Golden Leaves Funeral Plans Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a medical?

No. With a Golden Leaves funeral plan, acceptance is guaranteed. There are no medicals or personal questions to answer. Anyone can take out a plan, and at any age.

Can I pre-plan a non-christian funeral?

Absolutely. We are proud to have conducted many religious and civil funerals for clients from an enormous variety of religious denominations and ethnic groups.

Why not just take out insurance?

Customers are often tempted to choose an insurance policy rather than a Funeral Plan. There are a number of compelling reasons why a Funeral Plan is a more sensible option, however:

  With an insurance policy, you keep paying until you die-which means that you might pay considerably more in premiums than the funeral actually costs! With a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan, you pay a fixed cost.

  With an insurance policy you generally need a health check. There are no medicals or health questionnaires with a Golden Leaves funeral plan.

  Generally, you can only get insurance up to a certain age, and you'll pay a very high premium, too, if you begin the policy at a late age. There are no age restrictions with a Golden Leaves funeral plan and the price is fixed whatever your age you apply.

  There is no guarantee that an insurance policy will actually cover the cost of your funeral when you pass away. With a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan, your funeral is guaranteed to be fully paid for, regardless of any changes in the price over time.

  There are no refunds if you cancel your insurance policy. You could pay your premium for 10 years, then miss one month's payment and you would lose all of your funds. With a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan, you could take a payment holiday or even freeze your plan for a month or two.

..or a savings plan?

Funeral costs have risen dramatically in recent years and look set to continue on the same path. When you put your money in a savings plan or building society, there are no guarantees that your investment will increase sufficiently to pay for your funeral when the day comes. Take out a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan, however, and, not only do you pay today's prices, you're guaranteed the funeral you want, no matter how prices rise in the future, regardless of how long you live.

Will there be any additional costs at the time of the funeral?

In the UK, your Golden Leaves plan covers 100% of the costs of the funeral director's services specified in your plan, with no hidden fees or administration charges. In some cases, however, your estate may be asked for an additional contribution towards 'disbursements' (usually payments to third parties such as cemetery or crematorium fees, medical fees or musicians, for example) where the increase in their cost has exceeded the increase in the Retail Price Index.

Is it possible to pay in instalments?

Yes. You can pay for your plan in one lump sum within 30 days of your application or you can pay by instalments spread over any period between one and five years (or even longer by special arrangement). If you die before you've finished paying, your estate will simply be asked to make up the shortfall. Golden Leaves accepts cheque, credit and debit cards or bank transfer by BACS or CHAPS, International customers may pay with Euros or Sterling.

I'd like to pre-plan for a relative, is this possible?

Yes, you can take out a plan for anyone else. All correspondence will be sent to the person arranging the plan, so confidentiality is assured.