Arranging and paying for a funeral: The things you need to know

When a loved one passes away, the emotional strain can be overwhelming. Amidst the grief, one of the most difficult tasks is often arranging a funeral service. Whilst it's never easy to think about or plan, understanding the funeral arrangement process and how to manage the associated costs, can help relieve some of the stress experienced during a challenging time. We understand that bearing the responsibility of organising the perfect memorial to honour a loved one's life may feel like a monumental task. That's why we've created this blog post, to help you understand the steps involved and inform you of the options that are available to make the process smoother. 

What happens at a funeral?

A funeral is a ceremony that honours and remembers a person who has passed away. Funerary customs tend to vary depending on the cultural, religious, and personal preferences of each individual person. Generally speaking, a funeral service forms the main part of the ceremony and may include the reading of eulogies, religious or cultural rituals, and the recital of music. Following this, a committal or burial service takes place, which involves taking the body of the deceased to a selected place of burial or cremation. Finally, a funeral ceremony often concludes with a more informal reception or wake, allowing mourners to find comfort in supporting each other, reminisce on treasured memories, and pay their respects to their loved one. 

Who is responsible for arranging a funeral?

Usually, a funeral is arranged by a family member or close friend of the person who has passed away. In many cases, this responsibility falls to the next of kin of the deceased (the closest living relative to them at the time of death), most often a spouse, child, or sibling. If they have left behind a Will, it may contain specific instructions on how they wish their funeral to be handled. They may have also left a separate written record of their funeral wishes within their personal belongings, or simply made their preferences known to their loved ones by having conversations about it within their lifetime. It is important to note that funeral arrangements sometimes start before the Will has been retrieved, therefore, we encourage you to have open and honest conversations where possible, to ensure that your loved one's wishes are honoured. 

Arranging a funeral

There are a whole range of decisions that need to be made when it comes to arranging a funeral. Depending on whether or not your loved one has left behind instructions outlining their funeral wishes to you, some of these decisions may already have been answered for you. The main points of consideration include:

• Whether the person will be buried or cremated;
• Where and when the funeral should take place;
• What readings and music you would like during the service;
• Whether flowers are required/welcomed and if so what kind.

Most families will seek the help of a professional Funeral Director to help them take care of arrangements. They are responsible for coordinating and overseeing the funeral services and will:

• Care for the deceased by looking after them until the day of the funeral;
• Meet with you to help plan the funeral service and work through the decisions listed above;
• Handle legal and administrative tasks such as helping you with paperwork and documentation;
• Attend the funeral to help ensure that everything goes as planned on the day;
• Connect you to bereavement support networks and charities if needed.

Funeral fees can vary considerably, so it may be beneficial to shop around and obtain detailed quotes from various Funeral Directors. We recommend checking whether the Funeral Director is a member of a trade association. Most Funeral Directors will be members of either the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) or the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD).

Who pays for a funeral?

Following a death, it is important to find out whether or not the person left a valid Will, naming someone as an Executor. The role of an Executor is to carry out the deceased person's wishes and administer their estate upon their death. This role can be given to the next of kin, another family member, a close friend, or a professional. Usually, they are responsible for covering the costs of the funeral arrangements, but this does not necessarily mean the money to do this needs to come out of their own pocket.  

Can you use a deceased person's bank account to pay for their funeral?

Paying for a funeral is not always the responsibility of the deceased person’s loved ones, as the estate can cover the cost if there are sufficient funds to pay the bill. If an Executor has been named, they have legal access to the estate of the person who has died, meaning they may be able to fund the funeral costs through the savings or assets left behind. However, it is important to note that this is not always possible due to the complexities that can arise when accessing the deceased person’s accounts. If this is the case, any reasonable expenses incurred can be reimbursed from the estate at a later date. 

How have funeral costs changed?

Unfortunately, funeral costs and the current cost of dying is at an all-time high within the UK. According to the Sunlife Cost of Dying Report 2025, a simple attended funeral experienced a dip in cost during the Covid-19 pandemic, however, this figure has now risen to a record-breaking £4,285, which is an increase of 3.5% on the previous year (2023). The cost of a direct cremation has also increased year on year by almost 7% to £1,597, with both costs rising above the rate of inflation over the same period. These figures show that it's likely funeral costs will continue to increase in the future, demonstrating why it's important to consider the cost of a funeral and how it will be paid for. 

What happens when you can't afford a funeral?

There are other options available when the above methods of paying aren't possible:

Public Health Funeral

If there are not sufficient funds in the estate to cover the funeral and the loved ones are unable to pay for the funeral themselves, financial help may be available. A Public Health Funeral may be arranged by local authorities if there are no family members or friends available to make the arrangements, and there is not enough money in the estate to pay for the funeral. They are intended to safeguard public health and play a crucial role in ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances. If a Public Health Funeral is arranged, it will normally be a cremation with a short service and the date and time will be decided by the local authority. Any extras such as cars and flowers are not included but loved ones are allowed to attend the funeral. A local authority may reclaim the costs incurred for a public health funeral from the deceased person's estate.

Funeral Expenses Payment

A government scheme is also available to help those with low income. Close relatives or friends of the deceased may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment if they receive certain benefits or tax credits. It is important to note that a Funeral Expenses Payment tends to be taken from any money you inherit from the estate, and it is not likely to cover all the costs of the funeral. Claims must be made within six months of the funeral, but they can be made before the funeral if an invoice has been received from the Funeral Director. A Funeral Expenses Payment can be used towards paying for the following:

• Burial fees for a particular plot;
• Cremation fees; including the cost of the doctor's certificate;
• Travel expenses to arrange or attend the funeral;
• The cost of moving the body of the deceased within the UK (if it's being moved more than 50 miles)
• Death certificates and other documents

Aside from this, you can also claim up to £1,000 to be used towards other funeral expenses, such as Funeral Director's fees, flowers, and a coffin. 

Paying for a funeral in your lifetime

There are various options available to you when planning your own funeral. These include:

Pre-paid funeral plan

A pre-paid funeral plan allows you to pay for a funeral service in advance of your death and at the current price point, relieving you and your loved ones of any future inflation. This agreement is made between you and your chosen funeral plan provider.

This option provides you with peace of mind, as you can rest assured that your family and/or friends will have some of the stressful bereavement tasks taken away from them. In addition, it allows an individual to have some say in the details of their own funeral, which is a comfort for many.

However, some funeral costs (e.g. services held elsewhere to the cremation) cannot be covered in advance or are not in the control of the funeral plan provider. Therefore, this does not necessarily relieve your family of all financial liability upon your death. It's also important to note that pre-paid funeral plans should be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), you can check if your funeral plan provider is regulated here.

Over 50s plan

An over 50s plan/over 50s life insurance is a type of policy designed for those aged 50-80, providing them with an affordable way to leave funds for their funeral costs; a monthly premium is paid until you reach a certain age (dependent on the insurance provider) or pass away. Upon death, the whole amount is paid out to your loved ones.

This type of plan also provides peace of mind, as it guarantees that your family will receive the funds upon your death. These policies can have quite a low price point and the payout can be enough to cover the funeral costs and beyond in some circumstances.

Unfortunately, it cannot be guaranteed that the funds accumulated will cover the whole cost of the funeral, and unlike a funeral plan, this policy isn’t protected against future inflation.

Kings Court Trust is an award-winning probate and estate administration provider and can handle the process of sorting out a person’s legal and tax affairs after they have died. The family of the deceased can appoint Kings Court Trust to handle the full estate administration process, relieving them of stress and liability during a bereavement. When we are appointed to administer the estate, we can take care of the funeral costs. If the family wishes to retain control of the estate administration process, Kings Court Trust can support them in obtaining the Grant of Probate.

Click here to find out more about all of our estate solutions.

If you have any questions regarding estate administration, call our Client Services Team on 0300 303 9000 or email ClientServicesTeam@kctrust.co.uk.