Funeral Planning Checklist UK

The Timeline: How Long Between Death and Funeral

Most funerals in the UK take place seven to fourteen days after the death. This window gives enough time to register the death, obtain the green form (or the Scottish Form 14), choose a funeral director, book the church or crematorium, and notify family members who need to travel.

The registration deadline is the hard constraint: in England and Wales, register within five days of Medical Examiner confirmation; in Northern Ireland, within five days of the death unless the coroner is involved; and in Scotland, within eight days. Once you have registered and received the burial or cremation certificate, the funeral can be scheduled for any date — there is no upper time limit, though costs increase if the funeral director needs to hold the body for an extended period.

Coroner involvement stretches the timeline. A routine post-mortem can add days. An inquest can delay things further, though the coroner may release the body before the inquest concludes.

Days 1–2: Immediate Steps

Get the death verified. A doctor or qualified nurse confirms that death has occurred. For an expected death at home, call the GP surgery. For an unexpected death, call 999.

Notify the Medical Examiner. In England and Wales, the attending doctor sends the APMCCD to the ME office. An ME Officer will phone the next of kin for a fifteen- to thirty-minute conversation about the cause of death.

Contact a funeral director. You do not need to choose immediately, but making initial contact early gives you time to compare quotes. Ask for an itemised estimate, not a package price. Under CMA rules, every funeral director must display a Standardised Price List.

Locate essential documents. The deceased's will (if one exists), birth certificate, marriage certificate, NHS medical card, passport, and any pre-paid funeral plan documentation. The executor named in the will has legal authority over the funeral arrangements.

Notify close family and the church. If the deceased was part of a parish community, the minister will want to know promptly — both to offer pastoral care and to begin planning the service.

Days 2–5: Registration and Booking

Register the death. Book an appointment at the local Register Office. Bring the medical certificate, the deceased's personal details, and your own identification. The registrar issues the green form, which releases the body for burial or cremation. In England and Wales, you can purchase certified copies of the death certificate at this appointment (£12.50 each) — order several, as banks, insurers, and pension providers all need one.

Use Tell Us Once. Available at registration, this service notifies DWP, HMRC, the Passport Office, DVLA, council tax, and the state pension in a single call. It saves hours of individual phone calls.

Book the church and/or crematorium. If the funeral will include a church service followed by cremation, you need two bookings: the church (via the minister) and the crematorium (via the funeral director). Crematorium slots fill quickly, especially at popular times — mid-morning and early afternoon on weekdays are busiest.

Meet the minister. The clergy will want to discuss the service: readings, hymns, whether there will be a eulogy, and who will deliver it. Bring a list of preferences and any notes the deceased left about their wishes.

Days 5–10: Service Planning

Finalise the order of service. Decide on the structure: how many hymns, which readings, who speaks and for how long. If using Common Worship, the minister will walk you through the options. Print the order of service booklet — most funeral directors can arrange printing, or a local copy shop will do it for less.

Arrange flowers and transport. Decide whether the coffin will carry a floral spray, whether mourners should send flowers or give to a nominated charity, and how many vehicles you need. A hearse plus one following car is standard; additional cars are optional.

Write the eulogy. If a family member is delivering a tribute, it should run three to five minutes — long enough to be meaningful, short enough to hold a grieving room's attention. Write it out in full rather than relying on notes.

Send the funeral notice. A newspaper announcement, an email to the extended network, or both. Include the date, time, venue, dress code (if relevant), and whether the wake is open to all or family only.

Apply for financial help if eligible. The DWP's Funeral Expenses Payment (form SF200) is available to people receiving qualifying benefits in England or Wales; Scotland uses Funeral Support Payment, and Northern Ireland has its own process. Apply as soon as possible — ask the funeral director whether they can wait for the payment to be processed.

The Day Itself

Allow extra time. Arrive at the church or crematorium at least fifteen minutes before the slot. The funeral director manages the logistics, but the family should be settled before the congregation arrives.

Designate a point person. Someone who is not delivering the eulogy or greeting arrivals at the church door should manage the practical details: confirming the wake venue is ready, ensuring the flowers are in place, and handling any last-minute questions from the funeral director.

After the service. The wake (or "funeral tea") is the family's event — there are no rules about where or how to hold it. A church hall, a pub, the family home, or a restaurant all work. Keep it simple if that is what you can manage.

Our Protestant Funeral UK guide expands this checklist into a complete day-by-day timeline with printable worksheets for comparing funeral director quotes, tracking statutory fees, and preparing for the clergy meeting.