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How to arrange a funeral

When someone dies, there is a lot to think about, from arranging a funeral to dealing with their estate. The person may have left details about the kind of funeral they want, or you may need to plan and arrange the funeral yourself. Either way, our guide to arranging a funeral can help answer some of the questions you may have, from planning for a funeral, through to types of service and funeral costs.

  1. Help with funeral arrangements: Find a funeral director near you
  2. What to do before arranging a funeral
  3. What type of funeral do you want to arrange?
  4. Compare funeral services
  5. How long does it take to arrange a funeral?
  6. Make the funeral arrangements and plan a fitting service
  7. Consider costs when arranging a funeral
  8. Create a funeral notice
  9. Discover what happens on the day
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Download our step by step guide to 'Arranging a Funeral'

This guide will take you through the key things to consider when arranging a fitting funeral service

1. Help with funeral arrangements: Find a funeral director

Organising a funeral can seem overwhelming, especially when dealing with grief. Choosing an experienced and professional funeral director will help ease the burden and stress of arranging a funeral. At Dignity, we spend time getting to know you, your loved one's life, and will help you create the most fitting tribute for the person who has passed away.

Our Funeral Directors are honoured to serve the local communities they are part of, with expertise and uncompromising compassion. We promise to provide unequalled support, reassurance, and attention to detail when arranging a funeral for your loved one.

Our guide will help you understand some of the key things to consider when selecting a funeral home from the cost of arranging a funeral, to things to consider when making funeral plans

2. What to do before arranging a funeral

Before your funeral director can start to make funeral arrangements, they will need the certificate of registration of death and the green certificate for burial or cremation. These will be given to you by the registrar when you register the death.

Although you can choose a funeral director, arrange for them to take the person who has died into their care and start to plan a funeral, the funeral cannot take place without these forms. Our guide to what to do when someone dies will help you to understand the first steps you need to take before you can arrange a funeral.

 

Other useful guides

4. Compare funeral services

We offer two funeral choices, allowing you to arrange a funeral which is suited to you, the wishes of your loved one and your budget. If you would like to arrange an entirely personal and bespoke commemoration, our Attended Funeral will help celebrate your loved one's life story. Alternatively, if you are looking for a simple cremation without a ceremony or service, then our Unattended Funeral may be the option for you.

5. How long does it take to arrange a funeral? 

A funeral is typically held around one or two weeks after the death. However, the length of time taken to arrange a funeral may depend on a number of factors, including funeral director and crematoria availability, religious beliefs, family circumstances and even the type of funeral you decide to organise. Let your funeral director know if you need to arrange funeral quickly or within a set time period.

The process of arranging a funeral may take longer if you need to repatriate your loved one to or from another country. Our funeral directors can help to guide you through the process of repatriation.

6. Make the funeral arrangements and plan a fitting service

A funeral is a personal event and people often have different requirements. There are a number of details that you will need to take care of, from arranging funeral transport, to choosing songs to be played during the service.

We will do everything we can to make sure the process of arranging a funeral for your loved one is as straightforward as possible, helping to plan a fitting farewell for the person who has passed away.

7. Create a Funeral Notice

Letting people know about the funeral arrangements can be quite difficult and time consuming. If you choose to arrange a funeral with us, you will be given the option of a complimentary Funeral Notice.

Our online Funeral Notices service provides clients with a simple and respectful way of sharing the details of their loved one's funeral with family and friends.

A Funeral Notice makes it quick and easy to find out when the service is taking place and where it is being held. You can also collect online donations for a special charity and provide the option for people to send flowers.

Family and friends can choose to receive notifications using their email address, making sure they are kept up-to-date if any of the funeral arrangements were to change.

Find out more about Funeral Notices.

8. Discover what happens on the day

Once you've made all of the funeral arrangements, it's important to understand what happens on the day of the funeral. If you’re unsure of what to expect, our funeral arrangers will explain everything you need to know.

We will guide you through each step, attending to your every need before, during, and after the service takes place.

Learn more about the funeral procession, funeral service, committal service, and the wake.

Find out what happens on the day of the funeral.

Hearses | Dignity

MAKE YOUR FUNERAL WISHES KNOWN

How much easier would it be to arrange your loved ones funeral if they had shared their wishes?

By documenting your own funeral wishes and sharing them with your loved ones, you can help relieve some of the uncertainty and stress of organising your funeral whilst being reassured that they will commemorate your life in the way you would have wanted.

Find a Funeral Director

Call us 24/7 on 0800 456 1047