When someone dies you need to get a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from a doctor, register their death and choose a funeral director to arrange their funeral. The Registration Office will give you a Death Certificate and Certificate for Burial or Cremation (GR021 in Northern Ireland).

You can arrange a funeral by choosing a funeral director who will help you organise all of the details. They can help you decide whether to have a cremation or burial and what type of service to choose, as well as additional options, such as music and flowers. You can find out what happens at a funeral and compare funeral directors on Funeral Guide.

The cost of a funeral depends on where you are in the UK and whether you choose a burial or a cremation. Natural burial is becoming increasingly popular, but can often be more expensive than burial in a traditional cemetery. The cost of coffins, flowers, catering and transport also varies a lot. There is also an almost unlimited list of options for personalising a service, such as professional funeral singers or a motorcycle-hearse. You can compare the price of funeral directors on Funeral Guide.