Funeral wishes and your will

Many people don’t realise that they can leave funeral wishes with their will. Taking this step can be very reassuring for your loved ones, as it helps reassure them that the funeral they are arranging for you is what you wanted.

However, there are some important practical and legal points to consider, including how binding funeral wishes are and where they’re best recorded.

Are funeral wishes in wills legally binding?

It’s important to understand that instructions about your funeral are not legally binding, even if they are included in your will or a letter of wishes. Your executors should take your wishes into account, but they are not legally required to follow them.

Include simple burial or cremation wishes in your will

You can include whether you’d prefer to be buried or cremated in your will. This can be helpful guidance for people making arrangements after your death.

Add a letter of wishes alongside your will if you want to add more detail

If you want to include more detail about your funeral, you can prepare a letter of wishes. This is a separate document to your will, which gives you space to outline your wishes about the type of service you want. You can update your letter of wishes as often as you like, without needing to pay for updating your will.

Consider a pre-paid funeral plan

A pre-paid funeral plan can give you even more control over your funeral arrangements. It could also mean your loved ones don’t need to worry about the planning or cost of a funeral.

Make your organ donation wishes clear

We also recommend you express any organ donation instructions in your letter of wishes. However, by the time your will is found and read, it may be too late to donate your organs. Adding yourself to the NHS Organ Donation Register is important if you want to make sure your organ donation wishes are followed.

Talk to your executors about your wishes

As funerals often take place before the will is read, you should tell your executors about what you want. You should also tell them where to find your will and letter of wishes, if you have one.

Having an honest and open conversation with them now can help make sure your wishes are followed.