How do i find out when a
funeral is being held 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...

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?

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.

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.

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:

• National Burial Index for England & Wales
• Family History Daily

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 £19.18 per month ^{^} .

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