How to pay for a funeral before probate is granted: a UK guide for executors
When someone dies, the funeral bill is often one of the first things their family has to find money for – usually within a week or two of the death. Probate, on the other hand, can take months. That gap is where most of the pressure sits, because the deceased’s bank accounts are frozen the moment the bank is notified, and the estate’s money can’t simply be spent until a grant is issued.According to SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2026, the average simple attended funeral in the UK now costs £3,828, rising to £5,140 once send-off costs such as flowers, catering and a wake are included. Around 15% of families say they struggled financially to pay for the funeral, with an average shortfall of £2,365 to find. So the question of how to pay for a funeral before probate is granted is a genuinely common one, not a rare edge case.
This guide sets out who is actually responsible for the bill, the legitimate ways to pay before probate comes through, and where estate-secured funding fits in when the other options don’t cover the gap.
Who is responsible for paying for the funeral?
Funeral costs are a testamentary expense – one of the first debts an estate is expected to settle, ranking ahead of most other liabilities. In practice, though, the estate can’t pay anything until a grant of probate or letters of administration is issued, so it’s usually the executor or a family member who ends up paying upfront and reclaiming the cost from the estate later. If you’re unclear on what an executor is actually obliged to do here, our guide to being an executor of a will covers the full range of duties, including testamentary expenses.
Ways to pay for a funeral before probate is granted
1. Ask the deceased’s bank to release funds directly
Most UK banks and building societies will release money from the deceased’s own account to pay a funeral invoice directly, even before probate is granted, provided the payment goes straight to the funeral director and there are sufficient funds in the account. This isn’t a legal entitlement and each bank sets its own policy and evidence requirements, so it’s worth contacting the bank early with a copy of the death certificate and the funeral invoice.
2. Life insurance and pre-paid funeral plans
If the deceased held a life insurance policy or a pre-paid funeral plan, this is usually the most straightforward route. Funeral plans are regulated by the FCA and pay the funeral director directly. Life insurance claims can take several weeks to process in full, though some insurers will release a partial payment for funeral costs on request.
3. DWP Funeral Expenses Payment
If you’re responsible for the funeral and you or your partner receive a qualifying benefit – such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support or Housing Benefit – you may be able to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment from the DWP. It covers necessary costs such as burial or cremation fees in full, plus a contribution of up to £1,000 towards other costs like the funeral director’s fees or a coffin. You must claim within six months of the funeral, and any payment is usually deducted from money you later receive from the deceased’s estate. Because the average payment covers only part of the total bill, it’s rarely a complete solution on its own.
4. Paying upfront and reclaiming from the estate
Many families simply pay the funeral director themselves and reclaim the cost once the estate is settled, as a testamentary expense. This works well when the amount is manageable, but it means someone is personally out of pocket for however long probate takes – and, as our guide on how long probate takes in the UK sets out, that’s rarely a quick process.
5. Reducing the cost itself
Every UK funeral director must provide a price list on request, so it’s worth comparing more than one before committing. A direct cremation – without a funeral service or mourners present – costs around £1,628 on average according to SunLife, compared with £3,828 or more for a simple attended funeral. Many families choose a direct cremation now and hold a memorial or celebration of life later, once finances and probate are less pressing.
6. Crowdfunding and community support
Crowdfunding platforms are increasingly used to cover funeral shortfalls, and community groups, employers or religious organisations sometimes offer help too. It won’t suit every family, but it can close a smaller gap quickly without adding debt.
When these options aren’t enough
Sometimes none of the above fully closes the gap – the bank won’t release funds without a grant already in place, there’s no policy or plan, the DWP payment doesn’t come close to covering the bill, and no one in the family is in a position to front the cost. This is often the case with larger or more complex estates, where the eventual inheritance is substantial but genuinely inaccessible until probate concludes.
This is where Level’s Funeral Expense Loan is designed to help. Rather than a personal loan taken out by a grieving family member, it’s funding secured against the estate itself, arranged through the solicitor or professional administrator handling the estate. In practice that means:
- No personal credit checks and no personal liability to repay – the loan is repaid directly from the estate once it’s settled
- No monthly repayments – interest rolls up and is only paid on the amount actually drawn down
- Funding can extend to other testamentary expenses too, such as property maintenance, professional fees or insurance, not just the funeral itself
- A decision in principle is typically available within 1–2 working days
Because the facility is only available where a solicitor or other professional is administering the estate, it’s a route best raised early with the professional handling probate, rather than something an executor arranges alone. If inheritance tax is also part of the pressure on the estate, our Inheritance Tax explained guide is a useful next read, and Level’s Inheritance Tax Loan covers that liability specifically.
Funeral funding FAQs
Can you access a deceased person’s bank account to pay for their funeral?
Often, yes. Most banks will pay a funeral invoice directly from the deceased’s account before probate is granted, on production of the death certificate and the invoice, though policies vary by bank.
How much is the DWP Funeral Expenses Payment?
There’s no fixed amount. It covers necessary costs like burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 towards other expenses, and is means-tested against your benefits and the deceased’s estate.
Can an executor be personally liable for funeral costs?
An executor can end up personally out of pocket if they pay the funeral director before the estate is able to reimburse them, but funeral costs are a testamentary expense of the estate, not a personal debt of the executor.
Is a funeral expense loan the same as a personal loan?
No. A personal loan is unsecured borrowing taken out by an individual and repaid by them personally. Level’s Funeral Expense Loan is secured against the estate, arranged via a solicitor or professional administrator, and repaid from estate assets rather than by the executor personally.
Can I get estate funding for a funeral if there’s no will?
Yes – a will isn’t required to access this type of funding, provided a professional is administering the estate and there’s no unresolved dispute.
