Plan Ahead,
With Confidence and Clarity
Whether you’re considering a pre-paid funeral plan or simply want to document your wishes, we’re here to help you take the next step — on your terms, in your time.
Why West & Coe
We have established a legacy of trust, honesty, and dependability over four generations and more than 120 years.
As an independent, family-owned funeral director, we prioritise understanding your unique wishes. We will work with you to tailor a funeral plan that incorporates every personal preference, from specific hymns or music to any other personal touches you desire.
These discussions can be held at our premises, in the comfort of your home, or over the phone or email, entirely at a time that suits your convenience.
Golden Charter Funeral Plans
A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.
At West & Coe, we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers1, Golden Charter has helped nearly 1 million people to plan ahead2, so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to you.
Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all UK residents regardless of age or state of health.
A plan to suit your needs
As an independently owned funeral director, we’ll take the time to understand your wishes and tailor a plan to suit you. We can discuss these at our premises or in your home, at a time that is convenient for you. If you’d prefer to discuss this over the phone or via email, we can assist with this too. You can tell us about any preferences you have in mind – the type of funeral you would like to have, hymns, music or any other personal touches – and we’ll make sure your plan takes these into account.
Payment options to suit you
With a Golden Charter funeral plan, you can pay for your plan in several ways. Spread the cost or make a one-off payment – simply choose the one that’s right for you. We will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.
The retail price of your funeral plan is representative of the equivalent cost of a funeral today plus an arrangement fee of £325 which is retained by Golden Charter to help cover the costs of setting up your plan.
Your payments are held within the Golden Charter Trust. With almost £1.21 billion under management3, the Trust is operated by a Board of Trustees, completely independent of Golden Charter. Their role is to hold your payments and ensure that the funeral director services in your plan can be paid for at the time they are required – however far into the future that may be. For more information on how your payments are protected, please visit goldencharter.co.uk/faqs
What’s Included in a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan
Our funeral director’s services will be covered in your funeral plan, which means our fees will be fixed at today’s prices and protected against rising costs. These services typically include:
- Professional services and making arrangements for the funeral
- Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to our premises, chapel of rest or other suitable location
- Care of the deceased and preparations for family viewing if requested
- Advice on the certification and registration of death and related documentation
- Provision of funeral vehicles
- Advice on bereavement counselling
- Coffin or casket requested
Additional Third Party Costs
Although a pre-paid funeral plan can cover all of the services above, there are some additional third party costs to consider. These are the costs for essential, non-funeral director services required to carry out a cremation or burial which need to be paid at the time of the funeral. These costs are outside our control. Depending on the plan type chosen, a Golden Charter funeral plan can include a contribution towards some third party costs. They may include:
- Crematorium fee
- Minister or officiant’s fee
Cemetery fee: the opening of a new or existing grave for burial or interment of cremated remains
Other third party costs that may be associated with a funeral include:
- Purchase of grave or lair
- Hire of church or other venue
- Fees for organist or soloist
- Memorial, such as a headstone, entry in a book of remembrance, or the planting of a tree
- Catering, floral tributes and newspaper announcements
There will only be more to pay at the time of the funeral if the third party costs exceed the allowance when you buy your plan, or if the costs increase by more than the growth of your plan.
However, even if prices rise in the future, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing there’ll be nothing more to pay for our funeral director’s services included in the plan once your plan is fully paid for – guaranteed.
Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today
Contact us: Get in touch with the team at Waterhouse or Heathfield to discuss your funeral requirements.
Discuss options: Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer are as flexible as possible.
Tailor a plan: We will help you tailor a plan to suit your specific needs.
Contact us
For further information please contact us on:
Email: enquiries@waterhousefunerals.co.uk
Contact Number: 01435 882219
1 Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at December 2024
2 Correct at December 2025
3 Confirmed by Golden Charter Trust’s audited accounts at 31 March 2025.
Looking after you as a customer
As a Golden Charter plan holder, you’ll receive personalised plan documents, which include a summary of your plan, our details, your plan holder certificate and a personal membership card for you to carry in your purse or wallet. You can add a nominated representative to your plan if you wish to do so. Your nominated representative will receive a letter which will provide details of your plan and our details, as your chosen funeral director. They will have no authority to make changes to your plan.
You’ll also receive a statement from Golden Charter every three years which will be sent via post.
As your funeral director, we’ll hold full details of your funeral plan. When the time comes, one phone call is all it takes to activate your plan and get the arrangements underway.
Golden Charter – FAQ
Can anyone apply?
Yes. Golden Charter plans are available to all UK residents, regardless of age or state of health. If you choose to pay by the instalment payment option then you must be 78 or under when you apply. There are no maximum or minimum age limits if choosing to pay by single payment or by 12 monthly payments.
What happens once I've bought my plan?
Golden Charter will send you a plan documents folder with all the information about your plan, as well as a membership card. If you have opted to have a nominated representative for your plan, they will receive a letter shortly after you have purchased your funeral plan. This will advise that you have put a plan in place and provide details of your appointed funeral director. You will also receive a customer statement which will be sent to you every three years using your preferred method of contact.
What if I change my mind?
If you cancel within 30 days Golden Charter will refund the payment you have made. For details of cancellation terms after 30 days of receiving our written acceptance, please see our separate Key Features Document.
What happens if my funeral director goes out of business?
What if I have special requests for my funeral?
What happens when I die?
What if I die in another country?
Can I transfer my plan to someone else?
What happens if I die before I've made all the payments?
Can I take out a plan for anyone else?
What if I move to a different area?
Choosing What’s Right for You
You may still be unsure if a pre-paid plan is right for you — and that’s perfectly normal.
We’ll help you:
- Understand your options without pressure
- Compare plan types and costs
- Think through personal details and preferences
- Decide how (or if) you’d like to take the next step
There’s no obligation — just honest guidance from a family-run team that’s helped generations plan with dignity and care.
Let’s Start the Conversation
It’s not about the end. It’s about peace of mind for the future.
Words from the
Families We’ve Helped
