Making your own final arrangements is one of the kindest, most responsible acts you can do for your loved ones. While the conversation may feel uncomfortable at first, setting out your wishes ensures clarity, eases emotional burden, and protects your family from difficult decisions during an already overwhelming time.
It also provides something we all quietly crave: peace of mind.
Why It Matters
In moments of grief, even simple tasks can feel daunting. By putting your funeral plans in place early — and reviewing your estate plan as a whole — you give your family the freedom to focus on healing, not logistics.
Whether you opt for a full-service funeral, a memorial in the park, or a quiet cremation with no ceremony at all, having your preferences clearly documented is a true act of care.
Contact our Private Client Solicitors in London
To speak to one of our private client team for advice, please contact us on 020 7870 2736 or complete our online enquiry form.
Prepaid and Planned: What That Means
A prepaid funeral is exactly what it sounds like: you’ve selected your funeral provider, chosen the elements you want, and either paid for everything upfront or set aside funds to cover the cost later. You can:
- Pay in full
- Spread payments across instalments
- Place funds in a funeral trust or earmark them through life insurance
Most plans cover essential services like:
- Transportation of the deceased
- Embalming or preparation of the body
- Staff and facility fees
- Casket, urn, or grave marker
- Funeral cars (hearse/service vehicle)
- Service and ceremony coordination
Locking in today’s prices also helps protect your family from future inflation — funeral costs have risen steadily over the past decade.
Types of Funeral Services
Not all funerals are the same. Your choices can reflect personal, cultural, religious, or environmental values.
- Full-Service Funeral – Held at a funeral home, place of worship, or crematorium. Includes a viewing (open or closed casket), a formal ceremony, and often a graveside service. This is typically followed by a reception.
- Graveside Service – A simpler alternative held entirely at the cemetery, often for those who are not religious. A short service, flowers, and quiet goodbyes.
- Visitation or Wake – More intimate, this allows friends and family to say goodbye in a more informal setting before the main service.
- Memorial Service – Held days or weeks after cremation or burial. The body may not be present. These are often personalised — music, photo slideshows, readings, and speeches — and can take place at a venue meaningful to the deceased.
Burial or Cremation? Your Options
In-Ground Burial – Traditional casket interred in a vault and covered by soil. Usually accompanied by a gravestone.
Mausoleum (Above Ground Burial) – Caskets stored in private or public structures.
Lawn Crypt – Allows for two individuals to be interred in the same space, one above the other.
Cremation – A cost-effective and flexible option, with many ways to honour the ashes:
- Kept in an urn
- Scattered at sea or in a memory garden
- Divided among keepsake urns or memorial jewellery
- Buried in a cremation plot or placed in a columbarium
Note: There are legal regulations around ash scattering — always check with local authorities or landowners.
Natural or Green Burial – An eco-conscious choice. No embalming, biodegradable caskets, and no concrete vaults. The focus is on returning naturally to the earth.
Personalising the Service
Think about how you want your life celebrated:
- Religious or non-religious?
- Traditional hymns or a playlist of your favourite songs?
- Eulogy delivered by a loved one?
- A memorial slideshow or story-sharing circle?
You can also express preferences around:
- Flower arrangements or charitable donations
- Dress code (from formal black to “no suits, just colour”)
- Venue – from a church to a beach to your back garden
After the Funeral: Settling Affairs
Loved ones will still need to:
- Contact your legal representative
- Arrange final transportation and carry out your plan
- Publish an obituary
- Settle your estate and financial accounts
- Notify government agencies and financial institutions
By appointing executors and powers of attorney in advance, you help ensure a seamless process during a difficult time.
Supporting the Bereaved
Sometimes, support after a loss is just as important as support during. If you know someone grieving:
- Offer practical help (meals, errands, or walking their dog)
- Send a thoughtful note or flowers
- Just show up — your presence speaks volumes
Final Thought: A Legacy of Love
Planning your funeral might not sound joyful — but it’s deeply empowering. It’s not about focusing on death; it’s about making your wishes known, protecting those you love, and creating a moment of remembrance that truly reflects you. You planned your wedding, holidays, and even your retirement — why not your final goodbye?
Death is deeply personal, and it’s important not to assume that our loved ones will automatically know how to carry out our wishes or celebrate our life in the way we envision. Planning your own funeral can actually be a powerful and therapeutic act, giving you a sense of control over something that’s often seen as beyond our control. It allows you to express your personality and values, and you may even discover new ways to make your farewell uniquely yours.
Ready to Plan Ahead and Ensure Your Wishes Are Respected?
Our Private Client team is here to help you get the serious stuff sorted — so you can focus on what matters most, like creating lasting memories with your loved ones or planning your next great adventure.
Whether you need help with appointing executors, creating a will, or even ensuring your funeral wishes are respected, we’re here to guide you through the process. Planning ahead not only eases the burden on your family, but it also gives you peace of mind knowing everything will go as you wish when the time comes.
We can help you with:
- Appointing executors who you trust (and who are ready to handle the paperwork with ease)
- Setting up trusts for vulnerable or minor beneficiaries
- Minimising tax, so your wealth is distributed in the most efficient way
- Ensuring your funeral wishes are clearly documented — and not just discussed over dinner
- Protecting your children’s future — no matter their age
Contact Lewis Nedas Today
By appointing executors and powers of attorney ahead of time, you ensure everything runs smoothly. Contact our Private Client team to ensure your funeral wishes and executors are chosen in advance. Let us take the stress out of planning and add some peace of mind to your future.
📞 Contact Rose Varsani on 0207 387 2032
📧 Or email pvarsani@lewisnedas.co.uk
Disclaimer:
This blog is for general information and interest only. It does not provide legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. If you’d like tailored legal guidance, please contact us directly.