Do you have to use a funeral director? The honest answer
Legally, no. Here's what arranging a funeral yourself actually involves, what genuinely must be done properly, and who this route suits.
Written by Charlie, 20+ years in UK funeral care · Last reviewed 4 July 2026 · 6 minute read
The short version, if today is hard:
- There is no legal requirement to use a funeral director anywhere in the UK.
- You can register the death, arrange the cremation or burial, and transport the person who died yourself.
- The saving comes mainly from the funeral director's own fee — commonly around £2,000, roughly half of a typical funeral bill — while the crematorium or cemetery fee still applies either way.
- It suits some families brilliantly and suits others not at all — there's no right answer, only the right answer for you.
What's actually required by law — and what isn't
The legal duty to arrange a disposal (a cremation or burial) usually falls on the next of kin or the executor of the will — but the law says nothing about who has to physically carry it out. A funeral director is a service you can pay for, not a legal gatekeeper. What genuinely must happen, whoever arranges it: the death must be registered, a cremation needs the crematorium's own paperwork completed correctly, and the person who died must be transported and cared for with dignity in the meantime.
What a DIY funeral actually involves
Doing it yourself doesn't mean doing everything alone from scratch — crematoria and cemeteries are used to dealing directly with families, and most of the process is more accessible than people expect.
Register the death yourself
No different from the usual process — see our registration guide for exactly how.
Book the cremation or burial directly
Crematoria and council cemeteries will deal with a family directly rather than only through a funeral director — call and ask.
Arrange transport
A suitable, respectful vehicle is needed — some families hire this alone from a funeral director without buying the rest of their services, which many firms are happy to do.
Care for the person at home, if you choose to
Legal, and done more often than people realise — with proper cooling and guidance from a district nurse, hospice team, or a funeral director offering advice without taking over the whole arrangement.
DIY vs a funeral director — where the difference actually lies
| Arranging it yourself | Using a funeral director | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Disbursements only — no arrangement fee | Disbursements plus the director's own fee |
| Time and admin | You handle everything directly | Coordinated for you throughout |
| Legal responsibility | Same as always — whoever arranges it | Still with the family, but guided |
| Emotional load | Meaningful, but more to carry | A lighter load, taken off your hands |
| Best suited to | Families wanting hands-on involvement | Families wanting it all handled |
There's also a genuine middle ground: many families arrange a direct cremation through a specialist provider — far simpler and cheaper than a full-service funeral director — and then handle the memorial themselves entirely, at home or somewhere meaningful. That combines much of the cost saving of DIY with almost none of the logistical load.
How to actually arrange it yourself, step by step
If you've decided this is the right route, here's the real order of operations — not just what's involved, but what to do first, second and third.
Register the death
Nothing else can be booked until this is done. Follow our registering a death guide for the exact deadlines and documents.
Decide cremation or burial, and call the crematorium or cemetery directly
Ask to speak to their bereavement or bookings team and explain you're arranging things yourself without a funeral director — this is a normal request they deal with, not an unusual one. They'll tell you exactly which forms they need and book a date.
Arrange a coffin
Coffins (including simple cardboard or wicker options) can be bought directly online or from a local coffin supplier, delivered to your home or straight to the crematorium. Just confirm the crematorium's size and material requirements first.
Arrange transport and care of the person who died
You can transport them yourself in a suitable vehicle, or hire just this part from a funeral director or a specialist removal service — most are happy to provide only transport without the rest of their package. If they're staying at home beforehand, ask a district nurse or hospice team for guidance on keeping things dignified and cool.
Plan who leads the ceremony, if you're having one
A family member or friend can lead a simple ceremony themselves, or you can hire an independent celebrant for just that part of the day — see our celebrant guide for how that works.
On the day
Arrive at the agreed time with the coffin and any paperwork the crematorium or cemetery asked for. Staff there are used to guiding families through the practical side, whether or not a funeral director is involved.
Questions people ask
Do you legally have to use a funeral director in the UK?
No. There's no legal requirement anywhere in the UK. You can register the death, arrange the cremation or burial directly, and transport the person who died yourself, provided you meet the same legal requirements a funeral director would.
How much does a DIY funeral actually save?
The main saving is the funeral director's own professional fee — commonly in the region of £2,000, and often the largest single line on a full-service quote. The crematorium or cemetery fee typically runs £600–£1,700 and still applies whoever arranges things, since that's set independently by the local authority or crematorium.
Can I keep the person who died at home before the funeral?
Yes, this is legal, though it needs proper care to stay dignified and hygienic — cooling the room, and guidance from a district nurse, hospice team, or a funeral director happy to advise without taking over the whole arrangement.
Can I bury someone on private land?
Yes, with the landowner's permission if it isn't your own land, and following Environment Agency guidance to protect groundwater. Many families find a natural burial ground simpler, since it handles this while keeping the process personal.
Not sure which route fits your situation?
The decision tool works through your circumstances honestly — including money — and gives you a real recommendation, whichever direction that points.
Use the decision toolSources for this page
- • Legal requirements around registering and disposing of a body — GOV.UK.
- • Burial on private land and groundwater guidance — Environment Agency.
- • Natural burial practice and typical process — the author's day-to-day work at a UK natural burial ground.
- • Cost structure and where funeral director fees typically sit — the author's 20+ years of direct experience in UK funeral care, checked against published Standardised Price Lists.
How every figure on this site is checked: the methodology page.