Arranging a funeral

Arranging a funeral can be one of the most difficult things anyone can do in their lives, that's why at Distinct Cremations we do everything we possibly can to make things as stress-free as possible.

Help and guidance for arranging a funeral

We understand how stressful arranging a funeral can be, so below we've collected a few resources and guides to give you an idea of what to expect from arranging a funeral and what the process will look like.

We'll detail the funeral documents you need to get the process started, we'll look at the different types of funerals on offer and we'll answer some frequently asked questions such as how long after a death is a funeral?

And if there's any information you can't find or you have a query of any kind, you can call our caring customer service specialists on 01543 211 997 who'll be able to help with any questions you may have.

Arranging a funeral in the UK

Here are our guides, articles and helpful information to make the process of arranging a funeral that bit easier.

Charing Crematorium Main Building

Who can arrange a funeral?

Funerals are often arranged at the time of need by family and friends when their loved one has died or is close to dying. However, in recent years it has become a lot more common for people to pay for a funeral themselves by taking out a prepaid funeral plan which provides peace of mind knowing that their funeral costs are covered when the time comes.

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Arranging for a loved one

The next of kin in most cases has the responsibility of arranging a funeral once a loved one has died, though the deceased may have left the name of an executor in the will. If an executor has been named, then they will be responsible for arranging the funeral.

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Planning for yourself

A funeral can be planned in advance with a prepaid funeral plan. With a funeral plan, you can detail exactly what you want from your own funeral and name an executor who will make the arrangements and call the funeral company when the time comes.

Get in touch with us today

Whether you're wanting to arrange a funeral today, interested in funeral plans, or looking for something else, our customer service specialists are here for you 24/7 to answer any questions you may have.

Get in touch today or call us on 01543 211997.
Get in touch with us today

What do you need to arrange a funeral?

You can call a funeral provider at any time to get funeral arrangements in place if a loved one has died or is near to death, but before a funeral can take place there are a number of formalities that need to be completed such as registering the death and completing legal paperwork. Below are a few guides to let you know what needs to be done before a funeral can go ahead.

Register the death

registering a death

There are legal formalities that need to be completed shortly after someone dies. It may be the last thing you want to be doing at a time of mourning, but they're a necessary step before you can make any funeral arrangements.

How to register a death

Funeral documents

Woman sitting on sofa smiling while reading documents

There are a number of documents that need to be completed before a funeral can take place including three different cremation forms. Our article below will detail which forms you need to complete and how our team can help.

The required funeral documents

Choosing a provider

compare funeral plans

Choosing a funeral provider is never easy, so we've created a table comparing the best funeral providers' key features and inclusions to help you compare, contrast and choose the right funeral provider for you.

Compare funeral providers

What funeral options do you have?

Funerals no longer have to be traditional affairs. In 2023, you and your loved ones have the opportunity to say goodbye in whichever way you please by choosing a type of funeral that suits your family. Traditional funerals remain the most common option, but there are now more fuss-free, cheaper options available such as simple cremations or direct cremations which have risen sharply in popularity in recent years.

Traditional cremation

Traditional cremation

Inclusive of a service and is open to as many people as the crematorium can hold. A procession with hearses and limousines may be included depending on the family's wishes.

Traditional burial

Traditional Burial

Includes a service, a ceremony, mourners and a procession depending on the family's choice. Differs from a cremation as the deceased is placed in the ground at a gravesite with a headstone.

Simple funeral

Simple Cremation

A simple funeral is a farewell stripped back to the essentials, free of tradition, a procession, pomp and ceremony. Our simple funerals can be unattended or have 20 mourners present.

Arranging a funeral in advance

If you're looking at arranging a funeral in advance for yourself or you're anticipating a death in the medium to long term, you may be interested in a funeral plan.

With a funeral plan you can get all the funeral arrangements in place well in advance giving you peace of mind knowing that when the time comes, all you or your family need to do is give us a call and we'll take care of all the arrangements.

Find our services below or alternatively you can view our price list or our CMA standardised price list.

Unattended Direct Cremation Plan

From £1,595 or £18.15* per month

Our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony.

With our plan, the cremation takes place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed.

View our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan * Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,273 and includes administration fees..

Private Cremation Plan

From £2,145 or £25.87** per month

Our Private Cremation Plan offers a private funeral where the number of people attending is limited, this could include a small gathering of friends and family.

With our Private Cremation Plan, you can have up to 20 people attending the funeral and a 20 minute service, making this a simple and affordable option.

View our Private Cremation Plan ** Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £3,199.40 and includes administration fees.

Other helpful resources

Below are a few more resources that may help when it comes to arranging a funeral.

Arrange a funeral

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At Distinct Cremations, we provide no fuss funerals which are simple to arrange, affordable and delivered with care, dignity and respect. Prices start from just £995 if you need to arrange a funeral today.

Arrange a funeral

Funeral costs

Cremation costs

If you’re arranging the funeral of a loved one, you’ll need to know exactly how much a funeral costs so that you can make the appropriate arrangements. These can differ depending on a number of factors.

Funeral costs

Plan a memorial service

Group toasting a friend's memory

Planning a memorial service isn't always straightforward. In our guide, we'll provide you with practical information on how to organise a memorial service whether you're pre-planning for yourself or for a loved one close to your heart.

Planning a memorial service

One of the UK’s best value direct cremation services, delivered with a caring and compassionate heart

Not only are our funerals carried out with love and care, but we also offer one of the UK’s best value services.

From your very first phone call, right through to the hand delivery of the ashes, you can rest assured that you will be in the most caring and attentive hands with Distinct Cremations.

My caring team are here 24/7 to support you through the most difficult of times

Sarah Anderson

Customer Service Manager

lauren customer service
Sarah Anderson
steven customer service

We offer the highest level of support, but don't take our word for it

Below are a selection of reviews from those who have arranged a funeral or purchased a funeral plan through Distinct Cremations.

"I can't recommend Distinct Cremations enough. I felt like my hand was held throughout the entire process. A wonderful team. Look no further than Distinct Cremations, first class! Credit to Grace J and colleagues. Thank you."

"When you receive news of a loved family member in time of need or passing, the worries of many things arise. Consider contacting Distinct Cremations. My personal experience has been positive, in that their professional support had helped to provide a dignified service & cremation for the family to attend. They explained clearly what was available & when it would be able at the time of contact & positive communication throughout. They were recommended I've chosen to say thank you."

"Great service and easy to fill in forms. Everything you need to take care of my unattended funeral leaving the family to celebrate my life with everything taken care of by Distinct Cremations."

"The help and support I received was phenomenal. In both cases, my friends were fetched from where they were and it was all sorted by Distinct Cremations personnel themselves. I can only say that I have just paid for my own cremation too and feel very relieved that it would make things so much easier for my children that live all over the world. I can really recommend making a timely decision about what happens after you die. This will bring immense peace of mind to yourself and your loved ones that stay behind."

"This was our first experience of using a direct cremation service and we weren't sure what to expect. We were guided through the process by our own personal assistant who explained our options. Once we had made a decision on the type of service we wanted she advised us what we needed to do at every step of the way. She kept in regular contact to make sure we were happy and to answer any questions we had. The end-to-end service was very efficient and clearly explained by sensitive staff who were always available to answer any questions. We would highly recommend Distinct Cremations."

“We were very impressed with the service provided by Distinct Cremations from start to finish. All the people who dealt with Dad's cremation were kind and compassionate, particularly Alice who took our initial call, and Stephen who handled things from then on. They kept us informed about developments every step of the way and made us feel welcome to ask if ever we had any queries. The whole process was carried out in a professional yet sympathetic way. Would definitely recommend these people if you are considering a direct cremation for your loved one.”

“Exceptional service, everything was taken care of by kind and considerate staff making a very difficult time easier to bear by removing the stress of organising and planning a funeral. We can now plan how to celebrate my father's life together as a family and at a time of our choosing. Everything was taken care of with the staff involved keeping me informed at every stage, they made me feel that Dad was being cared for.”

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