Advice Funeral Planning

Funeral Planning

Funeral Poems for a Father

3 minute read

Often poetry is a great way to represent how you feel about the loss of a loved one. The best poems can express how we feel in a beautiful and articulate way.

How Long Does a Funeral Service Last?

3 minute read

Typically a funeral service lasts around an hour. Some funerals can last a number of days, subject to one’s customs and religious beliefs.

How to Choose a Funeral Director

3 minute read

The below guide is to help provide a full picture of what is available to you. We also work with amazing funeral directors who we would be more than happy to recommend.

How to Choose Flowers For a Funeral

3 minute read

Creating an arrangement or tribute of flowers can capture the essence of a person and be a great gift at a funeral.

How to Have a Non-Religious Funeral

2 minute read

A secular or non-religious funeral could be the best way of expressing your loved one's beliefs and way of life.

How to Plan a Funeral

14 minute read

A week-by-week guide to planning a funeral in the UK. From choosing a funeral director in week one to the service itself — every decision covered.

How To Write Your Own Funeral Poem

2 minute read

Writing your own funeral poem to read at a service can give you the opportunity to create something incredibly personal for the event.

What is a Direct Cremation?

12 minute read

What is a direct cremation? The simplest, most affordable funeral option in the UK. No service, no attendance — just a dignified cremation from around £1,628.

What Is a Funeral Wake?

3 minute read

A wake is the gathering held before or just after a funeral service. Friends and family of the person who has passed away to celebrate their loved one’s life.

Grant of Letters of Administration

12 minute read

What are Letters of Administration? When they're needed (no will exists), who can apply, and how to get a grant to manage an intestate estate in England & Wales.

Grant of Representation

14 minute read

What is a Grant of Representation? The difference between Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration, who can apply, costs (£300), and the 6-step application process.

What is a Green Burial and Would You Want One?

3 minute read

As we take steps to reduce the environmental impact in all aspects of our lives, trends towards green funerals and eco burials have become more popular.

What Clothes to Wear to a Funeral

3 minute read

Unsure what to wear to a funeral in the UK? Learn traditional funeral attire, what to avoid, and how dress codes work in England and Wales.

Poems and Readings For Funerals

11 minute read

Choosing the poems and readings for a funeral can be hard. Octopus Legacy has laid out some popular funeral poems and readings to provide some inspiration.

Cryopreservation: Life After Death

3 minute read

Curious about cryopreservation? Octopus Legacy has laid out all you need to know about cryonic and cryopreservation here, from costs to whether it works.

Famous Cemeteries

1 minute read

Check out some of the most famous and beautiful cemeteries near you. Learn some facts about why they’re famous and why they might be worth a visit.

Practical advice for planning a funeral

13 minute read

How to plan a funeral in the UK: a practical guide for bereaved families. Checklist of decisions, costs, timelines, and where to get help with funeral arrangements.

Funeral Poems for a Child

2 minute read

Choosing a poem or reading for a child’s funeral is extremely difficult. There is a strong sense of injustice felt by those in mourning and this is often reflected in poems.