Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Need to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order — from £95.
Since July 2022, all pre-paid funeral plan providers in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). For plans sold under the new regime, the FCA rules require funds to be held in trust or through a whole-of-life insurance policy, providing significant protection. For plans sold before July 2022, protections vary and depend on which self-regulatory body the provider belonged to.
Pre-paid funeral plans are purchased by hundreds of thousands of people each year as a way of fixing the cost of their funeral and relieving their family of a financial burden. The collapse of several providers over the years — most notably Safe Hands Funerals in 2022 — exposed the risks of an unregulated market. The introduction of FCA regulation has significantly improved consumer protections, but there are still important questions to ask about any existing plan.
Before 29 July 2022, the pre-paid funeral plan market in the UK was not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Providers operated under a voluntary self-regulatory framework, primarily through the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA). This left consumers significantly exposed if a provider failed.
Since 29 July 2022, all providers of pre-paid funeral plans must be FCA authorised. The FCA rules require that:
Any provider who was not authorised by the FCA by 29 July 2022 was required to cease selling new plans. Existing plans held by unauthorised providers needed to be transferred to an authorised provider or wound down.
Safe Hands Funerals entered administration in March 2022, just months before the FCA regulatory regime came into force. The company had been a member of the Funeral Planning Authority but its customer funds were not adequately ring-fenced, leaving approximately 46,000 customers with plans they had paid for and no guarantee of a funeral.
The outcome for Safe Hands customers was stark:
The Safe Hands collapse was a significant driver of the introduction of FCA regulation. It demonstrated why self-regulation was insufficient and why ring-fencing of funds is essential.
Note for Safe Hands customers:
If you were a Safe Hands customer and have not yet heard from the administrators (FRP Advisory), you should contact them directly. The FPA website also maintains information for those affected. If you accepted a lower settlement, you may have limited further recourse, but seek independent legal advice if you are unsure of your position.
The Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) was the principal self-regulatory body for the pre-paid funeral plan market before FCA regulation. It required members to ring-fence customer funds in a trust or insurance arrangement and maintained a code of practice.
However, the FPA had significant limitations:
Plans sold by FPA members are not automatically protected by any legacy scheme. If you have an older plan that was FPA-regulated, you need to check whether the provider is now FCA-authorised and whether your plan has been transferred to the new regime.
The most important thing you can do right now if you or a family member has a pre-paid funeral plan is to verify that the provider is FCA authorised. This takes a few minutes:
If you cannot contact your provider, if they have gone into administration, or if they are refusing to honour a plan, take the following steps in order:
For families dealing with an immediate bereavement:
If the person who held the plan has just died and you cannot activate the plan because the provider has failed or cannot be contacted, you will need to make alternative funeral arrangements immediately. Keep all documentation relating to the original plan. The cost of the funeral you arrange will likely be recoverable as a debt from the estate of the failed provider, and you should submit a claim to the administrators as a priority creditor.
Compare funeral costs across all UK regions. See average prices for London, Manchester, Scotland, Wales & more with regional price breakdowns.
Practical ways to reduce funeral costs without compromising dignity. Expert money-saving strategies and budget alternatives to save £1,000+.
Complete guide to paying for a funeral in installments. Compare payment plans, loans, government benefits, and financing options.
Learn how to compare funeral director prices effectively. Get multiple quotes, spot hidden costs, and save £1,000+ on identical services.
Arrange a funeral in 7 days. Step-by-step guide: register death, choose funeral director, plan service. Get 3 quotes and save £1,000s.
Ready to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order, and what to do when it gets complicated.
Get started →Free to start · from £95