Peace of mind for you and your family
Why You Need to Plan Ahead
Pre-planning a funeral is a very important type of financial planning. Most people don’t want to think past a time when they are healthy and enjoying life. But planning ahead for all financial possibilities ensures that our loved ones and ourselves are protected.
Pre-planning a funeral is just as easy as any other financial arrangement such as life insurance. Your loved ones will be protected emotionally as well as financially and you will have peace of mind knowing that your affairs are in order.
- Whether burial or cremation
- Your preferred cemetery or crematorium
- Special features such as clergy/celebrant, flowers, press notices, music etc.
- The wishes of your family
- If you would prefer donations to a charity rather than flowers
Pre-arranging a funeral also gives you the opportunity to record the necessary family history at your convenience. The details of any marriages (place, spouse, age) of the deceased, names and ages of the children, along with the names of the parents of the deceased are all required by the NSW Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages when registering a death in NSW.
The full cost is normally paid when making arrangements but the amount can also be paid by instalments (conditions apply). A pre-paid funeral is not subject to pension income or asset testing (according to current legislation). Once you have decided on the main features of the funeral service we will complete a written record of the details you have requested to ensure that your funeral will be conducted exactly in accordance with your wishes.
We can guide you through each step of planning a funeral and explain the services that they offer and provide a cost for each. You can make an appointment to meet at our office or you may wish to discuss the details in the comfort of your own home, whichever you find more convenient.
When you pre-pay for a funeral you will be charged at today’s prices. You can then have the peace of mind of knowing that all the necessary arrangements are in place, saving your family emotional and financial burden in the future.
By pre-paying your funeral service you cannot be affected by any future price rises. Only if you change your arrangements or add to them, can some further costs possibly be incurred.
We can explain all the details to you over the phone, provide a written quote, or meet with you in our office or at your home, whichever is more convenient for you.
The money you pay for your pre-paid funeral is invested with an independent entity, Funeral Plan Management Pty Ltd, and is not available to us until the funeral service is completed. Funeral Plan Management can also arrange for the transfer of your plan if your original funeral director is no longer in business.
It is important that your family and the executor of your Will know about your pre-paid funeral contract and your choice of us as a funeral director.
Under current Centrelink and Veterans Affairs arrangements money spent on a pre-paid funeral plan is not subject to the income and assets test or deemed earnings rules.
This benefit only applies for pre-paid funerals on the condition that the funds are not withdrawn and used for other purposes.
Please check with your pension provider if you require any clarification of these details.
If you move you can also choose to move your funeral plan arrangements to another funeral director. we can help to ensure the new arrangements suit both you and your family.
We can take care of things – transferring from place of death into our care – however there could be additional cost.
There is an option of travel protection you might like to consider. We have all the details.
