Yes, but your funeral director needs to agree to the changes. Please remember if you do change your original agreement, there may be additional costs.
A pre-paid funeral plan is a legally binding contract so you need to make sure you understand the terms of agreement before you sign.
There is a ‘cooling off’ period and during this time you can cancel your contract and get a refund of your investment. Please refer to our Disclosure Document for specific details about the cooling off period. Funds can only be withdrawn for the purpose of meeting your funeral expenses.
If you have moved or are planning on moving away from your current area, please reach out to Australian Funeral Plan. We work with a wide network of funeral directors and may be able to transfer your policy to another funeral director at your new location without incurring any additional fees.
When a beneficiary passes away, please contact your chosen funeral director who will organise the funeral arrangements. Once the funeral service has taken place, Australian Funeral Plan will pay out all funds held to the funeral director, so there isn’t anything for the family to pay.
You and your funeral director should both have a copy of your contract, which details your arrangements at a fixed price. It is important you tell your family and friends you have made these arrangements in advance. Contact us for a free brochure in which to record your preferred funeral arrangements.
If your chosen funeral director ceases to operate, other funeral director that works with Australian Funeral Plan may be able to take over the obligations in your funeral contract at no additional cost to you.
Alternatively, if there is no other funeral director available who can provide the funeral services described in the contract, Australian Funeral Plan may release any funds held to the estate of the deceased.
A pre-paid funeral is arranged through a funeral director. We can help you find a suitable funeral director in your local area, please contact us on free call 1800 040 787, or complete our online enquiry form below for a list of funeral directors in your local area.
You can invest as much as you like into a pre-paid funeral plan and the amount you contribute is dependent on the type of service you would like and which funeral director you choose. You can customise your funeral service to be how you like it.
Without a valid Will, usually the next of kin will have the right to apply to act as administrator of the estate and complete the funeral arrangements on your behalf.
When you write a Will, you must choose an Executor who is then legally responsible to carry out your wishes. You should make sure he/she is familiar with your choices and is also aware of the details of your pre-paid funeral plan contract or funeral bond.
More and more people are choosing to be cremated, with cremations now outnumbering burials*. Regardless of what others may choose, you need to feel comfortable with your decision. A funeral director can help guide you in making this choice.
*Source: Australian Funeral Directors Association.
For those who enjoy travelling or may be away from home for periods of time, the Travel Protection Plan means that transportation costs are covered if death occurs more than 80kms away from the funeral home chosen.
Funerals can be simple or extravagant, and there are a number of items that make up the cost of a funeral service. These include the location of the service, the type of coffin or casket, and any religious requirements.
Funeral insurance is not provided by Australian Funeral Plan.
What is it?
Funeral insurance involves making a regular set weekly, fortnightly or monthly premium payment which is determined by the policy cover chosen.
The policy benefit is then generally paid in a lump sum to your beneficiary in the event of your death to provide a payment in respect of funeral costs.
What to be aware of:
- You may end up paying more in funeral insurance premiums than the actual value of your cover
- Failure to miss one premium payment can result in the insurance being cancelled and monies paid all forfeited
- In most instances you are unable to specify your preferred funeral director or funeral type.
Carefully read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement to ensure you understand all of the features, what will happen if you cancel your policy and how much you really will be paying.
A pre-paid funeral is a funeral contract purchased in advance. The type and style of funeral you want is documented in a written contract and paid for at today’s prices. Subject to any specific terms of a pre-paid funeral contract (e.g. if Government taxes are subsequently imposed or increased), you won’t have to pay any additional amount for that contracted funeral regardless of when the funeral is required.
A funeral bond is a specialised investment which enables you to accumulate funds to meet future funeral expenses. An investment in a funeral bond is similar to a life insurance policy, whereby the benefit becomes payable on death. The benefits must be used to meet your funeral expenses. A funeral bond is an investment towards the cost of a funeral and by itself does not guarantee against rising funeral prices*.