Funeral planning guides

Since September 2021 UK funeral directors must publish a standardised fee list on their website and in their branch, so you can compare the same headings across providers.

The FTC Funeral Rule gives you the right to an itemised General Price List to keep when you visit a funeral home, fee information by phone, and the right to buy only the goods and services you want.

Direct cremation means cremation with no service and no viewing, while burial means a coffin placed in a grave; the right choice comes down to faith, family wishes and what each local provider actually offers.

Ask every provider for the same four things — its written fee list, what is included, what is not, and who does the work — then compare the answers line by line.

Paying in advance can fix today's figure for the director's own services, but third-party payments and the safety of your money depend on the plan type and the country you are in.

A good funeral fee list shows each item on its own line with a figure next to it, separates the director's own fees from third-party payments, and names what is not included.