We will all experience the loss of someone we love at some point, but although we know this, it is not something we can be truly prepared for. It is a fact that most of us know if we have lost someone dear to us, and if you have recently lost a family member, spouse or partner, friend, or someone very close to you, it will take time before you can feel like yourself again. 

But losing someone is hard enough – planning and organising their funeral is another matter. It can be exceedingly challenging to plan such an event, and this is particularly true when we face a global pandemic and the restrictions that come with it, such as during these times. If you are organising a funeral in these times, here is your best guide.

• Attendance 

There are various restrictions put in place as to who can go to a funeral and a wake. Simply put, anyone who is unwell or feeling sick with symptoms of the Coronavirus shouldn’t attend. 

If someone is self-isolating due to being told by the NHS, they can still attend a family member's funeral. If someone is also self-isolating because a person in their home has Coronavirus symptoms, they can still attend the funeral of their family member. If a person is asked to self-isolate due to having recently arrived in the country from a territory or country on the amber list, they can still go to a funeral of a friend, family member, or a household member (if other members of their household or family are not able to attend). 

If someone is under quarantine due to having recently arrived from a red-listed territory or country, they may be able to go to the funeral of a household member or a close relation. But they have to seek permission from the hotel where they are staying. 


The same isn't true with the wake – if someone is quarantining or self-isolating, they are not allowed to go to the wake.

• Funeral directors

If you would like to hire the professional services of a funeral director, it would be best to select one who is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors or the SAIF (National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) such as the funeral directors at www.carrollandcarrollfunerals.co.uk. When funeral directors are members of such organisations, they will follow a certain standard and code of practice and are required to present you with a price list once you request it. 

• Costs 

The costs of funerals can vary.  But the prices will usually include the funeral director's fees, the third-party or disbursement expenses such as cemetery or crematorium fees or newspaper announcements, and cremation or burial fees. As of now, the standard cost of a funeral is approximately £3800. However, if you opt for direct cremation, it can be around £1500. The expense can also change depending on where you are; funerals in London may be higher than in other places, for example. 

When it comes to paying for the deceased’s funeral, they may already have an insurance policy or pre-paid plan, but if not, you can request money from their estate, such as their savings. To gain access to it, you can apply for probate or a grant of representation. 

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