multi chambered furnace to incinerate content placed into it. Next of kin can request the ashes of the deceased to be collected into a vessel of their choosing, either for burial or scattering; the UK law on scattering is fairly relaxed and you are permitted to scatter ashes on your own land.
Disbursement Costs
Sometimes known as disbursement fees, these are costs not included within the funeral directors costings. The amount will vary on your location, your local council and other factors such as opting for burial in a churchyard or cemetery.
Other fees in this category include doctor’s fees (death certificate), cremation or burial fees.
Florists
Funeral Directors
Individuals and organisations of people involved with the business of funeral rites. They are sometimes referred to as undertakers and occasionally morticians. Regular tasks include embalming and either burial or cremation of the dead in conjunction with the planning and arrangement of the funeral ceremony.
Funeral directors can also perform dressing tasks, casketing (placing the body inside the coffin) and cosseting (applying cosmetic substances to the face and hands of the corpse to enhance the appearance). Funeral directors often work at funeral homes, some may be independent employees.
Headstone Providers
Legal Requirements
In the UK there are only two legal requirements with respect to funerals that must be adhered to:
- In order for a funeral to take place, the death has to be registered first.
- The body must be taken care in an appropriate fashion, either by burial or cremation.
Low income benefits
Pre-paid funeral plans
Recovering Funeral Costs
Types of Funeral
Christian funerals
- Church of England
- Catholic
- Methodist
- Baptist
Each denomination exercises variations on procedure according to faith and traditions.
Non-religious funerals
The focus is acutely on the person who has died; some council’s operate non-religious funeral services and provide non-religious cemeteries.
Woodland Burials
There is discernible increase for persons to choose burial in a woodland location. Sites are chosen to observe environmental friendliness, surroundings of natural tranquility often include the planting of a tree to mark the location of the deceased. The tree then grows to become part of the naturally established woodland.
The Will of The Deceased

Free Funeral Plan
If you would like to make use of our free funeral plan i.e. the funeral wishes form, please click on the button. As a result this will download a pdf copy to complete and print for your own records.