What can family members do if an executor refuses to carry out the deceased's written funeral wishes?

Because funeral wishes in a will are generally treated as guidance rather than a strictly binding order, family members can't automatically force an executor to comply just by pointing to the document - but that doesn't mean they have no options if the executor is being unreasonable. The first step is usually a direct conversation, since many disagreements come down to cost, logistics, or a misunderstanding rather than a genuine refusal to respect the deceased's wishes.

If that doesn't resolve things and the disagreement is serious, family members can get legal advice about whether a court application is realistically worth pursuing - courts can, in appropriate cases, weigh in on disputes over disposition of remains, though given how time-sensitive funeral arrangements are, a court process is rarely fast enough to resolve a dispute before arrangements need to be made one way or another.

In practice, most of these disputes are resolved through negotiation rather than litigation, precisely because of the time pressure involved. If you anticipate this kind of conflict in your own family, discussing your wishes clearly with your named executor while you're alive, and choosing someone you trust to follow through, does more to prevent the problem than relying on the will's wording alone.