Funeral and cremation terms, explained plainly

Celebrant

A trained ceremony-leader who shapes and delivers a funeral around the life of the person who died, as an alternative to a religious minister. Read the full celebrant guide.

Cremation fee

The charge set by the crematorium itself for carrying out the cremation — usually listed separately from the funeral director's own fees, and genuinely different between nearby crematoria.

Death certificate

The official document issued once a death is registered, confirming the fact, date and cause of death. Buy several certified copies at registration — banks, insurers and pension providers each want to see one.

Disbursement

A cost a funeral director pays to someone else on your behalf — the crematorium fee, a celebrant's fee, a doctor's fee — then passes on to you, ideally at cost with no markup.

Estate

Everything a person owned when they died — money, property, possessions — minus any debts. Funeral costs are usually a priority claim against it.

Executor

The person named in a will who is legally responsible for administering the estate, which often includes arranging the funeral.

FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)

The UK regulator that has overseen every prepaid funeral plan provider since July 2022. Check any provider on its public register before paying anyone — see our prepaid plans guide.

Funeral Expenses Payment

A government payment covering cremation or burial fees in full, plus up to £1,000 towards other costs, for people on qualifying benefits. Full detail in our funding guide.

Green form

The common name for the Certificate for Burial or Cremation, issued at registration. A cremation cannot legally go ahead without it.

Interment

The formal term for burying a body or ashes, whether in the ground or in a tomb.

Medical examiner

An NHS doctor, introduced across England and Wales in September 2024, who independently reviews the cause of death before registration can take place.

Next of kin

A person's closest living relative — often, though not always, the person expected to make decisions after a death.

Probate

The legal process of confirming a will and gaining authority over a deceased person's estate. Funeral costs can usually be paid before probate is granted — most banks will settle a funeral invoice from the deceased's account directly.

Public health funeral

A simple, respectful funeral arranged and paid for by the local council when nobody is able or willing to pay, or no next of kin can be found. See our full public health funerals guide.

Standardised Price List

A fixed-format price document every UK funeral director has been legally required to publish since 2021, making it possible to compare providers line by line, side by side.

Wake

An informal gathering held after a funeral to remember the person who died — at home, a hired venue, or a pub. Doesn't need to be arranged through a funeral director, and is often cheaper booked directly.

Wishes document

A written record of someone's funeral preferences, made in advance. Not legally binding, but followed in practice by families and funeral directors — the single cheapest thing anyone can do to spare their family guesswork.