The cost of a funeral
1 May 2008
No-one wants to watch the pennies at a time like this, but unless you do the costs can run away with you.
There are so many things to consider, so many types of funerals, so many ways to pay that it’s almost impossible to fix upon a given cost. But we’ll try…
The basic costs
There are a number of key components and each of these carries a cost:
- A hearse or carriage
- Cars for the immediate family
- Cost of the service or ceremony
- Flowers for the church or other place of worship
- Burial or cremation
- Grave and headstone
- The wake
Clearly costs will be influenced by the numbers of people who attend and is dependent on social, cultural and religious traditions. But as a rule of thumb you should budget somewhere in the region of £3,000.
Most people choose to hand at least some of the organisation of the funeral over to a Funeral Director. You can find one at www.nafd.org.uk and www.saif.org.uk
In addition, you can find out the cost of burial fees from your own local authority http://local.direct.gov.uk
Cultural influences and traditions
Different cultures and religions observe death in different ways and this may determine:
- when and where the funeral takes place
- whether burial or cremation is favoured
- how the ceremony should proceed
- who should manage and direct affairs
Even if you hold no particular beliefs, it is likely that your family, friends and wider community do, so the majority of people choose a religious form of ceremony which follows their cultural traditions.
You may even need to consider repatriation for someone who has lived in the UK for many years but wants to taken back to their home country when they die.
Be aware that the costs of repatriation can be very high.
In any event, your cultural traditions will influence the choice of Funeral Director. Where religion plays a significant role in your life, you or your religious leader usually know the best qualified Funeral Directors to choose from.
Choosing a Funeral Director
Many people choose their Funeral Director based on personal recommendation. But it is important that you are comfortable with the charges and clear about the services they provide, so don't be afraid to discuss this with them.
If you want to investigate the options for yourself you should contact the National Association of Funeral Directors at www.nafd.org.uk . Their members have to adhere to a strict code of practice providing you with all the information you need, including a written quotation that explains the costs.
In addition to the fees they charge, there are disbursements – essentially charges they collect on behalf others – and include:
- doctor's certificate
- a minister or celebrant to conduct the service
- newspaper announcements
- flowers and tributes
- crematorium and burial fees
- cost of memorials
Types of funeral
There are few restrictions in the UK as to how you manage a funeral. The only requirement is that the death is certified, registered and the body properly taken care of - either by burial or cremation.
In recent years there has been a growth in less traditional funerals. Environmentally friendly ideas are increasingly influencing the way things are done.
One of the most popular alternatives to traditional burials in graveyards is where the body is buried in woodland or nature reserve burial grounds. Some choose to be buried at home. A few adventurers are even sending their ashes into space.
If you are planning to bury or cremate a body outside a cemetery or crematorium, you should consult both the Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk and the local council environmental health department.
Like most alternative lifestyle choices costs will generally be higher.
How to pay for a funeral
Funeral costs can be paid out of a wide range of sources depending on family circumstances:
- Bank accounts
- Pre-paid funeral plans
- Life assurance and pension plans
- In cases of hardship
Bank accounts
When somebody dies the bank is duty bound to protect their assets and will freeze their account(s) until the Probate process has been undertaken – remember this can take up to a year.
However, the main banks and building societies usually release funds to pay for funeral costs without having yet been granted Probate. Where they do so, they will pay the money straight to the Funeral Director on receipt of their invoice.
Many married couples will set up a joint account to ensure that the surviving partner has access to money.
Failing that, family and friends can sometimes be relied on to pay the costs and then recover the money from the Estate later on.
Link into the basics - Probate
Pre-paid funeral plans
Pre-paid funeral plans are an increasingly popular way of managing the stress of a funeral, which:
- allow you to plan the service and ceremony in advance
- take the burden away from close family members
- allow you to buy the service at today's prices
But you should note that you may not be able to get all the options you want in the future. You will almost certainly be able to opt for cremation, but you may not be able to book that burial plot on the top of the hill surrounded by cypress trees 20 years into the future.
A list of Registered Funeral Plan Providers can be obtained from the Funeral Planning Authority at www.funeralplanningauthority.com
You and your money does not give advice so if you are considering a pre-paid funeral plan you should seek independent financial advice
Life assurance and pension plans
In recent years, life and pensions companies have greatly improved the speed at which they react to events.
Whereas the money may not arrive in time to pay for the funeral itself, once you have ascertained that it is due, you and your family can be confident that it is safe to borrow the money until it comes through.
Generally speaking you are looking at a one to three month timeframe.
Financial difficulty
If it appears that the deceased doesn't have the money to pay for a funeral, you may be eligible for a Social Fund Funeral payment. To find out more, visit www.dwp.gov.uk
