make your free funeral plan

this funeral plan template covers:

• your details 

• whether you have a will in place and, if so, where it is stored 

• your next of kin 

• details to help your loved ones register your death 

• who you would like to arrange your funeral (ie a friend or family member or a funeral director) 

• any pre-paid funeral arrangements that are already in place 

• whether you’d like to donate your organs 

• whether your body should be embalmed for viewing 

• whether you want to be cremated or buried 

• how you’d like to be cremated or buried and where

• what sort of burial marker, if any, you would like placed on your burial place 

• what type of funeral service you’d like, if any, and any specific wishes for the service 

• if a reception should be held after your funeral and any specific wishes for the reception 

• your obituary 

• certain biographical information your loved ones may need for your funeral

for more information on the different aspects of a funeral plan, read making plans for your funeral.

funeral plans are not essential. however, by making a funeral plan, you can clearly set out your wishes in relation to your funeral. if you have any specific requests regarding your funeral, it is a good idea to record them in writing to ensure that they are known and, where possible, honoured. 

funeral plans can also help support your loved ones. planning a loved one's funeral can be emotionally challenging and, by making a funeral plan in advance, you allow your loved ones to focus on grieving and remembering you. it can also help reduce the stress your loved ones are under, as they have clear instructions for your funeral that they can follow. 

for more information, read making plans for your funeral.

funeral plans are not legally binding. this includes any wishes you wishes for your funeral or burial that you set out in a last will and testament. this is because your body does not form part of your estate (ie all of your belongings, including your home, car and jewellery), which is protected under the law. as a result, while a funeral plan outlines how you would like your funeral and/or burial to be handled, this does not need to be followed by your loved ones after your death.  nevertheless, having a funeral plan in place helps you communicate your wishes and supports your loved ones after your death. 

despite not being legally binding, you should sign your funeral plan in the presence of a witness. doing this ensures that the correct party (ie you) made the document and helps in case there are any questions about the signing of the funeral plan and the wishes contained within it.

pre-paid funeral plans are any funeral plans you make before your death. these will typically be entered into with a funeral provider (eg a specific funeral director or funeral home). examples of pre-paid funeral plans include: 

• purchasing a coffin or urn in advance 

• paying for a burial plot or columbarium niche in advance

• making pre-paid arrangements for your funeral and/or funeral service 

this funeral plan template is not a pre-paid funeral plan. pre-paid funeral plans are the actual plans you make with the funeral provider. since june 2022, there’s been a requirement that providers of such pre-paid plans must be registered with the financial conduct authority (fca). for more information, read money helper’s guidance. 

any references to pre-paid funeral plans and arrangements in this funeral plan template refer to arrangements you have made (and paid for) with an fca-registered provider.

you can choose who should plan your funeral. this will often be a loved one (eg a surviving spouse or your child) or a funeral director. 

if you have a last will and testament, the person arranging your funeral should either be your executor (ie the person who will carry out the administrative duties related to your last will and testament) or another person (your executor must agree to these arrangements). 

regardless of who should arrange your funeral, it is important that you make them aware of your wishes. for example, by providing them with a copy of your funeral plan and discussing your wishes with them in advance.

after your passing, your loved ones will have to register your death. the information you need will depend on a variety of factors, including: 

• where the deceased died (eg in england or wales, scotland or abroad) 

• whether the deceased died at home, in a hospital or elsewhere

• whether the death was unexpected 

the types of things your loved ones may need to register your death include: 

• your birth certificate

• your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if relevant) 

• your nhs number or nhs medical card 

• proof of your address (eg a utility bill) 

• whether you were receiving a state pension or any other benefits

this funeral plan template asks you to provide your nhs number and details of where your birth certificate and, where applicable, your marriage or civil partnership certificate can be found.

whether you want to be an organ donor or not is a personal decision for you to make. be aware that the laws regarding organ donation differ across the uk. 

in england, most adults are considered to be organ donors unless they have registered a decision not to be an organ donor. in wales, ‘deemed consent’ applies. this means that most adults are deemed to be organ donors unless they have registered a decision to the contrary. in scotland, ‘deemed authorisation’ applies. this means that most adults will be treated as organ donors unless they have confirmed otherwise. 

in essence, this means that in england, wales and scotland you are presumed to be an organ donor unless you have specified otherwise. this means that, if you don’t want to donate your organs after your death, you should opt out of organ donation by recording this on the nhs organ donor register. 

even if you want to donate your organs, it is a good idea to register this decision on the nhs organ donor register to provide clear evidence of your wishes.

for more information, read the nhs’ guidance.

whether to be buried or cremated is a personal decision for you to make, taking into account a variety of factors including cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, personal beliefs, cost considerations and environmental impact. consider speaking to a funeral provider if you’re unsure whether you wish to be buried or cremated. 

burials involve placing the deceased's body in a coffin/casket and burying it in a cemetery. cremations involve reducing a deceased's body to ashes. in many ways, cremations are more flexible than burials as the ashes are returned to the deceased’s family who can distribute or otherwise handle the ashes (eg by burning them, scattering them or turning them into a memorial ring).

where to be buried is a personal decision based on your beliefs and wishes. places where you can be buried include: 

• in churchyards or cemeteries - these are often considered traditional places of burial and offer a permanent memorial in a designated grave  

• in family plots or mausoleums - these burial sites allow you to be buried alongside your family members

• in natural or woodland burial sites - here your body is laid to rest in nature, often without a traditional coffin or headstone. these are, therefore, considered more eco-friendly burial sites 

• at sea - while burials at sea were traditionally reserved for members of the royal navy, this is now open to anyone and is often chosen if the deceased had a strong connection to the sea. burials at sea involve a special coffin being lowered into the sea and require special licences from the marine management organisation (mmo), alongside other stringent requirements

how your ashes should be handled is a personal decision for you to make, based on your beliefs and wishes. examples of ways in which your ashes can be handled include being: 

• buried - for example, in a cemetery or natural burial site

• placed in a columbarium niche - this is a room or building with niches for urns to be stored in

• scattered - in the uk, ashes can typically be scattered anywhere as long as permission from the landowner is obtained. permission is not needed if the person scattering the ashes owns the land or if ashes are being scattered over water

• placed in an urn and kept by loved ones 

• turned into a memorial ring

you do not need to have a funeral service. however, many people choose to have a (religious or civil) funeral service as a way to honour and remember the deceased, provide closure for loved ones, and honour the deceased’s life. 

when considering whether to request a funeral service, you should consider your own beliefs and preferences. your funeral plan can set out specific wishes for your funeral service, including who should attend (eg only your close family if you want a private goodbye). 

ultimately, the decision of whether to have a funeral service is a deeply personal one and should be made based on what feels right for you and your loved ones. 

if you choose not to have a funeral service and wish to be buried or cremated directly without a service, this is known as a direct burial or direct cremation.

for more information, read making plans for your funeral.

traditionally, wakes were held before a funeral and involved the deceased’s loved ones keeping watch over the deceased’s body. however, the terms ‘wakes’ and ‘reception’ are now often used interchangeably and refer to a gathering of family members and friends to remember the deceased. unlike funeral services, which tend to be led by a religious figure or other celebrant, wakes/receptions are a more casual gathering of mourners.

as with funeral services, the decision to have a wake or reception is a personal decision for you to make based on what feels right for you and your loved ones.

for more information, read making plans for your funeral.