The first thing you must do before making any funeral arrangements is make contact with a funeral director. They know the process of making funeral arrangements, including making contact with insurance companies, Birth Deaths & Marriages, Government departments, utility and service providing companies etc.

The funeral home will take a lot of the stress and pressure usually involved with the passing of a loved one, and allow you to focus on spending time with those closest to you. Some providers have checklists while others will assign your family a dedicated funeral director who will talk your family through the process of preparing for a funeral and the costs involved.

The funeral home will help you select the best coffin or casket, the flower arrangement, the transport to and from the funeral venue, as well as the booking of the crematorium or burial plot.

Remember that if you are thinking of proceeding with a particular service provider, you should always request pricing information from a number of providers (to ensure that you are paying a fair price for any services).

For more information, please read through our guides on making funeral arrangements and the cost of funerals in Australia.