How to Find a Lost Funeral Plan or Prepaid Funeral Plan in the UK
When someone dies, there is a lot to think about, including arranging and paying for their funeral. If your loved one had a prepaid funeral plan in place, it could help reduce financial pressure and ensure their wishes are followed.
Unfortunately, family members are not always aware that a funeral plan exists. The paperwork may have been misplaced, the provider may have changed its name, or your loved one may simply have forgotten to tell anyone.
If you're wondering whether someone had a prepaid funeral plan, this guide will help you find out.
In This Guide
- How to find out if someone had a funeral plan
- How to trace a lost prepaid funeral plan
- Is there a funeral plan register in the UK?
- Who are the FCA?
- How to check whether a funeral plan provider is FCA regulated
- How to protect funeral plans and important documents
- Useful funeral planning resources
1. Check Whether They Created a Funeral Plan Online
Many people now document their funeral wishes online before speaking to a funeral director or purchasing a prepaid funeral plan.
If your loved one used a funeral planning service such as The Farewell Guide, they may have:
- Recorded their funeral wishes
- Shared details with a nominated family member
- Stored important documents
- Created a plan for their family to follow
Sometimes people complete a funeral plan and forget to mention it to family members. If possible, check their emails, online accounts and paperwork for any references to funeral planning.
The Farewell Guide helps people record funeral wishes, store important information, compare funeral directors and keep everything in one place for loved ones to access when needed.
2. Contact Local Funeral Directors and large Groups:
Many people arrange funeral plans directly through a funeral director.
If your loved one ever mentioned pre-planning their funeral, contact local funeral directors and ask if they hold a funeral plan or have any record of arrangements.
You may wish to contact:
- Independent funeral directors
- Co-op Funeralcare
- Dignity Funeral Directors
- Pure Cremation
- Golden Charter
- Funeral directors your loved one may have used previously
Have the following information available:
- Full name
- Previous addresses
- Date of birth
- Date of death (if applicable)
A funeral director may be able to confirm whether a plan exists or direct you to the provider responsible for administering it.
3. Use a Funeral Plan Tracing Service
If you've searched through paperwork, emails and bank statements but still can't find details of a funeral plan, there are organisations that may be able to help.
National Association of Funeral Plan Providers (NAFPP)
The National Association of Funeral Plan Providers (NAFPP) offers services designed to help people trace lost prepaid funeral plans and identify which organisation may now be responsible for administering older plans. The organisation also maintains information about former funeral plan providers whose plans have been transferred to another provider.
Please note: The NAFPP website and online tracing service have recently experienced periods of unavailability. If you're unable to access their website, you may wish to contact them directly for assistance. [nafpp.org]
Email: enquiries@nafpp.co.uk [nafpp.org]
Registered Office:
5 Robin Hood Lane
Sutton
England
SM1 2SW [nafpp.org], [find-and-u...ice.gov.uk]
My Funeral Matters Funeral Plan Tracing Service
My Funeral Matters provides a dedicated funeral plan tracing service designed to help families locate lost or forgotten prepaid funeral plans. Their system sends enquiries to a database of funeral plan providers, helping you avoid the need to contact multiple providers individually. At the time of writing, the service costs £9.99.
You can learn more about the service here:
Trace a Funeral Plan with My Funeral Matters [myfuneralm...ters.co.uk]
This service can be particularly useful if:
- The plan documents cannot be located
- The original provider is unknown
- The funeral plan was purchased many years ago
- The provider has changed ownership or stopped trading
Using a tracing service can save considerable time and may help reunite families with important funeral plan information when it is needed most.
Please note: The Farewell Guide is an independent funeral planning resource. References to third-party organisations, providers and tracing services are included for informational purposes only and do not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Information, pricing and website availability may change over time, so we recommend verifying details directly with the relevant organisation before proceeding.
4. Check Bank Statements
Many prepaid funeral plans are paid for through:
- Monthly Direct Debits
- Instalment payments
- One-off lump sum payments
Review bank statements for references to:
- Funeral plan providers
- Funeral directors
- Insurance companies
- Funeral plan payments
This can often provide the quickest route to identifying which company holds the plan.
5. Check Insurance Policies
Some people choose funeral insurance rather than a prepaid funeral plan.
Review any:
- Life insurance policies
- Over-50s plans
- Funeral insurance policies
- Financial paperwork
Insurance documents may reveal funds that have been specifically set aside to help pay funeral costs.
6. Speak to Friends and Family
If you're struggling to find any information, ask those closest to your loved one whether they ever mentioned:
- Purchasing a funeral plan
- Their funeral wishes
- A particular funeral director
- Where important paperwork was stored
Partners, adult children, siblings, friends, solicitors and financial advisers can often provide useful clues.
How to Avoid Losing Track of a Funeral Plan
Whether you already have a funeral plan or are considering one, taking a few simple steps now can save your loved ones a great deal of stress later.
Tell Your Family, Friends, Will Provider/ Executor not is down in your funeral wishes:
Make sure someone you trust knows:
- Which provider you used
- Where your documents are stored
- How to access your funeral wishes
Keep Important Documents Together
Store important documents in one place, including:
- Funeral plans
- Funeral wishes
- Your will
- Insurance documents
- Details of important accounts
Update Your Records
If you move home or change contact details, make sure your provider updates their records.
Keep Proof of Payment
Keep copies of any Direct Debits, receipts and policy documents related to your funeral plan.
Record Your Wishes Online
The Farewell Guide allows you to record your funeral wishes, store important documents and share your plans with the people who matter most. Keeping everything together can make things much easier for your loved ones when the time comes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is There a Funeral Plan Register in the UK?
No. There is currently no single national register covering all funeral plans in the UK.
If you are trying to locate a lost funeral plan, you may need to contact providers directly, review paperwork and bank statements, or use one of the tracing services mentioned above.
Who Are the FCA?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK's financial services regulator. Since July 2022, prepaid funeral plan providers have been regulated by the FCA to help protect consumers, improve standards and ensure providers look after customers' money responsibly. [fca.org.uk], [fca.org.uk]
This means that when you buy a funeral plan from an FCA-authorised provider, there are greater protections in place than there were previously.
How Can I Check Whether a Funeral Plan Provider Is FCA Regulated?
Since July 2022, funeral plan providers have been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Before purchasing a prepaid funeral plan, it is important to ensure the provider is authorised and regulated. You can do this by visiting the register: HERE
You should also review independent customer feedback and carefully check what is included within the plan.
How Do I Know My Money Is Safe?
Choosing an FCA-regulated provider offers consumers greater protection than was previously available. Protections can include complaint handling processes and financial safeguards should something go wrong.
Always check the provider's regulatory status before purchasing a funeral plan.
What Happens If a Funeral Plan Provider Stops Trading?
Depending on the circumstances:
- Another provider may take over the plans
- Customers may be transferred to a new provider
- Compensation arrangements may be available
- Existing payments may remain protected
If you have an older funeral plan, contact the provider directly to understand your options.
Planning Ahead Can Help Your Family
While tracing a lost funeral plan can sometimes be difficult, planning ahead and keeping clear records can save your loved ones significant stress in the future.
Talking about funeral wishes isn't always easy, but sharing your plans can provide clarity, confidence and reassurance for the people you care about most.
At The Farewell Guide, we're committed to helping families navigate funeral planning with transparency, support and informed choices.
Helpful Resources
Essential Documents to Keep With Your Funeral Plan
What Documents Should I Include in My Funeral Plan?
Create Your Free Funeral Plan and Record Your Wishes to share with loved ones
https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/funeral-plan
Compare Funeral Directors
https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/funeral-directors-search
Learn More About Funeral Planning
https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/support-and-advice
Record and Share Your Funeral Wishes
https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk