Making sure my loved ones don't have to worry about planning and paying for my funeral is sensible. Golden Leaves also make it great value by helping to beat inflation in funeral costs
The Silver Plan – Affordable Funeral Plans
The Silver Plan is designed for people looking for affordable funeral plans that allow them to plan ahead with confidence and clarity. It covers the essential services required for a dignified cremation or burial, without unnecessary extras, helping keep future funeral costs manageable.
By arranging a funeral plan in advance, you can make thoughtful decisions in your own time and help reduce uncertainty for loved ones later on. As a provider rated Excellent on Trustpilot, Golden Leaves is trusted by people across the UK to support calm, considered funeral planning for the future.
If you are looking for a simple, dignified funeral plan and would like to talk through your options, our experienced team is available to help. You can call us on 0800 85 44 48 or request a callback at a time that suits you.
Explore This Plan
- What’s Included?
- What’s Not Included?
- How to Pay for a Silver Plan
- How the Silver Plan Works
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Choose Golden Leaves?
What’s Included in the Silver Plan
The Silver Plan covers the essential services needed to carry out a simple and dignified funeral:
- Funeral Director from the Golden Leaves approved network
A local, professional funeral director appointed from our approved network to carry out the arrangements. - Advice on registration, documentation, and certification
Practical guidance for loved ones on the paperwork and formal steps required after a death. - Collection of the deceased (mainland UK, during working hours)
Transportation from the place of death to the funeral director’s care, Monday to Friday, during normal working hours. - Care and preparation of the deceased
Respectful care prior to the funeral service. - Removal of medical implants
Where required for cremation, such as pacemakers. - Wood veneer coffin
A simple, dignified coffin suitable for cremation or burial. - Chapel of Rest
Access for friends and family to visit and pay their respects before the funeral. - Cremation or burial funeral service
A straightforward service at either a crematorium or cemetery. - Hearse on the day of the funeral
Transportation to the crematorium or cemetery. - Funeral conductor and four pallbearers
Professional staff to oversee and support the funeral service. - Guaranteed cremation fees (Monday to Friday)
Cremation costs are included and protected against future price increases. - Burial option – fees equivalent to cremation fees
If burial is chosen, the plan provides a contribution equal to the included cremation fees. - Guaranteed minister’s or officiant’s fees
Included and protected from future increases. - Bereavement counselling (where available)
Access to emotional support services, subject to availability.
What’s Not Included in the Silver Plan
To keep the plan affordable and focused on essential services, the following items are not included:
- Purchase of an ashes plot
- Embalming (unless required by the crematorium or cemetery)
- Limousine(s) for the funeral cortege
- Doctors’ or Medical Examiners’ fees
These items can usually be arranged separately if needed.
How to Pay for your Silver Plan
1. Single payment
- The whole sum is paid immediately, and full cover starts once the contract confirmation email is sent
- No health checks
- No age restrictions
- You can cancel your funeral plan within 30 days or within 7 days of us telling you who your funeral director is (if this is later). You’ll get all your money back
- If you cancel after this, you’ll get your money back, but we’ll deduct a £325 charge for administration
2. 12 month instalments
- A deposit is paid, and the remaining balance is spread over 12 months
- Accidental death cover commences immediately after the contract confirmation email is sent
- Full cover commences after 12 months
- No age restrictions
- You can cancel your funeral plan at any time in the 12 months and get back everything you’ve paid.
- If you cancel after this, you’ll get your money back, but we’ll deduct a £325 charge for administration.
- This payment option is not available if you have been advised by a doctor of a condition or illness that will cause death within 12 months of applying for a plan.
3. 24 – 120 months instalments
- A deposit is paid, and the remaining balance is spread between 24 to 120 months
- Accidental death cover commences immediately after the contract confirmation email is sent
- Full cover commences after 12 months
- You must complete your instalments by your 80th birthday.
- You can cancel your funeral plan at any time in the 12 months and get back everything you’ve paid.
- If you cancel after that, you’ll get your money back, but we’ll keep a £325 charge for administration. For cancellations after 12 months, you will get back all amounts paid to the date when you can cancel but you will be charged a fee of £325 and we will also retain 50% of the Instalment Payment Fees (IPF) due up to the date of cancellation.
- This payment option is not available if you have been advised by a doctor of a condition or illness that will cause death within 12 months of applying for a plan.
How the Silver Plan Works
- Plan ahead in your own time
The Silver Plan is arranged for future use only, allowing you to make decisions calmly and without pressure. - Essential services are set in advance
The funeral director’s services and selected third-party fees are included, helping reduce uncertainty later on. - Flexible payment options
The plan can usually be paid for as a single payment or by instalments, depending on availability. - Your wishes are recorded
Clear instructions are documented, helping loved ones feel confident they are honouring your preferences. - The plan is used in the future
When needed, the funeral is delivered in line with the services included in your plan.
Third-Party Fees Explained
Third-party fees are costs charged by organisations outside the funeral director’s control. These typically include:
- Crematorium fees
- Minister or officiant fees
Where included in the Silver Plan, these fees are guaranteed, meaning they are protected against future price increases.
If burial is selected, the plan provides a contribution equivalent to the cremation fees included within the plan. Any additional burial costs would need to be covered separately.
Pricing & Regional Variations
Our funeral plan prices are based on national average costs. In some areas of the UK, the price of certain services may be higher.
If your chosen funeral director does not accept the plan at the national average price, we will advise you of any regional variation in pricing and explain the options available. This ensures transparency and allows you to make an informed decision while planning ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the money I paid for my plan?
We help many thousands of customers to plan and fund their funerals. Because of economies of scale, we can sell our plans to our customers at a rate which is usually far more cost effective than it would be for them to buy from a funeral director at the time of the funeral itself. As a commercial enterprise, we have costs of doing business and promotional marketing. These costs are met by supply side economies of scale delivered by our ability to purchase funerals in bulk and are consequently absorbed into the price of our Plans.
We retain an amount from the price paid by you for your Plan (which is currently £325) to cover our administrative costs of running the business. We also retain an amount (which currently ranges between £455 and £680 dependent on which plan you purchase) to cover marketing, sales fulfilment expenses and to provide the business with an element of profit. The balance is placed in the Trust in order to pay the Appointed Funeral Director and other costs of the agreed funeral (for further information, please see our Commission and Payment Disclosure and refer to our fees and payments breakdown summary table for further details.
Is the Silver Plan an affordable funeral plan for future use only?
Yes. The Silver Plan is designed exclusively for people planning ahead. It cannot be used for someone who has already passed away.
Does the plan include a funeral director?
Yes. The plan includes a professional funeral director from the Golden Leaves approved network to manage and carry out the arrangements.
Are cremation costs covered?
Yes. Cremation fees for Monday to Friday services are guaranteed, helping protect against future price increases.
What if I choose burial instead of cremation?
If burial is selected, the plan provides a contribution equivalent to the cremation fees included in the Silver Plan.
Is a coffin included?
Yes. A simple wood veneer coffin suitable for cremation or burial is included.
Are staff provided on the day of the funeral?
Yes. A funeral conductor and four pallbearers are included to support the service.
Does the plan include support for loved ones?
Yes. The plan includes advice on registration and documentation, and access to bereavement counselling where available.
Are there any costs not covered by the plan?
Some items, such as doctors’ or Medical Examiners’ fees, embalming, and limousines, are not included and would be payable separately.
How are payments protected?
Funds are held securely in line with regulatory requirements, typically through a trust or insurance-based arrangement.
Why Choose Golden Leaves
Choosing a funeral plan is an important decision, and with Golden Leaves you can be confident you’re in safe hands. For over 35 years, we’ve helped thousands of families across the UK and beyond to plan ahead, easing both financial and emotional burdens when the time comes.
- Trusted and highly rates: Golden Leaves is rated Excellent on Trustpilot, with thousands of reviews from families who have placed their trust in us.
- Fixed prices guaranteed: secure today’s price and protect your loved ones from rising funeral costs in the future.
- Experience you can rely on: our funeral directors are fully approved and uphold the highest standards of dignity and respect.
- Peace of mind for your family: by arranging everything in advance, you ensure your loved ones won’t have difficult decisions or unexpected costs at a stressful time.
- BSI accredited: Golden Leaves is one of the UK’s leading independent funeral planning companies to hold a BSI ISO: 9001 Business Excellence Standard.
With Golden Leaves, it’s about affordability, reassurance, dignity and knowing your wishes will be honoured exactly as you intended.
A Simple Way to Plan Ahead
The Silver Plan is a practical choice for those seeking affordable funeral plans that cover essential services while offering reassurance for the future. Planning ahead allows you to take control of your arrangements and help ease the burden on loved ones later on.
If you would like to learn more about the Silver Plan or discuss whether it is right for your future arrangements, our team is here to help.
You can call us on 0800 85 44 48 to arrange a consultation, or request a callback and we’ll get in touch at a time that works for you.
Silver Plan Costs
Please Note: Should you want to pay by instalments, and require the additional options, their cost will be paid in advance. This illustration is based on an initial deposit of £49, but amounts will change with the payment of a higher deposit.
