What to do if the deceased had a funeral plan
A funeral plan is a funeral paid for in advance. The person who died chose the funeral they wanted and paid for it, in a lump sum or by instalments, so that much of the cost is already settled. You need to find the plan, understand what it covers, and decide how to use it.
How do I check if they had a plan?
There is no single national register of funeral plans, so you may have to look in a few places:
- Their paperwork. The plan documents are often kept with the will or other important papers.
- Their bank statements. Look for a direct debit or a past payment to a funeral provider. Instalment plans show up as regular payments.
- Family and friends. Someone may know a plan was bought, or which firm sold it.
- Local funeral directors. A nearby funeral director may hold the plan in the person's name.
If you suspect a plan but cannot find it, use the funeral plan tracing service run by the National Association of Funeral Plan Providers (NAFPP) at nafpp.org/find-my-plan. You fill in one form and it contacts the registered providers; if one holds a plan, they contact you.
One thing to watch: what looks like a funeral plan is sometimes an Over-50s life insurance policy instead. These pay out a cash sum rather than arranging a funeral, and the amount is often far less than a funeral costs.
What should I do first?
Contact the plan provider before you book anything and have the plan documents and the death certificate ready. The plan may name a particular funeral director, and using a different one can add cost. The provider will tell you what the plan covers and who is meant to carry out the funeral.
What if another funeral director has already collected the body?
This often happens, especially if a death is sudden and the family calls the nearest funeral director straight away, before anyone knows a plan exists.
It usually isn't a problem. Contact the plan provider as soon as you can. The body can normally be transferred to the funeral director named in the plan, or the provider may agree to work with the one already involved.
Can I change the funeral from what the plan says?
Within limits, yes. In England and Wales the deceased's funeral wishes are not legally binding. The executor named in the will, or the next of kin if there is no will, has the legal right to decide how the funeral is carried out. They are expected to respect the deceased's wishes, but they are not bound to follow them.
The plan itself is different. It is a paid-for contract for specific services, so while you can choose a different funeral, you may not get the full value of what was bought, and extras will be charged separately. In practice most families keep close to the plan, to honour the deceased's wishes and to avoid losing what was paid.
What does direct cremation mean?
A direct cremation is a cremation with no funeral service and no mourners present. The body is collected, cremated, and the ashes are returned to the family, who can hold their own memorial later if they wish. It is the simplest and cheapest option, often under £2,000, against an average cremation funeral of £3,500.
Many funeral plans are sold as direct cremation plans, so check whether that is the case. If it is, and the family wants a service with mourners, that can usually be arranged separately, but with additional cost.
Can the plan be cancelled after death?
You are not obliged to use the plan. It can be cancelled, and the money may be refundable to the estate, but how much comes back depends on the plan's terms. A cancellation fee often applies, and some plans return less than what was paid in. Ask the provider for the cancellation terms in writing before deciding, and weigh any refund against what a funeral would otherwise cost.
A note on what the plan may not cover
Even when a plan pays out, it may not cover everything. Most plans pay the funeral director's own fees in full, but the third-party costs, known as disbursements, are treated differently. These are the cremation or burial fee, the minister's or celebrant's fee, and the doctor's fee.
A guaranteed plan covers these in full. A contribution plan pays only a fixed amount, and if the final cost is higher then the family must pay the difference. The plan documents will say which type it is.