Estate Planning

Funeral Wishes Plan UK: What to Include & How to Record Them (2026)

A funeral wishes plan is a document that records your preferences for your own funeral — from burial or cremation to music, readings, and flowers. It is not legally binding, but it spares your family from guessing at the worst possible time.

21 June 2026·8 min read

In plain English

A funeral wishes plan is a personal document — not a legal one — where you write down exactly what you want at your funeral. It covers the type of service, burial or cremation, music, flowers, and any other preferences. Keep it with your will so your executor and family can find it immediately when it matters.

Why record your funeral wishes now?

In England and Wales, your executor has the legal right to arrange your funeral — but they have no legal obligation to follow your preferences if you have not recorded them. More practically: your will is often not opened or read until after the funeral. By the time anyone finds out what you wanted, the decisions have already been made.

A funeral wishes plan, kept somewhere easy to find, means your family does not have to guess. It removes an enormous burden at the most difficult time, and it ensures the service reflects who you were.

Writing a funeral wishes plan is also free. Unlike a pre-paid funeral plan (a financial product), a funeral wishes document costs nothing except a few minutes of thought and a piece of paper.

What to include in your funeral wishes plan

There is no set format. You can write a simple list, a letter, or use a structured template. The key is to be specific enough that your family can act on it. Here is what to cover:

Type of service

Religious (and if so, which faith), humanist, non-religious, civil, or no service at all. Name the officiant if you have a preference.

Burial or cremation

If burial: preferred cemetery or churchyard, and whether you want a specific grave type or headstone. If cremation: what you want done with your ashes (scatter, keep, inter, or divide).

Location

Where you would like the service held — a church, crematorium, natural burial ground, a woodland, or a venue that has meaning to you.

Music

Hymns, songs, or pieces of music you want played — list them in order (entrance, reflection, exit). Include the artist or version if it matters.

Readings and tributes

Any poems, scripture, or readings you want included. Note whether you would like someone specific to read them.

Flowers or donations

State whether you prefer flowers or donations in lieu of flowers. If donations: name your preferred charity.

Dress code

Whether you want mourners in black, bright colours, or a specific dress code. Many people now prefer colour as a celebration of life.

Coffin

Preferences for a traditional wooden coffin, a wicker or cardboard eco-coffin, or a specific style or material.

People to notify

Anyone beyond immediate family who should be told — old friends, colleagues, communities you belonged to.

Personal touches

An order of service format, photos for display, a particular poem, an item to be placed in the coffin, or any other details that matter to you.

What NOT to do

Just as important as what you want. If you strongly dislike something, say so — for example, 'no bagpipes', 'do not play hymn X', or 'please do not invite Y'.

Your digital legacy

Note any social media accounts you want deleted or memorialised, and where your executor can find your digital asset inventory.

Is a funeral wishes plan legally binding?

No. In England and Wales, a funeral wishes plan is a guidance document — not a legal instruction. Your executor has the legal authority to arrange the funeral and is not bound by your preferences. However, in practice the overwhelming majority of executors and families follow written wishes out of respect for the deceased.

The only route to making some end-of-life preferences legally binding is via a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, where you can include guidance on your care and end-of-life wishes. Even then, the LPA covers decisions made while you are alive and lacking capacity — not funeral arrangements after death.

Funeral wishes plan vs letter of wishes

Many people confuse a funeral wishes plan with a letter of wishes. They are related but distinct:

Document	What it covers	Legally binding?
Funeral wishes plan	Your funeral preferences only — type of service, burial/cremation, music, flowers	No
Letter of wishes	Broader guidance for your executor — personal possessions, messages to family, digital assets, AND funeral wishes	No
Will	Who inherits, executor appointment, guardians for children	Yes

A letter of wishes is a broader document that can include funeral preferences alongside guidance on personal possessions, digital accounts, messages to family, and how you want trustees to exercise discretion. WillSafe's Letter of Wishes template covers all of these sections in one structured document, including a dedicated funeral wishes section.

Where to keep your funeral wishes plan

The most carefully written funeral wishes plan is useless if no one can find it. Store yours:

With your original will. Your executor will look here first.
In a place your family knows about — a specific drawer, a home safe, or with a trusted person.
With your solicitor if you use one for will storage.
Give a copy to your executor during your lifetime, especially if they live far away.

Some people also leave a note on the fridge or in a wallet card pointing to where the full document is kept. The goal is simple: someone should be able to find your funeral wishes within hours of your death, not days.

How WillSafe can help

Our Letter of Wishes template includes a structured funeral wishes section alongside guidance on personal possessions, digital assets, messages to loved ones, and instructions for your executor. It is designed to work alongside your will as a complete personal statement.

Our Essentials Bundle includes the will kit, letter of wishes template, and a digital asset checklist — everything you need to give your family complete, clear instructions.

Letter of Wishes Template

Includes a complete funeral wishes section, guidance on personal possessions, digital assets, and messages to your family. Structured, plain-English template.

Get Letter of Wishes Template

Essentials Bundle — £89.99

Will kit + Letter of Wishes template + digital asset checklist. Everything your family needs to know — in one place, all done.

Essentials Bundle — £89.99

Frequently asked questions

Is a funeral wishes plan legally binding in England and Wales?▼

No. A funeral wishes plan is not legally binding. Your executor is not legally required to follow your funeral preferences — but almost all families and executors do, unless there is a very good reason not to. The only legally binding route for some funeral-related decisions is via a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, where you can include preferences about funeral arrangements. That said, a clearly written, signed funeral wishes plan carries significant moral weight and spares your family the burden of guessing.

Can I put funeral wishes in my will instead?▼

You can mention funeral preferences in your will, but it is not recommended as the primary route. Your will is often not read until after the funeral has taken place — it may take days or weeks for the executor to locate and read the original will. A separate funeral wishes plan, kept somewhere your family can easily find it (with your will, or on the fridge), is far more practical. Mention the existence of your funeral wishes plan in your will and letter of wishes, but do not rely on the will itself to communicate last-minute preferences.

What is the difference between a funeral wishes plan and a pre-paid funeral plan?▼

A funeral wishes plan is a document that records your preferences — it has no financial element. A pre-paid funeral plan is a financial product where you pay in advance for your funeral at today's prices. They serve different purposes and are not alternatives: you can (and should) have both. A funeral wishes plan tells your family what you want; a pre-paid plan removes the financial burden from them.

When should I write my funeral wishes plan?▼

Now, regardless of your age or health. Accidents and sudden illness happen at any age, and the last thing grieving families want to do is make dozens of difficult decisions in a state of shock. Writing your funeral wishes plan when you are fit and well — alongside making your will — means your family can focus on supporting each other rather than second-guessing your preferences.

Do I need to tell anyone about my funeral wishes plan?▼

Yes. Tell your executor and at least one close family member that it exists and where to find it. A beautifully written funeral wishes plan stored in an unknown location is useless. Keep a copy with your will, tell your executor, and consider giving a copy to the person most likely to be making funeral arrangements. You can update it at any time without legal formality — just write a new one, date it, sign it, and let people know.

What happens if I change my mind about my funeral wishes?▼

Simply write a new funeral wishes plan, date and sign it, destroy the old one, and let your executor and family know. Unlike a will, there is no legal process to follow when updating a funeral wishes plan. You can change it as many times as you like.

Related guides

Letter of Wishes Template UK

What to include and how to write one

Digital Assets After Death UK

What happens to your online accounts

Executor Duties & Responsibilities UK

Week-by-week checklist for executors

How to Write a Will UK

Complete step-by-step guide (2026)

This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws described apply to England and Wales. Consult a solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances. WillSafe UK is a trading name of WSC Group Ltd (company ).