Guides
Clear answers, in plain English
Short guides to the practical and financial side of a death in the UK. General information, not legal or financial advice — always check the official sources we link to.
- What to do when someone dies
Very little has to happen in the first 24 hours. This is the usual order of things in England and Wales, with links to the official guidance.
- Registering a death
Registering is a short appointment, but it helps to arrive with the right documents and to know how many certificate copies to order.
- Using Tell Us Once
The registrar will normally give you a Tell Us Once reference. It saves a great deal of repeated phone calls.
- Probate explained
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's estate. Not every estate needs it, and many families apply themselves.
- Funeral costs in Wales
A funeral bill is made up of two very different things: the funeral director's own charges, and third-party fees they pay on your behalf. Where we hold enough checked, provider-published prices, we show what those parts actually cost in your area of Wales.
- Cremation costs
Cremation is the most common choice in the UK. Costs depend heavily on whether the service is attended, and on the crematorium's own fee.
- Direct cremation in Wales: what it is and what it costs
A direct cremation is a cremation without a service at the crematorium. It is usually the lowest-cost option, and in Wales the price varies considerably between providers — so it pays to compare before you commit.
- Burial costs
Burial is usually the more expensive route, mainly because of cemetery fees rather than the funeral director's charges.