Unless you decide to arrange the funeral yourself, a funeral director will be of great practical support when dealing with a death or dealing with your funeral arrangements
They will remove the deceased from their place of death and care for them. They will assist you in arranging the funeral and provide you with a wealth of advice and support. For a broader description of things you might expect a funeral director to do, see What a funeral director will do.
Remember, a funeral director's role is to carry out your wishes and instructions (subject to their legal requirements). You will be paying for their services so you should feel free to ask them anything you wish.
Contacting a funeral director
It's important to choose a funeral director who is part of a trade association. Organisations like the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) have codes of practice your funeral director will be expected to follow, guaranteeing you a highly professional level of service.
These codes of practice will include having established complaints procedures. If you do feel any level of dissatisfaction with the service you receive, the procedures will ensure your complaint is dealt with appropriately.
Funeral directors
Contact the NAFD
- Call: 0121 711 1343 (09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday)
- Call from abroad: +44 121 711 1343
- Website: NAFD Website
- Write to: National Association of Funeral Directors
- 618 Warwick Road, Solihull , West Midlands, B91 1AA
Contact the SAIF
- Call: 01279 726777
- Email: info@saif.org.uk
- Website: SAIF Website
- Write to: SAIF Business Centre
- 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, CM21 9DB
Find a funeral director near you
Reviewed by the Arranging a Funeral team - September 2026.
Common questions
Why choose a funeral director who belongs to a trade association?
Members of the NAFD or SAIF follow a code of practice and have a complaints process if something goes wrong.
Can I ask a funeral director anything?
Yes. You're paying for their services, and their role is to carry out your wishes.
How do I contact the NAFD?
Call 0121 711 1343, or visit nafd.org.uk.
How do I contact SAIF?
Call 01279 726777, or email info@saif.org.uk.
(Once the NAFD number on the page is corrected to 0121 711 1343, as requested in "Advice pages: out-of-date helpline numbers".)