To help you choose a funeral plan, find out what different funeral plans offer you, how different plan providers compare and what questions you can ask yourself to define your wishes.
There are a few stages involved in how to choose a funeral plan. To find a funeral plan that’s right for you you’ll first need to decide on the type of funeral you’d like.
Once you’ve made that important first choice, you can then research funeral providers that offer the right type of plans.
Arranging a funeral and paying for it in advance can have several benefits as long as you choose a funeral plan that’s compatible with your wishes.
To find out more about the funeral plans we offer you can get a guide sent to you by email or post.
To choose a funeral plan you'll first need to know, what is a funeral plan?
Once your plan is set up it's important to share it with your children, spouse or next of kin. Otherwise, you risk your plan not being used which is a waste of your money.
Funeral plans are available for different types of funerals. These are burial, cremation and direct cremation.
Burial is a traditional funeral option. With a burial plan, a person can be buried in a cemetery or graveyard.
After a service at the crematorium, cremated ashes are commonly buried (interred) or scattered.
Direct cremations are unattended cremations that take place without a funeral service or mourners present.
This info is for funeral plans UK. If you’re planning to move abroad in future, a funeral plan probably won’t be suitable for you.
The average price of each type of funeral varies quite a lot too which could be another consideration when making your choice.
| Burial | Cremation | Direct Cremation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £5,198+ | £3,980+ | £1,597+ |
+ The average cost of burial, cremation and direct cremation in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
You and your family can both benefit if you choose a funeral plan. You can also take out a funeral plan for someone else for the reassurance that their funeral planning will be taken care of even if you're not close by to make the arrangements.
Get the funeral you want
Once you’ve set up your funeral plan and communicated it to your loved ones you have peace of mind that your funeral will happen according to your wishes.
Take stress away from your family
Getting a funeral plan means there is less for your family to organise. One call to your funeral provider is all that's needed to start arrangements.
Pay flexibly
Get the funeral you want even if you can’t afford to pay for it all in one go with the option to pay monthly over a year or longer.
Protect yourself from rising costs
Funeral costs have more than doubled since 2004.++ Once you have your plan, the amount you pay is fixed, and even if prices rise, you won't have to pay a penny more.
Direct cremation funeral plans or plans for small intimate cremations also offer additional benefits.
++ Funeral costs were £1,835 in 2004 and £4,285 in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Doing your due diligence on the company you would like to take out a plan with is worth your time. Here are the top three things to check before you go ahead with a provider.
We specialise in direct cremations and intimate cremations. Our funeral plan comparison page lets you easily compare funeral plans and services between us and other providers.
It’s worth noting that not all funeral plan providers carry out the funeral themselves. Instead, they act as a middleman between you and one of their funeral director partners.
If you’d like the people you’ve been speaking to be the same people who carry out the funeral, check this is the case.
At Distinct Cremations, we collect the deceased, care for them in our own professional mortuary, carry out the cremation and scatter the ashes in our garden of remembrance or deliver the ashes back by hand.
How our funerals workOur Direct Cremation Plan offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to a traditional burial or cremation. If you like the idea having a unique memorial, but would still like loved ones present at the cremation itself we also have our Funeral Service Plan.
Choose between our services or for additional pricing information and a full list of our optional extras, please see our price list.
Our Direct Cremation Plan is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony.
With our Direct Cremation Plan, the cremation takes place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed.
Our Funeral Service Plan offers an affordable funeral for those looking for simplicity and to be surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
With our Funeral Service Plan, you have the choice of a 30 or a 60 minute service. This can be family-led or led by a professional celebrant. The choice is yours.
Here are some aspects to consider when you're ready to choose a funeral plan so you can find the plan most suited to you.
If you've decided that you'd like a direct cremation, you may like to consider the below to help you make your choice of cremation only plans.
As well as funeral plans, there are other later-life financial planning options you may like to compare including life insurance and over 50s life cover.
Continue your research to help you choose a funeral plan. Alternatively, if you're expecting a death in the near future, we can support you in arranging the funeral at the time of need.
Choosing a funeral plan can be a big decision so knowing what happens to your money once you take out a plan might help you with your choice.
See how plans are kept safe
Get to know the different payment options available when you take out a funeral plan to see if paying upfront or in monthly instalments would suit you.
How to pay for a funeral in advance
As well as providing funeral plans we also carry out both simple cremation funerals and unattended direct cremations from just £1,350.
View our cremation servicesWe offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.
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Over 74,000 cremations a year
Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 74,000 cremations in 2024.
