Pre-paid Funerals
A pre-paid funeral — or a pre-paid cremation-only — is a way to make arrangements and settle costs in advance. It gently removes uncertainty for those left behind, and fixes the cost at today’s prices. Any future increase is covered by the funeral director.
The funds are held in a dedicated third-party funeral fund, usually with a capital guarantee. Regulations exist to make sure the money is there when needed.
Why People Choose to Pre-pay
Over the years, Marc has seen many different reasons people decide to make plans in advance. You may wish to:
Ease the financial burden on those closest to you
Help ensure your wishes are followed
Improve age or service pension entitlements — see Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for more information.
Have something in place if you have few close relatives, or your loved ones live far away
You can pay in full or in instalments — whatever suits your situation. Some couples take out a plan together that can be used by whichever of them passes first.
Where the Funds Are Kept
Marc and Friends has chosen to work with Funeral Plan Management, a part of Australian Unity. You can read their Product Disclosure Statement.
What’s Not Placed in the Fund
Some of the money you pay doesn’t go into the trust fund. A modest one-off administration fee may be included to help cover today’s operating costs. GST is also paid to the ATO at the time of payment, not later on.
What the Contract Should Make Clear
On average, about eight years pass between arranging a pre-paid funeral and when it’s needed. So it’s helpful to ensure the contract makes things clear for the family and those carrying it out. At Marc and Friends, we include:
A description of the coffin — including its materials, interior, finish, and lid style — as names and styles can change over time.
Clear information about transfer into care outside regular hours. We keep this simple — there’s one flat fee, no matter the time.
What is not normally Pre-paid
Some things cannot or are best not to pre-pay:
Cremation paperwork — one of the doctors’ forms (the Cremation Risk Advice) is usually completed at no cost, but when there is a fee, it can vary
Grave interment fees — the grave digging or interment fee is usually paid at the time.
Flowers — although it’s possible to include flowers in advance, many families prefer to choose them themselves as a way of contributing something personal
Slideshows and music — these are best arranged later, as technology and costs tend to change
The purchase of a cemetery plot or crematorium memorial space, respectively, is normally arranged directly with them.
What’s Often Overlooked
People sometimes focus on logistics but not the content of the service itself, if there is one. They do not spend time thinking about the music, readings, or the tone of the gathering. These don’t need to be finalised now, but we’re happy to guide you gently if you’d like help thinking it through. We can also connect you with a celebrant, minister or priest if you wish.