You choose the plan that suits you, online, over the phone or with your local funeral director, and record the wishes that matter to you, from readings and music to burial or cremation. You then pay for it, either in full or by instalments, and the money goes into an independent trust.

Once your plan is set up we send you confirmation, followed by a planholder pack with everything your family will need, including a copy to pass on to them. When the time comes, one phone call to your nominated funeral director is all it takes. They arrange everything your plan covers, and there is nothing more to pay for those services, however much funeral costs have risen in the meantime.

No one has to have a funeral plan, and it isn't the right choice for everyone. It helps with three things in particular: it fixes the cost of the services your plan covers at today's price, it records what you want so your family isn't left guessing, and it means they don't have to find several thousand pounds at short notice.

Savings and life insurance can help with the cost, but neither guarantees to cover a funeral, and neither will arrange one. If what you want is a cash sum your family can use freely, another product may suit you better. If you want the funeral itself taken care of, a plan gives you more certainty. We're happy to talk it through either way.

Yes. Wishes change, and your plan can change with them. Just call, email or write to us and we'll update your plan.

If you decide the plan isn't for you, you have a 30-day cooling-off period from the date you take it out, and we'll refund everything you've paid. After those 30 days you can still cancel, but a £249 cancellation fee is deducted and the balance refunded to you.

Your family makes one phone call to your nominated funeral director, and we take it from there. They'll bring your loved one into our care, arrange everything your plan covers, and follow the wishes you recorded.

If you haven't finished paying your instalments when you die, we cover the outstanding balance. Your family has nothing more to pay for the services included in your plan.

If you die abroad, your family will need to arrange repatriation, which is usually covered by travel insurance. Once your loved one is back in the UK, your plan takes over as normal.

Yes. You can pay for your plan in full, or spread the cost over up to five years, as long as the payments are complete by your 85th birthday.

There are no additional administration fees for paying in instalments, so spreading the cost doesn't make your plan more expensive. We'll set out exactly what you'd pay each month before you commit to anything.

Yes. You can take out a plan for a partner, a parent or anyone else aged 18 or over. The plan is arranged in their name and covers their funeral, but you can be the one who pays for it.

Where you can, it's worth talking it through with them first, so the wishes recorded on the plan are genuinely theirs. You'll need their personal details to set it up. If that conversation isn't possible, we can still help you put a plan in place.

The money you pay for your plan goes into The UK Funerals (2022) Trust, an independent trust managed separately from Dignity. It is ring-fenced, overseen by trustees, and cannot be used to run our business. Where the trust needs topping up to stay fully funded, we add to it.

Dignity Funerals Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 967130. Funeral plans are also covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects you if we were ever unable to meet our obligations.