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Your Questions, Answered

What is a direct funeral?
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A direct funeral is where no mourners attend the cremation or burial. The ashes are then either returned or scattered in the garden of remembrance, or the location of the burial plot will be shared. A direct funeral is also sometimes known as a hassle free funeral.
What does direct cremation mean?
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Direct cremation is the name for an unattended cremation with no attached funeral service or ceremony.
What is an unattended cremation?
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An unattended cremation is another name used for a cremation that does not have a service or ceremony attached and does not have mourners present. We normally refer to it as a direct cremation, but it can also be called a pure cremation, or a simple cremation.
What is the difference between a direct cremation and a traditional funeral?
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A direct cremation is unattended, letting you celebrate the life of your loved one as you choose.
What does direct cremation involve?
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A direct cremation involves being collected and taken into With Grace’s care, transportation to the crematorium, and then the ashes being delivered to your loved ones or scattered in the crematorium’s garden of remembrance.
Can you attend a direct cremation?
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Mourners are not present during a direct cremation and there is no funeral service or ceremony conducted alongside the cremation.
Do I need a scatter tube for the ashes?
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Ashes are returned to your loved ones in a biodegradable box, but you can update to a scatter tube or casket if you wish.
Can you choose caskets for ashes or ash scattering containers?
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With Grace offers a range of personalised caskets, urns and scatter tubes that can be included in your plan.
Do you offer a bluebell scatter tube?
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A bluebell scatter tube is one of the options we have available for personalised scatter tubes.
How much are direct cremations?
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A direct cremation plan from With Grace starts at £1,440, whilst a direct cremation arranged for immediate need starts at £990.
Is direct cremation cheaper than a funeral?
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A direct cremation is generally a lower cost than a traditional funeral as the process is simpler with fewer arrangements to make.
Are direct cremations worth it?
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Whether a direct cremation is right for you or not depends entirely on your wishes. Many people consider a direct cremation a cost effective option for how they want to say goodbye and do not want a traditional funeral.
What is the best prepaid cremation plan?
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The best prepaid cremation plan is the one that best fits your needs and wishes. It is however important to ensure that the plan is arranged by an FCA authorised and regulated provider.
Is the cheapest direct cremation plan the best option?
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The best option for a direct cremation plan will always be the one that fulfils all of your needs and wishes.
Is direct cremation a good idea?
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How you feel about direct cremation will depend on your own wishes and beliefs, in the same way that many people have strong feelings towards being cremated or buried when they die.
Is direct cremation popular?
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Direct cremations have become more popular over the past few years. Although they were more of a necessity in many cases during the pandemic, they have become a more popular option since then too with many people opting for a direct cremation as a cost effective way to say goodbye.
Can you pay for direct cremation in advance?
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You can set up a direct cremation plan so arrangements are made ahead of time, easing the burden on your family. Prices for a direct cremation plan start at £1,440.
Does With Grace offer payment plans for cremation?
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All of With Grace’s funeral plans have payment plan options. To discuss these further, please contact us.
Does With Grace offer cremation plans near me?
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With Grace covers mainland United Kingdom, mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Do I need to close the account if it’s in joint names?
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When a bank account is held in joint names, you probably won't need to have it closed.  By the principles of the survivorship, it will just pass into the name of the joint account holders name.
What is a Grant of Probate?
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This is the document that verifies who is legally permitted to deal with someone's property, money and possessions (their 'estate') when someone dies. Please also see 'Wills and Probate' on our Guides and Advise pages for more helpful information.
What is a Grant of Representation?
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To prove you have the legal status and ability, to deal with the deceased person's estate, you will need the Grant of Representation document. Depending on the amount of money in the account and which bank the account is with, will define when you will need to provide the document. Most banks will allow access to the account so that expenses relating to the estate can be settled, before the Grant of Representation has been issued.  In this circumstance you may just need to sign a discharge and indemnity form, confirming you will pay back any monies if you did not have the right to access the funds.
Proof of authority to act
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You can use a copy of the Will to prove you are an executor.  If there isn't a Will, you will need to provide proof of a relationship to the deceased.
Requirements for closing bank accounts when someone dies
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  • Make sure the death has been registered
  • You will need to provide a copy of the death certificate
  • Proof of Authority will be needed to freeze the account
  • Proof of identity e.g. passport or photo driving licence
  • Notify any companies that might be affected by the closing / freezing of the account e.g. utility companies
Please also see 'Who do you need to tell?' on our Guides and Advice page for more helpful information.
Who should close the bank account when someone dies?
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If there is a will, the executor will be responsible for acting on behalf of the deceased and notifying the bank.
Notifying the bank when someone dies
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After a death has been registered, one of the first things to do will be to notify the bank to close any bank accounts. Until the funds can be released and closed, you can expect the account to be frozen.
What are demands and needs?
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Demands and needs is a legal term that refers to what a customer needs from a product or service to meet their expectations. We are committed to giving you the right product for your demands and needs and will confirm it is right for you before you choose it.
What happens if I move?
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We will place your plan with a new funeral director if you move home.
Can I personalise my plan?
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You can personalise an attended funeral with readings, songs, hymns, flowers, donations to charity and more.
How can I pay for my funeral plan?
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You can pay for your funeral plan by credit or debit card, or if you are paying monthly, you can also pay by direct debit or standing order.
What happens if I die on holiday or away from home?
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If you die abroad, your family may be charged repatriation costs.  Please check if your travel insurance policy covers repatriation as funeral plans do not. If you die on holiday on the mainland UK, your funeral plan will cover collection. However, there may be additional costs incurred in the Highlands and Islands.
What if I want a burial?
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You can choose a burial funeral plan using our 'Build Your Own Plan' service.  Please note the price of burials varies from location to location and these costs aren't included in our plan.
What if I would prefer the cremated remains of my loved one sent back to me instead of collecting them?
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Cremated remains can be returned to you or someone else.  Our direct cremation plans already include these costs, but for attended funerals, you can collect remains at the crematorium.  There will be a charge for cremated remains to be returned.
Can I request a local funeral director?
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Yes, but we can't guarantee your director will agree to oversee your funeral.  In this case, our network of local funeral directors can provide a local service close to where you live.
Am I guaranteed to be accepted?
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There are no medical exclusions, health checks or questions.  If you choose to pay for your plan monthly, the maximum term is five years and payments must be completed before your 80th birthday.
How is my money kept safe?
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We use a Trust to protect your money.  This Trust is overseen by Trustees and managed by experienced professionals who make sure your funds are only used to pay for your plan.  We are also regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.  Find out more about how your money is protected here.
What if my family want to change my plan?
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Your family can upgrade your plan at any time.  Your family will need to pay any difference in the price of the funeral they upgrade to and the price paid for the funeral plan.
Can I buy a funeral plan for my partner or parent?
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You can buy a funeral plan for anyone.
Will my family have to pay more?
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With a pre-paid funeral plan, you fix the cost of the funeral so your family won't need to pay a penny more.  Anything not included in your plan, like catering and flowers, will need to be paid for separately.
How do pre-paid funeral plan prices compare to a funeral today?
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Pre-paid funeral prices are guaranteed not to change.  They include many items that are likely needed at the time of need, compared to a funeral today which increase regularly and the start price does not include any possible items that may be required. A funeral plan protects you against funeral inflation.
Why does a pre-paid funeral plan cost more?
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A pre-paid funeral is a fixed price for the plan you choose, so will never increase.  The at-need price will go up every year.
What’s the difference between a pre-paid funeral plan and an at-need funeral?
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A pre-paid funeral means your funeral and ceremony are planned in advance.  At-need funerals are planned at the time of death.
What is the difference between a direct cremation and a traditional funeral?
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A direct cremation is unattended, letting you celebrate the life of your loved one as you choose.
What is an attended funeral?
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An attended funeral is a ceremony or event that takes place at the same time as the burial or cremation.
What is a direct cremation?
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A direct cremation is an unattended cremation.  You will know the date of the cremation in advance so you can celebrate the life of the loved one as you choose.
What areas do we cover?
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We cover most of the UK, apart from the Highlands and Islands.  We also cover Northern Ireland, but extra costs may be incurred.  
Which crematoriums do you use?
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Unattended cremations take place at a crematorium of our choice. Attended cremations take place at a crematorium of your choice.
What are your business hours?
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You can arrange a funeral or cremation by contacting us 24 hours a day 7 days a week on 0800 471 4689. For general or account enquiries, or for pre-paid plan information, please ring between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday or email hello@funeralswithgrace.com.  
What is the Plan With Grace Promise?
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When you choose to pay for your funeral plan over two or more years, you receive the Plan With Grace Promise.  This means that if you die after paying the first 24 monthly payments, but before your plan is fully paid and your monthly payments are up to date, we will still provide all the services included in your plan.