Cremation without a funeral

There are many people out there who don't want a lot of fuss when they die and don't even want a funeral at all. So that begs the question, by law, in the UK, do you have to have a funeral? And if not, what are the options? We'll explore more in this article.

By law, do you have to have a funeral in the UK?

The short answer is: no. By law in the UK, there is no legal obligation to have a funeral. However, when somebody dies, the body must be disposed of either by being buried, cremated or donated to medical science.

By definition a funeral is "a ceremony or service held shortly after a person's death, usually including the person's burial or cremation." However, not everyone wishes for a formal funeral ceremony. Alternatively, you may wish to arrange a direct cremation.

Direct cremation is a simple, no-fuss alternative to traditional funerals. It involves the collection and cremation of the deceased without a preceding funeral service. The ashes are then returned to the family or scattered at the crematorium.

A celebration of life or memorial can still take place, but this happens separately from the cremation at a time and place of the family’s choosing. This provides the flexibility to remember a loved one in a way that’s personal and meaningful to them.

Though it's a pared-back service compared to a traditional funeral, the deceased is still treated with the same compassion and care you would expect any funeral provider to supply. Additionally, a direct cremation is the cheapest way to be cremated or buried and prices start with Distinct Cremations from just £1,199.

Reasons to have a funeral and reasons not to

The decision to have a funeral may depend on a number of factors. This could be a cultural or religious consideration, personal preference, practical reasons or financial reasons.

Here are some reasons why you might have a funeral and reasons why you might choose not to

Why choose to have a funeral

While some may opt for alternatives, there are several reasons why people choose to have a traditional funeral:

Common reasons to have a funeral:

  • Cultural and religious traditions: Many cultures and religions have specific rituals and traditions associated with death and funerals. These traditions may require a funeral service to honour the deceased.
  • Closure and processing grief: Funerals can help the grieving process by allowing family and friends to come together to mourn, share memories, and find emotional support from each other.
  • Honouring the deceased: A funeral provides an opportunity to celebrate the life, achievements, and contributions of the person who has passed away. It allows for the sharing of stories and memories that highlight their impact on others.
  • Preservation of family traditions: Funerals can preserve cultural and familial traditions related to death and burial, ensuring that these customs are passed down through generations.

Why choose not to have a funeral

Conversely, there are valid reasons for choosing not to have a funeral:

Common reasons not to have a funeral:

  • Personal preference: Some people may have expressed a desire for no formal funeral or memorial service in their will or in conversations with loved ones for no reason other than personal preference.
  • Financial considerations: Funerals can be expensive, and some families may not have the financial means to organise a funeral service when there is an alternative to go without.
  • Environmental concerns: Some people opt for a green funeral, a water cremation or a natural burial to minimise their environmental impact. These alternatives may not involve traditional funeral services.
  • Geographic constraints: In cases where the deceased's family and friends are scattered across the globe, it may be challenging to organise a traditional funeral that accommodates everyone's needs and schedules.

What happens if you choose not to have a funeral?

If you choose not to have a funeral, you can choose alternatives that offer flexibility and cost savings. Common options include direct cremation, where the deceased is cremated without a service or attended cremation with a small, intimate service led by the family.

Here are a few alternatives you may like to consider if you or your loved one aren't interested in having a traditional funeral.

Unattended cremation

Cremation without a funeral

An unattended cremation or direct cremation, now favoured by 20% of the UK population*, has quickly become the most popular alternative. They take place without mourners or a funeral service. After the cremation the family has the option to host a memorial service.

Many like the idea of an unattended cremation because it allows the family to have a memorial service which is separate from the cremation itself.

* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs

More about unattended cremation

Attended cremations

Family Of Three Embracing

A small or private attended cremation, sometimes referred to as a family-led funeral, is a funeral with a small attended service designed and guided by the family of the deceased, without a celebrant or religious minister. The choice of how the service looks is entirely with the family.

A small, attended cremation or family-led funeral is an intimate affair usually favoured by those looking to say farewell in a straightforward way. There is no procession and the service can be as traditional or non-traditional as the family wants.

More about attended cremations

Natural burial

Tree pod burial

Natural burials are a type of green funeral which are fast becoming a popular alternative funeral choice as people become more environmentally aware. A natural burial, occasionally referred to as a woodland burial or green burial, is where the deceased is buried at a green burial site in a natural coffin or shroud.

A green burial site is often in a forest, meadow or wooded area. Currently in the UK, these aren’t especially common. However they are increasing in availability as demand increases.

How is a funeral with Distinct Cremations different?

Choosing a simple, no fuss funeral instead of a traditional cremation lets you celebrate a loved one’s life however you wish, with less stress and no fuss.

You can see the key differences between a simple, no fuss funeral and a traditional funeral in more detail below.

Cremation with Distinct

A simple funeral with Distinct Cremations

The contemporary, simple, fuss-free farewell, free of tradition

  • A choice of two options: an unattended cremation with no mourners present or an attended cremation
  • A compassionate, attentive team there 24/7 for your questions and support with paperwork
  • A service free of pomp and ceremony
  • You can organise a separate memorial service that's personal and unique to your loved one
  • On average 72% cheaper** than a traditional funeral, with prices starting from just £1,199


** 72% saving is based on the cost of a basic funeral at £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs) vs the cost of a Distinct Cremations direct cremation at £1,199

Traditional Funeral

Traditional funeral

A fixed format funeral, with a set service

  • A set format 20-50 minute service held in a traditional setting like a church or chapel with mourners present
  • Traditionally less personal and flexible
  • Option to have a procession with a hearse and limousines
  • Funeral and service coordination from a funeral director
  • Costs on average £4,285# for a basic funeral





    # The average cost of a basic funeral in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

Get in touch with us today

Whether you're wanting to arrange a funeral today, interested in funeral plans, or looking for something else, our customer service specialists are here for you 24/7 to answer any questions you may have.

Call on 01543 211997

Other helpful resources

Below are a few more resources that you may be interested in.

Do you have to use a funeral director?

funeral director

It is possible to organise a funeral yourself without a funeral director. If you choose to arrange a funeral without a funeral director, there are a number of key elements that you’ll need to take into consideration.

Do you have to use a funeral director?

Arrange a funeral with Distinct

Sue arrange

At Distinct Cremations, we provide no fuss funerals which are simple to arrange, affordable and delivered with care, dignity and respect. Prices start from just £1,199 if you need to arrange a funeral today.

Arrange a funeral

FAQs

What is the cost difference between a traditional funeral and a direct cremation?

A traditional funeral in the UK costs around £4,285 on average[1]. In comparison, a direct cremation is much cheaper, starting from just £1,199 with Distinct Cremations. Direct cremation involves cremating the deceased without a funeral service beforehand, which reduces the overall cost significantly.
[1] SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs

Is it necessary to have a traditional funeral director?

No, you don't have to have a funeral director. While they can help with the arrangements and paperwork, you can choose to organise the funeral yourself. This means handling the necessary documents, transporting the body, and coordinating with the crematorium or burial site on your own.

What our customers say about us

We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.

4.9/5
Feefo logo
4.9/5
Google g icon
4.8/5
Trustpilot logo
Read all our reviews
Anonymous, on Feefo 28 Mar 2025
The team have been amazing during dealing with the death of two family members in a very short period of time . We dealt mainly with Yasmin who has been do helpful and understanding during our time of loss. As result of the service provided during this time further family members have decided to proceed with booking such services for themselves for the future.
Lisa Matthews, on Feefo 22 Mar 2025
Very helpful with difficult decisions. No pressure sales as with other funeral services I approached. Also very good price in comparison with others.
Anonymous, on Feefo 19 Mar 2025
From my first interaction requesting a guide to my conversation with Sophie, I cannot fault the service I've received. All my questions have been answered in a way that I can understand what I am being offered and what I have asked for. All processes and procedures have been explained and I have been given ample time to research other possible companies and I haven't felt pressurised or been given the 'hard sale'. On the service i have received so far I would highly recommend them to family and friends
Anonymous, on Feefo 10 Mar 2025
Bought a policy online which was quick and simple to do and then received a courtesy call from Distinct Cremations to make sure that I was happy with my purchase. Very professional.
Debbie Burchell, on Feefo 8 Mar 2025
I had no idea where to go when my mum passed away. We had discussed that she wanted to be cremated, but that was it. My partner saw Distinct Cremations on our local Crematorium website, as they work with them. I didn't want loads of fuss, or to go into an office. Just a lovely personal service. Distinct Cremations went above and beyond in every area. I picked my options on the website, nice and simple, to get an idea of my quote. Then had a lovely discussion on the phone with Dan. We talked about all the options I wanted and he was so thougthful, sincere and genuinely supportive, I was really nicely surprised. It was really simple to put the order through and to pay for. Since then I have had a singluar, regular contact called Grace who looked after me every step of the way. The professionalism and compassion of the staff at Distinct Cremations is second to none. I was informed at every step with what was going to happen. They regularly checked in with me, to make sure I was doing ok. The service and celebrant Carol Porter was incredible. Everything happened exactly as planned. I couldn't have wanted anything better. The ashes were delivered to me at home, I had the standard box for them to be delivered in. The gentleman who delivered them was really kind and compassionate also. They came in a really nice blue box. Thank you for making one of the worst times of my life as easy as it could have been. I would highly recommend Distinct Cremations to everyone. I would definitely use them again myself.
Anonymous, on Feefo 7 Mar 2025
I purchased a cremation plan for my wife and myself. It was very easy to do and so far everything is fine. Just hope I don"t need to use it for a while. Bob
Yvette Glover, on Feefo 7 Mar 2025
I am so grateful to the two people who looked after me during the process of organising the cremation. They were really caring and nothing seemed too much trouble. A huge thank you to Daniel and especially Maxine.
David Peter Lee, on Feefo 6 Mar 2025
Excellent company and great customer service and follow up.
4.9/5
Feefo logo
4.9/5
Google g icon
4.8/5
Trustpilot logo
Read all our reviews

Not found what you're looking for?

Not found what you're looking for?