Making important decisions and arrangements
For some of us, the thought of planning our own funeral can be sad. But the key thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be. Rather, it’s a way for you to make important decisions and arrangements yourself, saving your family the emotional burden.
What sort of service do you want? Would you prefer to be buried or cremated? What music would you like to be played? Who should give the eulogy? These are just some of the questions you need to think about.
When you pre-plan your funeral, there is no money involved. You simply document what you want. Of course, you can also pre-pay for your funeral.
The team at Good Samaritan Funerals has a wealth of experience in providing compassionate and professional advice to those considering their funeral options. We can help you understand your choices and guide you through the planning process.
My life. My farewell. My funeral choices.
Good Samaritan Funerals has put together the My life – My farewell – My funeral choices planning booklet, which sets out the choices and decisions you need to consider when planning your funeral, as well as at the time of need.
By nominating Good Samaritan Funerals as your funeral home of choice, we can ensure that your family is aware of your pre-planned choices and provide them with the care, support and reassurance they need ahead of the funeral.
Put simply, a pre-paid funeral is a pre-planned funeral that is paid for in advance. You arrange the funeral service you want at today’s prices – so, subject to any specific provisions in the pre-paid funeral plan contract, your funeral plan will not be affected by any future price rises.
A pre-paid funeral takes an enormous emotional and financial burden away from your family. It’s one less thing for them to deal with at a difficult time.
Pre-Paid Funerals
Your money is in safe hands
The money you pay for your pre-paid funeral contract is held independently of Good Samaritan Funerals. Funeral Plan Management ensure all money paid under any pre-paid contract is properly invested and safeguarded in accordance with the Funeral Funds Act 1979 until it is needed.
Pros of pre-paid funerals
- Costs are fixed, so you can pre-pay for the funeral you want at today’s prices
- Your money is securely invested in compliance with strict government guidelines
- You make the choices you want for your funeral
- You can pay in a lump sum or by instalments. If you pay by instalments, you have up to three years to pay in full
- You are not locked into a particular funeral director. The pre-paid contract is transferable
- A pre-paid funeral can be cheaper than a funeral bond or funeral insurance if you live longer than another five to 10 years
- The amount you pay for the pre-paid contract will be exempt from any asset and income means testing when assessing eligibility for the aged pension.
Cons of pre-paid funerals
- If you change your mind about the pre-paid funeral, you will generally forfeit the administrative set-up fee and be charged a small exit fee
- If you pay in instalments, the pre-paid contract is not claimable until the final payment is made. This means if you die before the contract is paid in full, any funeral costs will be payable at current prices less the amounts already paid against the pre-paid contract.