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 loved 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.

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. Please note, Reassured are unable to sell funeral plans. If you're looking for a funeral plan we suggest you check the FCA register to find a regulated provider.

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.

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 high cost of funerals and it’s likely to be an expensive endeavour.

The average cost of a UK funeral is now £4,141 with the overall cost of dying reaching £9,658 - 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.

Over 50 life insurance

Reassured don’t offer funeral cover. However, we can help you secure an over 50s plan which could be used to help cover your funeral costs. Acceptance is guaranteed if you’re a UK resident aged between 50 - 85.

No medical information is required, which means if you have poor health you can still secure a policy. Cover will also last for the rest of your life.

Key features of over 50s life insurance include:

  • Up to £20,000 of cover, depending on your age and budget
  • Fast application process over the phone with our award-winning UK call centres or by using our online comparison service
  • Pricing dependent on age, sum assured and smoking status
  • The pay out can be used by your loved ones to spend as they wish, such as to put toward your funeral costs, as an inheritance or to pay off debts
  • Premiums could start from as little as 20p-a-day +
Compare Over 50s Life Insurance Quotes »

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.

Sources:

[1] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/

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