Our team are specialists in arranging and managing prepaid funerals. We have supported people to pre-plan burial and cremation services for over 30 years with our personalised service.
A Prepaid Funeral Plan provides you and your family with peace of mind. It ensures that your funeral service will be organised as you would like.
Prepaid funerals alleviate decision making and financial worries for family members at the time that the funeral is needed.
What are Prepaid Funerals?
Prepaid Funerals enable you to plan and pay for your funeral service in advance, at today’s prices, providing peace of mind. We offer Prepaid Funerals for all types of cremation and burial services.
Arranging a Prepaid Funeral involves deciding on what type of funeral you would like and some of the inclusions for the funeral service. Once you have made these decisions, a documented agreement is made with Australian Pensioner Funerals.
The Prepaid Agreement outlines all that we agree to provide for your Funeral Service at the time it is needed. It can include specific and unique requests.
A Prepaid Funeral is not the same as funeral insurance. Prepaid Funerals do not involve ongoing payment of premiums. Once payment is made for your prepaid funeral, no additional payments are required.
In accordance with the provisions and regulations of the Victorian Funerals Act (2006) we required to provide everything outlined on the Prepaid Agreement regardless of any price increases for funeral services and products that may occur over time.
The money that is paid for a Prepaid Funeral with us is safe. It is invested in the name of the agreement holder in a Capital Guaranteed Funeral Bond with an independent, regulated Friendly Society after payment of GST, our Administration Fee and any money payable to Cemeteries. This is in accordance with requirements of the Victorian Funerals Act (2006) which ensures that funeral bonds are managed by regulated Friendly Societies registered with APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority). Money invested in a Funeral Bond cannot be withdrawn before the funeral takes place.
When a Prepaid Funeral has been established, we provide:
- Prepaid Funeral Agreement
- Funeral Bond document
- Prepaid Certificates held with cemeteries (when purchased)
- Prepaid Funeral Cards confirming that you hold a prepaid funeral with our company
Details recorded on Prepaid Funeral Agreements can be updated upon request. Changes can also be made to inclusions, if required.
It is our preference to keep your private information safe.
We do not to ask you to share personal information or process payments online.
Advantages of Prepaid Funerals
Peace of mind
Prepaid funerals are an assurance that aspects of your funeral that are important to you will be carried out the way that you would like.
Ease the burden for others
Pre-paying your funeral ensures that the financial burden and many of the decisions associated with arranging a funeral service are taken care of. This lifts some of the emotional strain on family members and significant others.
Planning with & for others
When managing another person’s affairs as Power of Attorney or Guardian, a Prepaid Funeral ensures that you can put in place a plan for their future funeral service. This provides an opportunity to make joint decisions in advance, alleviating some of the decisions when the funeral is required.
Paying at today’s prices
Prepaid funerals enable you to lock in a price for a funeral service avoiding the inevitable price increases associated with funeral products and services due to inflation over time.
Protecting your pension
Money paid for our Prepaid Funerals is invested in a Capital Guaranteed Prepaid Funeral Bond. Money invested in Funeral Bonds is eligible for government income and asset test exemptions.
No ongoing payments
Once a Prepaid Funeral Agreement is in place, there are no further payments required even if the service doesn’t take place for another 30 years. Prepaid Funerals differ from Funeral Insurance Plans which require ongoing premiums.
Prepaid Funeral Package Prices
We offer cremation funeral service packages which may be held in cemetery chapels, churches and alternative venues. Our affordable packages include all that is required to provide a dignified funeral.
Our affordable range of burial packages accommodate a broad range of burial services including graveside service funerals, funeral services in cemetery chapels and services held in venues including churches.
Our low-cost direct cremations are available at your choice of cemetery located in Melbourne or Geelong. We offer appointments in your home or at our office and an affordable option for a private viewing or farewell.
We offer affordable memorial service packages providing key elements of a celebration of life service after a direct cremation or burial has taken place. Our service offers flexibility to ensure a unique and fitting farewell.
Our staff offer personalised support in arranging Prepaid Funeral Plans to meet individual needs. With over 30 years experience we offer a trusted and reliable service for pre-planning all types of cremation and burial funeral services.
Considerations for a Prepaid Funeral
- Would you prefer a cremation or burial?
- If wanting a burial, do you own the right to use a grave or do you need to purchase one?
- Would you like a funeral service with people attending?
- Do you have a preferred location for the service?
- Would you like a celebrant or religious minister?
- Do you have a preference for the type / colours of fresh flowers to be included in the casket sheaf?
- Do you have preferred music or songs to be played at your service?
- Would you like a certain stationery (e.g. cards, booklets) to hand out at the service?
- Do you have any specific cultural, spiritual or religious requests?
How do I arrange a Prepaid Funeral?
Phone, Mail & Email
Our Funeral Consultants are always available to answer any questions that you may have and provide you with information by either phone, mail or email.
When preferred or needed, prepaid funerals can be arranged with documents sent through the mail or by email without an appointment.
Appointments
Appointments are suggested if you require assistance to make decisions, understand financial aspects or require assistance to sign documentation.
Appointments with you and those you would like involved in the planning of your prepaid funeral can be made at a location convenient to you. This may be at one of our offices or at your home or a community space. No additional fees apply to appointments held in Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula or Geelong.
Remote appointments can be arranged virtually as required.