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Organising a funeral
This information aims to help you know where to start and the steps to take when arranging a funeral.
Who makes the arrangements?
If you are the executor of a deceased person’s will, you have the legal authority to make their funeral arrangements. If you choose you can pass this responsibility to a family member or friend. If there is no will, the next of kin or other family members or friends usually arrange the funeral as it may take some time before the court appoints an administrator of the estate.
The person arranging the funeral is financially responsible for it and is the only person who can make arrangements with the crematorium or cemetery, including signing all burial or cremation permits.
If you want you can make your own arrangements for your funeral. This will give you the chance to find a funeral director you are happy with and make the arrangements you want rather than leaving this to others.
The will or personal papers of the person who has died may indicate if they belonged to a funeral fund or other pre-payment plan which may have details of funeral arrangements.
Top of pagePaying for the funeral
Before you sign an agreement for a funeral find out what money is available to help you pay the costs. You should discuss payment options and sources of funds with the funeral director.
Money to pay for a funeral may come from:
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a funeral fund the deceased person may have paid into
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the estate (assets of the deceased person, including any money) - check with the bank if they will allow money in the deceased person’s bank account to be used to pay for funeral expenses before probate is granted, when the rest of the estate can be accessed.
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a pre-paid benefit or investment scheme, superannuation fund or life insurance
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the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs for some returned service people (who may also be eligible for an official war grave) – call 13 32 54
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a health fund, trade union, pensioner association or other type of club that they belonged to
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Centrelink - contact them on 13 23 00 to check your eligibility for bereavement assistance.
If there is no money in the estate nor any friends or relatives able to fund the funeral, contact the public health unit of your local area health service.
Finding a funeral director
The documents of the person who has died may have instructions to use a particular funeral director. If no preferences were recorded anywhere, you will need to select one.
After a death it may be hard for you to ‘shop around’ for funeral services but it makes sense to find a funeral director you are comfortable with that offers their services at a reasonable price. Friends or relatives may be able to recommend a funeral director or you can find them in the telephone directory or on the internet.
Funeral directors usually provide the following services:
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registration of the death, obtaining certificates/permits
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coordination between clergy (or funeral celebrant) and the cemetery or crematorium
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transport of the body
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preparation of the body
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supply of coffin or casket
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transport such as a hearse or special cars
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payment of fees on your behalf to the cemetery or crematorium or for flowers
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placement of notices in newspapers.
Quotes and costs
Under the law all NSW funeral directors must provide you with an itemised quote. These quotes should make it easier for you to compare services and prices of funeral directors. Make sure the quote includes GST so you know the full price.
Basic funeral quotes
If a funeral director offers the option of a ‘basic funeral’ they must give you a written quote for this (called a ‘basic funeral notice’). This quote should itemise each of the basic funeral goods and services and their costs as well as the estimated costs of necessary disbursements. The funeral director must give it to you before they make funeral arrangements with you. You may be asked to sign the ‘basic funeral notice’ slip to show you have received it, even if you choose a different funeral.
Signing this slip does not mean you are committing to a funeral with this funeral director.
Other funeral quotes
If a basic funeral option is not available, a funeral director must still give you an itemised quote before entering into any funeral arrangement.
Final statements
All funeral directors must give you an itemised final statement or invoice of the goods and services provided and their costs, once the funeral has been completed, before you make the final payment.
Payment options
Different funeral directors offer different payment options so choose the one that suits you best. They may ask for a deposit and you can sometimes negotiate the amount with them. Only pay the balance when you receive the itemised final statement or invoice.
What is a basic funeral?
A basic funeral (also called an ‘economy’ or ‘budget’ funeral) is the lowest cost funeral that includes a service, which the funeral director can provide.
A basic funeral consists of a single service, conducted at the funeral director’s premises or the burial or cremation site. It would occur on a weekday between 8am and 5pm and consists of only:
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arranging and conducting the funeral
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transporting the body to the funeral director’s premises, mortuary and burial or cremation site, where each individual journey is less than 30km
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storing the body in a mortuary or holding room
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preparing the body for burial or cremation (not including preparation for viewing or embalming)
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the least expensive coffin available
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compulsory medical certificates or permits
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burial or cremation of the body.
Direct committal
A direct committal is a cheaper option than a basic funeral. It is offered by most funeral directors and is a cremation or burial without a service. Bereaved families and friends can still arrange a memorial service at another venue.
Explanation of funeral terms
Coffins and caskets: Coffins are usually less expensive than caskets. Coffins and caskets with more elaborate fittings, linings and timbers are more expensive.
Disbursements: A disbursement is the fee charged by someone else which the funeral director pays on your behalf and then charges you for. Necessary disbursements include the fees charged by a doctor for medical certificates and permits or fees charged by a cemetery or crematorium. Other disbursements may include newspaper notices, flowers or refreshments that you can request. The funeral director can only pass on the actual cost to you.
Plaques, plots and urns: You may have some additional costs to be paid directly to the cemetery or crematorium such as a plot or plaque, wall niche or urn and you should make these arrangements directly with them. You may choose not to purchase a memorial spot and instead scatter the ashes or keep them in your home.
If things go wrong
If you have a problem with a funeral director try and resolve it directly with them. If this is unsucessful contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or lodge a complaint online. Remember to keep all your paperwork and notes of everyone you speak to.