Prepaid Funerals in Melbourne
Redwood Funerals offers prepaid funeral plans that can help you protect your family from the burden of funeral planning during a difficult time.
Prepaid funerals allow you to plan a funeral ceremony in accordance with your wishes, reducing the burden of difficult decisions for your family during a challenging time. Furthermore, when you pay the prepaid funeral costs, you also eliminate the financial burden on your family.
If you want to learn more about prepaid funeral plans, please contact Redwood Funerals today.
What Are Pre-Paid Funerals?
Simply put, a pre-paid funeral means a funeral service that is already paid for in advance. It is a practical and convenient way to plan for your own funeral, helping to save significant costs.
Every decision regarding the funeral is made in advance, from the style of the casket to the hymns sung at the service. Prepaying for your funeral can give you peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones will not have to worry about the financial burden of a funeral. It also ensures that your funeral will be conducted according to your wishes, regardless of your financial situation at the time of your death.
Once you pay the prepaid funeral cost and make your booking, all the relevant details of your choices will be drawn out in a signed contract. This saves you money as you book the funeral service at today’s market prices even when the funeral might happen ten to twenty years later. Furthermore, your family is exempted from bearing the burden of funeral costs at a time when they are already grieving.
What is Pre Planning?
nning is simply the process of drawing up plans for a funeral before they are needed. It involves gathering various family information and making decisions about the type of service you want, where the service should take place, and who might participate. Working together with our funeral directors in Melbourne, you can plan, organise and record all of your requests and have your say.
We lead you through the process, providing advice and guidance along the way, giving you all the information you need about our products and services, and helping you make informed decisions.
Once you have taken out a funeral bond or funeral insurance, you should assign it to your chosen funeral director. The funeral director will then provide you with a bond certificate and other documentation showing how your investment has been used.
Why Pre Plan?
Pre-planning is simply the process of drawing up plans for a funeral before they are needed. It involves gathering various family information and making decisions about the type of service you want, where the service should take place, and who might participate. Working together with our funeral directors in Melbourne, you can plan, organise and record all of your requests and have your say.
We lead you through the process, providing advice and guidance along the way, giving you all the information you need about our products and services, and helping you make informed decisions.
Once you have taken out a funeral bond or funeral insurance, you should assign it to your chosen funeral director. The funeral director will then provide you with a bond certificate and other documentation showing how your investment has been used.
The Benefits of Pre-Funding Your Funeral
There are many benefits to making prepaid funeral plans in Melbourne that you should consider.
- You have peace of mind that your family will not be left with the emotional and financial burden of your funeral.
- Funeral bonds are administered to secure long-standing financial institutions. We have two fund managers that you can choose from.
- Funeral bonds to a legislated threshold amount are treated as financial investments and, therefore, are not included in any Centrelink Assets test. This could mean the differences between a partial and full pension entitlement.
- The funds cannot be withdrawn by anyone until the death of the individual named on the policy.
- A funeral bond will accrue interest, which may offset the inevitable rises in funeral costs. The compounding of the interest is not deemed to be part of your income.
Prepaid Funeral Plans in Melbourne
Professional service fees include:
- 24hr, 7 days personal and professional care
- Transfer of your loved one into our care (Melb Metro 24/7)
- Basic Mortuary Care
- Private arrangement in the comfort of your family home or our office
- Attend to relevant administration
- Collection of medical certificate
- Register death certificates with birth deaths, and Marriages
- Transport of your loved one to the graveside on the day of the service
- Copy of death Certificate mailed directly to your home
Graveside Service
Service is held at the graveside.
Professional Service Fee – $3,294
Additional Costs
- Cemetery Fees at costs
- Purchase of Grave ( they vary depending on Cemetery)
- Interment Costs ( they vary depending on the Cemetery)
- Coffins from $990.00
- Celebrant fees $605.00
- Clergy fees from $250.00
- Floral Tributes (at cost)
- Newspaper Notices (at cost)
- Order of services booklets: from $2.50
- Limo / Family Coach(at cost)
- Dressing / Mortuary care for viewing from $450.00
- Viewing night before $450.00
- Weekend or Public Holidays at cost
- Refreshments can be arranged (at Cost)
Chapel Service and Burial
Services are held in a crematorium chapel followed by a graveside service within the Cemetery grounds.
Professional Service Fee – $3,694
Additional Costs
- Cemetery Fees at costs
- Purchase of Grave ( they vary depending on Cemetery)
- Interment Costs ( they vary depending on Cemetery)
- Chapel hire from $970.00
- Coffins from $990.00
- Celebrant fees from $605.00
- Clergy fees from $250.00
- Floral Tributes (at cost)
- Newspaper Notices (at cost)
- DVD Presentation from $220.00
- Order of services booklets: from $2.50
- Limo / Family Coach (at cost)
- Dressing / Mortuary care for viewing $450.00
- Weekend or Public Holidays (at cost)
- We can organise Refreshments at your request(at cost)
Church or Alternative Venue
Services are held in a church or alternative venue. Followed by graveside services at the Cemetery.
Professional Service Fee – $3,894
Additional Costs
- Cemetery Fees at costs
- Purchase of Grave ( they vary depending on Cemetery)
- Interment Costs ( they vary depending on Cemetery)
- Coffins from $990.00
- Celebrant fees $605.00
- Clergy fees from $250.00
- Alternative venue (at cost)
- Floral Tributes (at cost)
- Newspaper Notices (at cost)
- DVD Presentation from $220.00
- Order of services booklets: from $2.50 per booklet
- Limo/family Coach (at cost)
- Dressing / Mortuary care for viewing from $450.00
- Weekend or Public Holidays (at cost).
- Refreshments can be arranged (at cost)
FAQ
The cost of a prepaid funeral in Melbourne can vary widely depending on your specific requirements and the funeral provider you choose. On average, prepaid funeral plans in Melbourne can range from $4,000 to $15,000 or more. The cost may depend on factors such as the type of service, choice of casket, cemetery fees, and additional services. It’s advisable to obtain quotes from different funeral homes to get a more accurate estimate.
The average cost of a prepaid funeral in Melbourne is approximately $6,000 to $8,000. However, this is just an estimate, and as mentioned earlier, the actual cost can vary significantly based on your preferences and the funeral provider. It’s essential to consult with funeral directors to get specific pricing based on your needs.
Prepaid funerals ensures security, but it depends on the funeral plan and the provider you choose. In Australia, prepaid funeral funds are typically regulated to protect consumers. These funds are often held in trust or invested in a funeral bond, ensuring that the money is available when needed for the funeral expenses. Researching and choosing a reputable funeral provider is crucial to ensure the security of your prepaid funeral funds.
A prepaid funeral and a funeral bond are both financial arrangements made to cover future funeral expenses, but they work differently:
- Prepaid Funeral: With a prepaid funeral, you select and pay for specific funeral services and products in advance. This means you choose the funeral director, the type of casket, and other details ahead of time, and the money is usually held in trust or invested until needed.
- Funeral Bond: A funeral bond is an investment product specifically designed to cover funeral expenses. You contribute money into the bond over time, and upon your passing, the funds are released to cover your funeral costs. It provides more flexibility in terms of funeral arrangements compared to prepaid funerals.
In Australia, prepaid funeral plans are generally not considered an asset by Centrelink for pension eligibility assessments. However, there may be certain rules and exemptions, so it’s advisable to consult with Centrelink or a financial advisor to ensure you have accurate information regarding your specific situation. It’s also important to note that rules and regulations may change, so staying informed is essential.