Funeral directors

The funeral director will carry out many of the basic requirements for a funeral. They will usually look after:

Beyond this, the funeral director may also arrange a pre-burial service, organise the use of funeral parlour or chapel, arrange for mourners' cars, flowers and newspaper advertisements. Charges will depend on the amount of work undertaken by the funeral director.

Funeral costs

There are no set fees for a funeral. Costs vary depending on the cemetery or crematorium. There are also variations in the cost of caskets and coffins and in the cost of grave plots. Where plots are in a lawn section, the charges will include perpetual care of the plot in addition to the cost of a memorial plaque. Where a double grave is used, costs will be limited to a re-opening fee as the plot itself will have been paid for at the first opening. Different funeral directors offer different facilities - ranging from expensive and elaborate parlours and coffins to simple buildings and inexpensive coffins. It is worth contacting more than one director to find the kind and the cost of services that suit you and your family.

Pre-paid funerals

Where people pre-pay for their funeral the money paid must be held in trust and full details must be given to the person. These documents should be kept in a secure place.

Funeral insurance

Some people pay for funeral insurance, otherwise called a funeral plan. This is an insurance policy that pays a set amount towards funeral costs on the death of the policy holder. For more information, see Funeral Plans on moneysmart.gov.au.

The Australian Government has agreed to fund funeral claims up to policy limits for holders of a funeral policy with the Youpla Group (formerly known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund), which is now in liquidation. An active policy must have been held by the deceased on or after 1 April 2020 and the claim must be lodged by 30 June 2024. See Youpla Group funeral benefit program.