Funeral Plans – End of life Choices

Planning for the end of your life is not an easy thing to do. Many people find it difficult to talk about dying with their loved ones, and it is easy to put off the conversation. 

However, starting to put some basic plans into place, or simply having a conversation with your loved ones can be a big relief. There are several things to think about – making a will, talking about your preferred option for your funeral, such as whether you want a cremation or burial and how you would like your life to be commemorated / remembered.

If appropriate, you may then want to either record your wishes with one of our ‘My Wishes’ pre-arrangement forms or take out a Porteous Funeral Plan to pay towards the cost of your funeral. 

The Porteous Funeral Plan, in partnership with Golden Charter, is the only funeral plan that we provide, as we believe its transparency, security and flexibility is the safest choice for our clients.

However, we know that there are many alternative options available, sold directly to the public or via banks, TV, online or through will-writers. Many of these plans are tied to a particular funeral group, and so we may not able to handle the funeral arrangements. 

There are many companies online who sell funeral plans and give the impression they have relationships with Independent Funeral Directors by listing their name on their website. The only true way to check if your local funeral director has a relationship with the online provider is to check with the Funeral Director.

If you or a loved one have taken out a plan with another provider but would like us to look after the funeral arrangements please contact us, and we will find out whether this is possible.

”Doing things for others is such a special art, and it deserves a “thank you” directly from the heart. Thank you so much for making things easier for us over the past few weeks. We really appreciate your help, kindness and guidance.

June McCulloch & Jean Rankin

Further Information

Funeral Plans

With three-quarters of a million people in the UK having purchased a funeral plan, there is no doubt that consumers are increasingly aware of the advantages of arranging and paying towards their funeral in advance.

For many years we have been providing funeral plans which are simple, transparent, flexible and secure through our preferred partner Golden Charter.

Unlike many other plans that are taken out by post, or via third parties such as solicitors, TV ads, online or through will writers, Porteous Funeral Plans are arranged with one of our experienced funeral directors or funeral arrangers, who know the area in which the funeral is to take place and understand the complexity of all the aspects of arranging a funeral. This ensures that your plan will deliver what you want at the time it is needed.

There are many companies online who sell funeral plans and give the impression they have relationships with Independent Funeral Directors by listing their name on their website. The only true way to check if your local funeral director has a relationship with the online provider is to check with the Funeral Director.

Many of these plans are tied to a particular funeral provider. If you or a loved one have taken out a plan with another provider but would like us to look after the funeral arrangements, please contact us and we will find out whether this is possible.

For more information about Porteous Funeral Plans, please  contact us for an appointment to discuss your plan.

My Funeral Wishes

Our ‘Funeral Wishes’ option is a free service and provides an opportunity to record your wishes for your funeral in as much or as little detail as you wish.  You can either fill in the form at home yourself or meet with one of our funeral arrangers or funeral directors in the funeral home nearest to you who will discuss your choices and fill in the form with you.

We will then create a document that summarises the choices you have made and which we will keep on file. We will provide you with as many copies as you need for yourself and your representatives.

We can also provide you with an estimate of the current costs of the funeral for planning purposes. However, these costs will continue to increase over time – on average, the cost of a funeral doubles every ten years.

Pre-paid Funeral Plans

A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As our customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.

At Porteous Funeral Directors, we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a safe and reliable way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers*, Golden Charter has helped 900,000 people make funeral provisions** so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents who are over 18, regardless of age or state of health.

Would you like to know more information about how a Golden Charter funeral plan could work for you? We can provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision for you and your family, so get in touch today!

*Based on selling 14% of funeral plans in the UK in 2021
**Correct at April 2022

Porteous Funeral Directors is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).

Registered in England No. 02511598 Registered Office: One Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS.