How to find out when someone’s funeral is UK

Losing a loved one is a devastating event but the ability to say goodbye can often provide comfort at an uneasy time.

A funeral gives an opportunity to celebrate life and for attendees to pay their final respects.

But how do you find out when a funeral is being held in the UK?

Below we take you through some simple steps to help you find out when a funeral is taking place...

How do you find out if someone has died?

The immediate family of the deceased will usually be the first point of contact.

They’ll be able to provide information on when the death happened and any plans for a funeral.

If you’re estranged from the deceased and don’t have contact information for their immediate family, you can contact their wider circle of relatives or friends for information.

Alternatively, you can check the UK death announcements, (see below).

How do I find a death announcement?

Death announcements are a common way to find out about someone’s passing.

If you’re no longer in regular contact with the deceased or their loves ones, you’ll be able to find out information about their passing via a death notice.

Death announcements provide information on who has recently passed away. The information displayed often includes:

  • Name of deceased
  • Date of death
  • Age
  • Place of passing

Death announcements will also often include information about where the funeral service will be held.

So if you haven’t been informed of these details already, this is an easy way to find out where you’ll be able to pay your last respects.

But where do you find these announcements?

Newsletter death notices

Most commonly you can find death notices (or obituaries) in UK newspapers, both printed copies and online.

Local newspapers will often contain notices for those who’ve passed away in the local area but national newspapers, such as The Times and The Telegraph, also run obituaries.

While announcements printed in physical newspapers will be limited to the most recent deaths, online newspaper obituaries will have an archive of notices.

This will allow you to search for a specific person or a specific date of death if you know this information.

How do I find out someone’s funeral date?

If the details of the person’s funeral aren’t listed in their obituary, you can often find them online.

There are many websites that allow you to search for upcoming funerals by name or by city/town (such as funeral-notices.co.uk).

Some funeral care providers, such as Co-op also provide a list of all their upcoming funerals on their website.

At Reassured, we can secure you a Co-op funeral plan that covers the full cost of your funeral at a cost-effective price.

We’ll compare the different plans available to find one that meets all of your needs.

How long after death is a funeral?

If you know a friend or relative has passed away you can get an idea of when their funeral will be based on the date of their death.

Generally, a funeral is held around 2 weeks after death.

However, this can change depending on a variety of factors such as:

  • Availability of the funeral director
  • Religious beliefs
  • Personal preference
  • If an inquisition into the death is required
  • Payment

Often the main factor that will dictate how long after the death the funeral will be is how long it will take to plan the funeral.

If the deceased has left instructions, this could take a minimal amount of time.

In the event that the deceased has a funeral plan in place, funeral arrangements can be actioned with just a simple phone call.

A pre-paid funeral plan allows the policyholder to pre-arrange their funeral and lock in the arrangements at today’s prices.

If no information has been left it could take weeks for loved ones to make the arrangements.

Payment can also often become an issue that may delay the funeral. If no funds have been left to cover the cost, family members may have to come up with the funds themselves.

Funerals can also be delayed further if there’s an inquest into the death.

How to find out if someone has a funeral plan

If a loved one has recently passed away and you aren’t sure if they have a funeral plan in place or not, there are a number of ways you can find out.

Firstly, you can check to see if the deceased has left any paperwork to suggest a funeral plan has been taken out (such as payment schedules, contracts, terms and conditions etc).

You’ll then be able to contact the provider and the funeral arrangements can commence.

Secondly, the funeral planning authority has a trace a funeral plan option. Allowing to check for a funeral plan in the deceased’s name by filling out an online form.

Finding a funeral plan can help to ease the funeral planning process as all arrangements have been organised in advance.

You’ll simply need to let the funeral director know of the death and they’ll be able to advise the next steps and get the arrangements started.

A funeral plan will also relieve the family of the deceased of the financial commitment of paying for the funeral, as the plan will be pre-paid.

How can I find where a relative is buried?

If you and your loved ones are unsure where a relative is buried, there are some simple ways you can find out.

The first place to start is in your home, or relatives homes, as there may be paperwork regarding a burial plot or funeral plan.

If your relative had a funeral plan, you’ll be able to contact the provider to request information about the place of burial.

Similarly, if you find information about a burial plot, you can request more information as to the whereabouts of the place of burial.

Today there are also many online resources you can use to locate the burial place of a loved one, such as:

How do you organise a funeral?

Organising a funeral can be an emotional experience.

Add in the rising cost of funerals and it’s likely to be an expensive endeavour.

The average cost of a UK funeral is now £4,184 with the overall cost of dying reaching £9,263 - and these figures are predicted to increase year on year[1].

More often than not, the financial obligation of paying for a funeral falls to close relatives.

If the deceased has left a will, the executor will be responsible for making the arrangements.

You can start organising a funeral by contacting a funeral director. They’ll be able to talk you through the next steps.

You’ll need to provide a death certificate or in order for the planning to commence.

Read our full 9-step guide to planning a funeral.

Pre-paid funeral plans

A pre-paid funeral plan is the best way to avoid rising funeral costs.

Taking out a pre-paid funeral plan allows you to choose all of your arrangements and lock them in at today's prices.

This means, should the worst happen and you were to pass away, everything is already taken care of as per your wishes.

You’ll have the flexibility to choose to pay for your plan upfront or in affordable monthly payments - helping to protect your loved ones from the financial obligation of paying for your funeral.

Anyone, regardless of age and health, can take out a funeral plan. This is often a good alternative for those who’ve been declined for life insurance.

As previously mentioned, the FPA has a funeral plan tracker.

This means that when the time comes, any loved ones you’ve lost contact with will be able to trace your plan and find out where your funeral will be taking place to pay their last respects.

Funeral plans with Reassured start from just £19.11 per month*.

How much does a funeral cost in your area?

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This calculator uses data from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2021 and should only be used as a guide.

In summary

We hope this article has provided some useful information about how to find out when someone’s funeral is.

The easiest way to find out if a funeral is taking place is to contact the family of the deceased.

If you’re no longer in contact with their family, there are a number of resources you can use to find out information about when their funeral will be taking place.

Taking out a pre-paid funeral plan is the easiest way to guarantee that all funeral arrangements are taken care of and easily traceable.

At Reassured we can find you the most suitable plan that meets all of your needs.

And the best part is our award-winning quote service is free to use.

Simply get in touch to start your quote.

Compare Funeral Plans » Save Money

Sources:

[1] SunLife (2021), Cost of Dying Report, sunlife.co.uk/costofdying2021

*£19.11 per month pricing includes a £75 discount only available to Co-operative members and is based on a 50-year-old purchasing a Co-operative Simple Funeral Plan at £3,020 over the maximum term available of 25 years (total amount repayable £5,733.40) as of 1st March 2021

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