About our pre-paid funeral plans
Planning ahead for your funeral is one of the most thoughtful and caring things you can do. Some people never get round to discussing funeral wishes with their loved ones, which can lead to all sorts of worry and anxiety when the time comes
Taking out a funeral plan is a simple and straightforward way to remove this worry, and it can provide real financial benefits too. Some of the other benefits include:
- Pre-arrange the details of your funeral and record any special wishes, such as hymns, music choice and any other personal touches you would like your plan to include
- Make financial provision for your funeral
- Choose your funeral director in advance
- Ensure your family has access to expert help at what can be a difficult time.
Our funeral plan is available to UK residents and there are no complicated medical forms to complete. You can also appoint a nominated representative who we will keep informed about your plan, according to your instructions.
Our plans cover our costs (as specified in the plan paperwork) as long as we carry out the funeral and your requirements don’t change. You can also make a contribution towards third party costs, such as the cremation fees. These costs are outside of our control.
For more information, please download our funeral plans brochure.
How your funds are held
All funeral plan pre-payments are held in an individual whole of life assurance policy for your peace of mind.
Backed by a trusted, national provider
Our funeral plans are provided by Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited, which is part of a specialist, UK-based financial services group.
Flexible payment options
You can choose to pay for your funeral plan by lump sum or in instalments. There is an additional cost for paying over two or more years and eligibility criteria applies. Please refer to the Instalment Q&A and the
Terms and Conditions for more information. Your funeral director will be able to provide you with a
personalised quote.
Once your funeral plan is in place, you’ll receive a welcome booklet containing the details of your plan and your funeral plan certificate. Your nominated representative will also receive a copy if you request this.
Terms and Conditions apply to funeral plans – please ask us if you have any questions.
We are an Appointed Representative of Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited Reg. No. 2644860, registered in England at Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, UK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 958152. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates pre-paid funeral plans only.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the questions we are often asked about our pre-paid funeral plans.
Q. Who is eligible?
UK residents aged 18 or over can take out a plan. For instalment plans payable over 2 years or more, the final
instalment must be paid by your 85th birthday. There are no medical or health questions to answer.
Q. Can the plan include special wishes?
You can add special wishes and requests such as song choices, readings, information for a eulogy and so on.
There is no charge to add these details. There may be more to pay if you require additional features, services
or upgrades. You can also appoint a nominated representative, who we will keep informed about your plan
according to your instructions.
Q. What happens if I move to a different part of the country?
If you move, you should be able to transfer your plan to a funeral director near your new home. However,
there may be additional costs depending on local prices. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for details or
speak to us for more information.
Q. Can I buy a funeral plan for someone else?
Yes, we find that many of our customers choose to do this.
Q. Can I change my funeral plan arrangements?
Yes, you can make changes to your plan after you have taken it out and once it is fully-paid. Just let us know
what you wish to change. There may be an additional cost if you add new features and services to your plan.
Q. Does the plan cover the entire cost of the funeral?
The plan covers the funeral director’s costs listed in the plan details as long as your requirements don’t change
and your selected funeral director carries out your funeral. The plan can also include an allowance towards
third party costs such as cremation, and officiant’s fees. These costs are outside of our control. If these costs,
as listed in the plan details, are not covered by the plan value at the time of need, there will be a balance to
pay. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for more information.
Q. Can I cancel my plan?
Yes, you can cancel your plan at any time. If you choose to cancel the plan within the cancellation period, you’ll
receive a full refund. If you cancel the plan after the cancellation period, you’ll receive a refund of the original
amount paid, excluding the administration fee, and any payments to insure an instalment plan.
Q. Can I pay for my plan by instalments?
Yes, you are able to pay over a range of periods. There is an additional cost for paying by instalments over two
or more years. Eligibility criteria applies. Please refer to the Instalment Q&A and the Terms and Conditions for
more information. Your funeral director will be able to provide you with a personalised quote.
Q. What happens if I die abroad?
The plan does not cover the cost of a funeral abroad, or the cost of repatriating the deceased. It is therefore
important that your travel insurance policy covers this.
Terms and Conditions apply to funeral plans – please ask us if you have any questions.
We are an Appointed Representative of Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited Reg. No. 2644860, registered in England at Benefact House,
2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, UK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 958152. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates pre-paid funeral plans only.
About our plan provider
About Ecclesiastical Planning Services
Our pre-paid funeral plans are provided by a trusted national provider, Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
As part of a specialist, UK-based financial services group, Ecclesiastical Planning Services has offered pre-
payment funeral plans since 2006. When you take out a funeral plan with us, Ecclesiastical Planning Services
arranges for the funds to be securely held in individual whole of life assurance policies. Every penny of the full
value of your plan, excluding the management fee, is ring-fenced and cannot be used for anything but your
funeral when the time comes.
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is part of a large Group that gives available profits to charity and is proud to
have been named the UK’s 3rd largest corporate donor to charities (2023/24) 1 . In addition, Ecclesiastical
Planning Services is recognised by the National Association of Funeral Directors for treating customers fairly,
and offering funeral plans which are financially secure and responsibly administered (2022).