Funeral plans are designed to enable you to contribute to your funeral both financially and emotionally, and help your family through the difficult time immediately after your death. When grieving, the huge number of decisions required to organise a funeral often prove overwhelming, and it can be a great help to your family if you have outlined your wishes in advance.
When you purchase a funeral plan you will need to determine exactly which costs and services are and are not included. Funeral plans are available from many different providers, and can be tailored to include extras such as a high-quality coffin, extra vehicles following the funeral procession, catering services at the reception, as well as obituaries and flowers. However, an elaborate funeral plan is generally expensive. Basic funeral plans are cheaper and offer a standard, low-key funeral package.
Most basic funeral packages will include:
> The cost of a burial or cremation service
> A simple coffin, lined and fitted with basic materials
> Care of the deceased and embalming (preservation of the body prior to the funeral, should close friends and relatives wish to visit)
> Transport of the deceased from their place of death to a place of rest
> A hearse (the car in which the coffin is transported) and a following vehicle for the deceased's relatives
> Management of cards, flowers or donations on behalf of the family
Your funeral plan provider should make it clear to you that some aspects of your funeral cannot be purchased in advance, and are therefore not included in your plan. These include the purchase of a grave if you wish your body to be buried (due to varying availability and grave pricing in Australia), as well as headstones and some other memorial tributes. Some plans also exclude 'third party' fees, such as fees charged by a doctor for completing a medical cremation certificate. Usually, your funeral plan will be invalid if your death is the result of suicide.
