How long can you delay a funeral UK?

1. A funeral service is usually held within two weeks of someone passing, but it’s not uncommon for a funeral to take place within three or four weeks
2. Embalming may be necessary, particularly if you wish to visit your loved one at the chapel of rest
3. Embalming or refrigeration at the mortuary can help to preserve your loved one for some time but can’t prevent nature from taking its course eventually
4. It’s possible to delay a funeral service indefinitely but a cremation or burial shouldn’t be delayed for more than six weeks after someone dies
5. A direct cremation or burial excludes a ceremony, which saves money on traditional funeral elements and allows you to hold a memorial service at a later date

• You need more time to make the appropriate arrangements. Whether that’s due to emotional, financial, or logistical reasons
• Close family and friends aren’t living close by and they need time to travel to the service
• You need to ensure that the funeral doesn’t coincide with another special event such as a wedding, christening, birthday, holiday or another funeral
• Your loved one passed away overseas and they need to be repatriated to the UK before the funeral
• Family members can’t agree on funeral arrangements, or it’s unclear who’s responsible for organising and paying for the funeral. See who has the right to make decisions about your funeral for information

Some reasons why a traditional funeral service may seem unsuitable:

• Relatives are too elderly or unwell to undertake funeral planning or to attend a funeral
• There’s very few relatives or close friends. Or maybe the family are estranged, live abroad or don’t keep in regular touch
• There’s no money to pay for the funeral, either left behind in the estate or as a funeral plan or life insurance policy

What you can do instead of a traditional funeral with everyone present:

• Have an unattended cremation or burial (known as direct cremation or direct burial). Once the ashes have been returned you can then hold a small memorial service at home or in a local venue, or you may choose a private location to scatter the ashes. After a direct burial, people can visit the graveside to pay their respects within their own time. Or, you could have a personal ceremony here. You may choose to plant a memorial tree instead of having a headstone
• Have a virtual funeral arranged through the funeral director. You can have an attended funeral service (or even an unattended cremation or burial service led by a minister) and have this webcast live (or recorded and sent to you). The impact of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions for funeral gatherings has meant that recording equipment at crematoriums and places of worship are now commonplace
• Have a public health funeral. This is also known as a ‘Pauper’s funeral’. If you have difficulty getting in touch with the immediate family of the deceased, there’s no Will and there’s no money to pay for the funeral, then the local council can step in to take over the responsibility. Pauper’s funerals are very basic but provide a dignified send-off that family members can attend to say their goodbyes.
• Get help with funeral costs. The government can help with funeral costs in some circumstances. The Funeral Expenses Payment is available to people on certain welfare benefits/tax credits and is designed to cover key funeral expenses

How much will it cost to delay a funeral?

If you have chosen to delay a funeral, then you should speak with your funeral director regarding additional charges for keeping your loved one in their care.

The cost of your funeral services package may cover these types of circumstances. Especially if a funeral needs to be delayed for reasons beyond your control.

When can you hold a funeral?

The most common time to hold a funeral is around midday during the week.

Weekend and bank holiday services tend to cost more money and may not be possible with some funeral directors. Saturday morning is the most popular time for a weekend funeral.

Early morning weekday slots are the most affordable, but may not be convenient for everyone to attend.

How long after death can you have a viewing?

Family viewing at the chapel of rest usually takes place a few days after death. This allows enough time for the funeral director to prepare and dress the deceased beforehand.

If the funeral is delayed, then you may need to delay the viewing as well. This is possible but the funeral director will probably recommend that the body is embalmed for preservation.

How long does embalming last?

Embalming simply slows down the changes a body goes through after death.

How long it lasts depends on the condition of the body prior to embalming as well as the strength of embalming fluid. It also depends on where the body is held afterwards.

This means the lasting effects of embalming is largely unknown, but it could be from one week to many months.

How long can a body stay in the mortuary?

Usually, a body can stay in the mortuary at the funeral home or hospital for as long as needed before the funeral.

Cold temperatures in the mortuary help to preserve a body but like with embalming, it won’t stop nature from taking its course eventually.

How long can a body be refrigerated?

A body can be refrigerated for three to four weeks, but if you need to delay the funeral then it can remain there a little longer.

If the body is embalmed, then there’s no need for refrigeration.