Planning a Funeral
When a Death Occurs
When a death occurs many people don’t know who to contact first. The answer to this question will depend on where your loved has passed away and the cause of death.
Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium are available at any time with no obligation for you to call to seek assistance and guidance and answer any questions you may have to make this difficult time just a little easier.
We hope the following explanations will start by helping with some of the most commonly asked questions.
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When an expected death occurs at home, you will need to phone the appropriate person that has been caring for your loved one, ie: Blue Care/Anglicare. One of their wonderful staff will then visit and organise a Life Extinct form which allows us to transport your loved one into our care. They will generally also notify your loved ones Doctor to organise the Form 9 (Cause of Death) certificate to be written.
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Nursing Homes now require your choice of Funeral Home to be nominated at the time of becoming a resident, so when your loved one passes there can be no confusion as to whom they have to call.
In the event of a death occurring, the nursing staff, after notifying family if applicable, will firstly provide the Life Extinct form and then contact the Funeral Home. They will also notify your loved ones G.P for the Form 9 to be written which the Funeral Home will collect when required.
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When a death occurs in a hospital, the nursing staff will contact the next of kin to notify them of the death. Your family will need to make contact with a funeral director such as Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium when you are ready to commence the funeral arrangements so that we can liaise with the hospital to transfer your loved one into our care and obtain the relevant paperwork such as the Cause of Death Certificate.
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When a death occurs suddenly or unexpectedly, from an accident or a suicide, it is the doctor’s or families responsibility to notify the police. The body must not be moved or disturbed in any way without the permission of the police or coroner. The police will contact the government appointed funeral home to transfer the deceased from the place of death to the Coroner’s mortuary.
In these circumstances the Coroner investigates and determines the cause and circumstances of the death which may involve a post mortem examination. Unfortunately at times, funeral arrangements may be delayed until the necessary clearance is obtained from the Coroner but you can contact Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium when you are ready to make your decisions and our friendly and helpful staff will guide you through the process of what needs to be done next.
Pre-Planning & Planning
There are certain decisions and choices to be made within the funeral service itself. These are some of the things to consider.
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Coming to the point in life of having to arrange a funeral service can be a very daunting task. Often at times the task of making important decisions for a special farewell service that will reflect a person who has been important in life, leaves a burden of responsibility. That’s why it is so important to have a caring, creative and professional team of people who can listen and respond to celebrating the life, culture and interests of those we love.
At Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium, we recognise that the process of funeral arrangements is something that is tailored to the needs of a family and we are committed to guiding your family through this difficult time, giving you the time and effort to make your time of farewell meaningful and personal.
This website is provided with the purpose of providing you with information as an overview of the funeral care options we offer to you and your family. In order to provide you with the best advice possible, we would recommend that you meet and discuss your personal needs with one of our professionally trained staff at no obligation or cost to you. We are also very pleased to speak to you over the telephone if that is more convenient to you.
Please be assured of our professional attention and discretion at all times.
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Over the years people have generally thought that the funeral must be held within a definite period of time after death. This is not the case; you can take your time and proceed at a pace at which you feel comfortable.
Some families desire to put the funeral behind them as quickly as possible. To them it is seen as a painful experience and they simply want it over. We encourage you to carefully consider and plan, making sure that the arrangements made meet you and your family’s needs.
In deciding on a day and time for the ceremony, allow ample time to:
have a viewing if desired
write the eulogy
prepare an order of service
gather old photographs
prepare a memory display if desired
let relatives and friends arrive from other places
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A Funeral Director is no different to any other professional person who you may need to call on for a specialised service. The Funeral Director performs a unique role in the community providing a service to families when a loved one dies.
At Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium we are committed to offering you personal, specialist care in your time of need.
Services provided by Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium
Guidance, care and attention from a team of professionally trained staff 24 hours of every day.
Arranging for the deceased person to be taken into care whether that be from a private home, a nursing home or most hospitals 24 hours of every day.
Registration of death with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Personal consultation with the family about funeral arrangements and details for the service.
Arranging all choices that a family have made, namely the arrangement of a church, a chapel, crematorium, cemetery, minister or celebrant.
Provision of coffin or casket, flowers, newspaper notices (if requested) etc.
Provision of mortuary care. (Preparing the deceased person for viewing)
The preparation and the transfer of the deceased person locally or interstate as necessary, together with all legal requirements.
Personal attendance of professional staff for the funeral ceremony as necessary
Assistance in arranging of music or special requests that are required for the funeral ceremony.
We are here for you, we will listen, offer guidance and support every step of the way to make your families time of farewell meaningful and personal.
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Anyone can officiate at the funeral service. It can be a minister of religion, civil celebrant, friend or family member. You may like to have your local minister or priest lead the service, particularly if you or your loved one has been acquainted with their church and congregation personally even if you may not have been to church for many years, but would still appreciate a clergyperson officiating at the funeral service. We can arrange this for you.
The person you choose to lead the ceremony will endeavour to meet with you before the service to discuss the life of the deceased. This ensures that your personal needs and desires are incorporated into the ceremony.
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Eulogies may be written in various ways. Some people come up with serious speeches honouring the deceased person while others would rather show the humorous side. The most recommended eulogy is a combination of both, since death should not be a reason to be sad but a celebration of a life well lived.
The most touching and meaningful eulogies are written from the heart. A eulogy does not have to be perfect. Whatever you write and deliver will be appreciated by the people in attendance.
Some hints that may help write a successful eulogy are:
Think about the deceased and the relationship you had with them. Think about the things you did together and what you will miss the most and talk with family members and close friends to gather important information about the departed. You may like to include things such as:
Persons age/date of birth
Family and other close relationships
Education/work/career
Hobbies or special interests
Places the person lived
Special accomplishments
Write your speech in your own words without being too formal and maybe practice reading the eulogy several times to become familiar with it.
Before delivering the eulogy, breathe deeply and remind yourself that you are surrounded by loving family and friends and if you feel it is too difficult to read it yourself we are always here to help and will gladly read it on your behalf.
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We will discuss ideas for the funeral service with you. By adding personal touches you can create a funeral that reflects the special unique qualities of your loved one.
Here are some possibilities …
Place some of your loved one’s favourite items on the coffin or nearby.
Create a picture board with a montage of memorable photographs.
Choose a particular hymn, song or musical piece that was special to your loved one.
The floral tribute on the coffin may contain flowers that were favourites of the deceased, or come from their own garden, but please keep in mind our florists can only provide what’s in season.
Create order of service booklets with special photos, maybe a poem or quotes handed out at the funeral service. We can help with these.
Have a photographic presentation during the funeral service. Again, we can help with this.
Involve the RSL if your loved one was a returned serviceman/woman.
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It is compulsory that every death that occurs in Queensland is registered with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days of their death.
During the funeral arrangements we will require the following personal information in order to register the death on your behalf
Full names of the deceased
Date and place of birth and if born overseas the year they came to Australia
Date of Death
Residential address of the deceased
Occupation of the deceased during their working life
Marital status
Marriage details of all marriages of the deceased
Fathers full name and occupation
Mothers full name including maiden name and occupation
First Names and ages of all children living and deceased.
When the funeral has been conducted, we will lodge all the required documentation using a computerised system which updates directly to Births, Deaths and Marriages, ensuring that this Death Certificate is lodged within the mandated guidelines. Once lodged the original is returned to us in approximately 2-3 for your collection.
This is often needed in relation to any legal and estate matters that may need to be attended to.
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Traditionally viewings are an option given to the family as a moment of private time to say goodbye prior to a funeral taking place.
This is done is a quiet setting and is not publicised.
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Keeping your loved ones ashes is an option that some families choose and today there are many varying ways of doing so. Urns, Jewellery, blown glass just to name a few. All of which vary in style, size, colour and of course cost.
Other options are also available though, such as sending them up in fireworks or spreading them over the ocean using a drone, neither of which we do here unfortunately.
But one of the most common practices is spreading the ashes and this again can come with more choices. Your loved ones ashes can contain acid, no matter the process used, so we strongly suggest that they are NEVER spread over living plants and if you wish to scatter them in land, the local council MAY want a permit but if spreading over the water or on the beach, which is considered common property, all we suggest is pick a still day and make sure you have the correct tools and know how to open the urn.
Our helpful staff can definitely offer advice to assist with all of these options.
A Simple Guide to Funerals
Traditionally, when you thought of a funeral it consisted of a church service, a Minister and followed by a trip to the cemetery for the burial.
Today, there are so many more options.
Burials
Cremations
The Gentle Way
Church with Minister
Civil with Celebrant
Coffin – or Memorial
Flowers or not?
Livestream, yes or no
Private or public and the list goes on
If you feel comfortable working with your Funeral Director, it can not only save you headaches, but also help you make the right decision.
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Doing a funeral for the right reasons can help with the grief process.
By making the choices that suit you and your family, it can give you the opportunity to say your final goodbyes to your loved one in a way that is respectful and honouring and does not have to empty your bank account.
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Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium is an independent locally owned funeral company that offers a wide range of funeral care options that cater to budget and personal choice to families of Townsville and its surrounding areas.
We offer the following funeral care options -
Personalised Funeral Services
Burials, Cremations and Resomations
Complete Funeral Packages
Pre-Arranged Funeral Plans and Help with Funeral Bonds
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It does not need explaining that a cremation is a way of disposing of a body using fire.
The gentle way, is a way of using water instead of fire. The Gentleway system uses water, PH and alkaline and gently dissolves skin and tissue leaving the skeletal remains for processing in the same way as a cremation returning the ashes to the family with a plant.
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The simple answer to this is
A Funeral is a service done with your loved one present in a coffin
A Memorial Service is a service done AFTER the cremation, usually with your loved ones ashes present.
While a Funeral, in Townsville, needs to take place inside, normally in a church or chapel and in a timely manner after your loved one’s passing, a Memorial service can be done anytime and anywhere, including a chapel if wanted but not excluding other “venues” such as your backyard or even maybe at the beach.
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A funeral service means your loved is present in a coffin or casket. The service can take place at a church or chapel or a select amount of other venues as is deemed suitable by our local council laws. Most local Ministers are happy to conduct these services using our chapel, or we have our own celebrants if you’re wishing to have a non-religious service. Our friendly staff will help co-ordinate and liaise with you on all aspects of a Funeral service, making sure everything comes together seamlessly.
Whichever funeral option you choose to celebrate the life of your loved one, our caring staff will assist your family with the necessary arrangements every step of the way.
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A memorial service takes place after a private burial or cremation without the coffin or casket bearing the remains of your loved one present. If a cremation has taken place, should your family, so desire, the cremated remains may be present in a specially selected urn. Memorial services may be held in our chapel or a special place and generally a member of clergy, a civil celebrant or even a family member or friend can conduct the service.
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Although most Australians choose to be cremated, burials still account for around 30% of funerals. If you are planning to bury a loved one – whether for religious, spiritual or personal reasons – it can help to know what is involved in the process as there are a number of decisions you might need to make that differ from a cremation such as where to bury your loved one, whether a lawn plot, or maybe in an existing vault or mausoleum or in a traditional grave.
But the options don’t end with the burial itself as after the interment has taken place, the site needs to be named with a plaque or headstone.
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If your preference is for a no fuss option and you do not require a funeral service then the essential care service, referred to as a No Service No Attendance will best meet your needs. Your loved one is cremated with no mourners in attendance at a service. Their cremated remains are then returned to the family and the death certificate applied for to be collected by family from Townsville Funerals, Cremations and Crematorium at a later date.
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Upon request we offer a range of additional funeral care options and services to help celebrate a life, including:
A range of contemporary memorial books
Orders of service booklets
Keepsake memorial books
Photo tribute presentations
A range of memorial urns are jewellery
Legal Considerations
Here are a couple more legal things to consider.
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As people age, they may appoint an enduring power of attorney to assist in looking after their affairs, and while they are living, this person has legal power to act on their behalf. However, some believe their nominated enduring power of attorney is the only lawful person allowed the final say when ensuring the funeral arrangements are carried out as wished.
It is important to know that the enduring power of attorney and power of attorney ceases after death, and although this person can be involved in the funeral arrangements, it is now the person appointed as executor of the estate who has the final say if there is a will in place. If there is no will it simply falls on the Next of Kin.
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As part of the service of arranging the funeral, the funeral director arranges payment on your behalf for the purchase of all goods and services associated with the funeral.
These services might typically include cemetery plots, cremation fees, floral tributes, funeral notices, catering services, clergy/church fees and if applicable an Independent Doctor report for cremation, along with the incidentals such as coffin/casket, professional and mortuary fees associated with running a funeral.
This way all the expenses for the funeral, including the funeral director’s own charge, can be sent to you in one convenient itemised account. If the deceased held a bank account with sufficient funds to cover funeral expenses, in most cases the funeral director’s account can be presented to the bank for direct payment.
Although during a time of sadness it may seem awkward to discuss costs, open and honest discussion is necessary during the planning stages of the funeral. It is important to balance emotional decisions with practical common sense.
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Centrelink
The Centrelink bereavement payment is to assist with settling financial affairs associated with expenses incurred by the deceased prior to death. This may include the extension of existing payments and/or a lump sum paid to a surviving partner, a carer or parent of a child. It is to assist with the changed circumstances caused by the death of a person who is a pensioner, long term allowee, a child or care recipient. You will need to contact Centrelink for eligibility criteria.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs
If the deceased was an ex-service person you will need to contact the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and ask if they’re eligible to claim a veteran’s funeral benefit. If they are entitled, you will be sent an application form to complete and, once returned, payment will be made into the deceased veteran’s estate.
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When meeting with a family, a funeral arranger will ask a family to provide information about their loved one so we can apply for the Death Certificate on your behalf.
The information will include things like where your loved one was born, any marriages they have had, their parents names (including Mother’s maiden name) and details of their children’s names and birthdates.
After a burial or cremation has taken place, the funeral director will then apply to BDM on the families behalf and approx. 3 weeks later the death certificate arrives.
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There are a number of people and organisations that may need to be contacted when a death occurs in the family. As a helpful guide, this checklist may assist you in finalising your loved ones affairs as this will ensure you can get the help and advice you need.
Accident Insurance
Accountant
Ambulance Service
Australian Taxation Office
Banks
Building Societies
Centrelink General Inquiries
Age Pension Enquiries
Chemist
Church or Religious Organisation
Clubs, Organisations and Associations
Companies (eg Directorships)
Credit Card Providers
Credit Unions
Dentist
Department Veteran Affairs
Doctor, Specialist or Hospital
Electoral Office
Electricity
Employer/former Employer
Executor of Will
Financial Institutions or Loan Companies
Friendly Society
Gardening Services
Gas
Home Appliance Rental
Home and Contents Insurance
Home Nursing Help
Home Delivery Service (eg newspapers, Milk, Subscriptions)
Home Nursing Help
Household Help
Landlord
Life Insurance
Local Council
Meals on Wheels
Medicare
Optometrist
Post Office
Private Heath Benefit Fund
School or College
Service Organisations (eg Library)
Social Worker
Solicitor or Public Trustee
Superannuation Company
Telephone Company
Trade Unions or Professional Associations
Vehicle Insurance
Vehicle Registration
Veterinary Surgeon
Grief - It’s Alright To Cry
The best advice we can give, is let yourself grieve. Everyone is different and everyone grieves in their own unique way.
Many people will offer advice and some may even say they know how you feel or what you are going through. Comments like these are almost always meant and said with good intentions, but the best advice we can give, is do what is right for you and if you find yourself needing help then don’t be ashamed or scared to ask for it and don’t try and battle on or be strong if you’re not feeling it. There are many organisations that can help and at times you may just need that special friend to talk to that had not want to approach you first. Trying to be “strong” for other family members is a sure set-up for failure so just “do you”.
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Whenever we are confronted by a loss, particularly the loss of bereavement, we experience one of the strongest human emotions, that of grief. When someone who has shared part of our life dies, whether a family member or a close friend, the emotions we feel can leave us desolate and confused.
This is normal, it happens to everyone – and it’s quite alright to feel emotionally devastated.
Grief is the natural response to a significant loss. It is not just a temporary state of mind – it is a whole process that may take anything up to five years to work through. How well we handle and understand it will determine whether the loss will completely overwhelm us, or whether we will find the ability to cope.
Many people find it difficult to grieve in today’s society, but we can grow as human beings if we are allowed to grieve fully.
There are many passages in the grieving process, incorporating a number of physical, emotional and mental states.
With some people, these passages are quite distinct – with others they are not. Some people work their way through in sequence – others struggle and go forward and then seem to go backwards many times as they “work through” the process.
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Shock – Disbelief Shock is the first reaction to the news of death of a loved one, and it is often total disbelief if that death is sudden. Shock is the body’s way of coping with traumatic situations in life. It is a period that allows us time to gather our resources to cope with the following passages of grief.
Emotional release – It’s alright to cry! At this point, we are unable to hold in the intense emotions which the loss has created and it is natural for that emotion to find release through crying. Many men find it difficult to cry because they have been brought up to believe that it isn’t “manly”. But holding in our emotions can make the recovery process more difficult. We won’t lose control, or our sanity, if we cry. It is a natural reaction – IT’S ALRIGHT TO CRY!
Loneliness – feeling low Almost everyone feels this loneliness, a sense of complete separation from the person who is no longer alive. We feel really low in spirits and don’t know what to do or where to go to find relief. It is important to realise that this is normal. It’s alright to feel low and alone, even if we have plenty of family and friends around to support us.
Physical symptoms of distress. The pressures of coping with bereavement may sometimes cause our bodies to react in the form of headaches, backaches, asthma or some other illness, sometimes even reflecting the symptoms of the deceased. A visit to the doctor may be wise, but often it is just nature’s way of telling us to “take it easy for a while” until we can get our whole bodies back into gear again.
Pining – Unable to cope with today The friendship and pleasures which we shared with the deceased pre-occupy us – nothing else seems to give us comfort! Many people fear that they may be going “crazy” with their grief, but knowing that this is a normal human reaction which is part of the recovery process will help us through this pain. Now is the time to reach out to other people – it’s not easy to do, but it is important to keep trying.
Relief Many people closely involved with a person who was ill for some times before death can find themselves emotionally drained and physically exhausted. For many there is a feeling of relief that the deceased’s pain and suffering has finally ended. It’s alright to feel relieved – it’s quite normal. We can accept that relief without feeling guilty.
Sense of Guilt When we have lost someone who was dear to us, many of us take on the blame for what has happened. “But I only spoke to him yesterday!” “I could have tried to stop her driving that night!” “If only I had been there!” These are all typical reactions to death and all quite normal. Whether real or imagined, all feelings of guilt hurt the ones who are grieving and we need to accept that the blame is not ours for something out of our control.
Anger As we gradually turn our feelings away from ourselves, many of us can experience intense anger: towards the person who has died – “how could he leave me like this?”; towards the medical profession – “why didn’t the doctors save her?”; and even towards God – “if He is a loving God, how could He let them die?” It’s alright to feel angry. It’s quite normal and it is important not to suppress these feelings. It is also important not to let our anger get out of control, but to direct it in a positive way. Where possible, sharing these feelings with a compassionate listener will help.
Inability to return to normal activities Although by now we have come through the worst of the emotional upheaval, it is still difficult to return to normal activity. We may become apathetic and lacking in energy, but this isn’t permanent. It does help if we can share our memories with others by talking about life and death of the deceased.
The light at the end of the tunnel Gradually we can now start picking up the threads of some of the activities we enjoyed before and try to re-establish a life that has some meaning. Most of us need to move through the various passages of our grief, in whatever order they come, so that we can finally begin to build a new life.
Welcome back At last life becomes bearable again and we can “re-join the human race”. Although, we will never be the same as before. It is now important to have enough self-esteem to recognise our own capabilities and strengths, as well as having faith in others to help us cope.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help The passages of grief may happen like a whirlwind, some may go unrecognised while others will not apply to everyone. What is important is not to get stuck in prolonged and unproductive grief feelings. If this happens, it may be helpful to talk to someone who has had training in the area of grief. A good place to start with this is talking to your local doctor and your clergy may also be of assistance.
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Feel the Magic is an Australian charity providing early intervention grief education programs for kids aged 7 to 18, who are experiencing pain and isolation due to the death of a parent, guardian, or sibling.
Our aim is to create a community where grieving kids and their families feel supported, empowered, and can begin to move forward with their lives.
1 in every 20 children aged 7-17 will experience the death of a parent . In Australia, just over 300,000 children will lose a parent before they reach the age of 18. To put this into perspective, there is most likely a child grieving the loss of a parent in every class at school. In addition to this, children also experience sibling and legal guardian loss.
Grieving children who have experienced the death of someone they love can feel isolated and alone. They require ongoing support in developing strategies to cope with and move forward with their lives following a loss.
Our evidence-informed programs have been developed by a clinical psychologist and are delivered by trained professionals. Our programs follow a structured psychoeducational framework to increase confidence and self-respect, teaching practical coping strategies to grieve in a healthy & positive way.
We aim to reduce the mental health challenges associated with childhood grief. Bereaved young people commonly suffer challenges including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, which contributes to the nearly one quarter of young people in Australia who experience some form of mental health challenge.
Funeral Bonds: Pre-Planning - Makes Sense
Investing in a Funeral Bond is one of the smartest financial decisions you will ever make. You have the security of knowing you have provided for future costs, and the comfort that you are protecting your loved ones from a potential financial burden.
Key features and benefits
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Sureplan’s funeral bond is called Sureplan Gold and it is a conservatively managed bond that may be an ideal way with which to put aside funds for your funeral expense. You can either invest a lump sum or deposit regular or ad-hoc deposits from as little as $50. Therefore, it can be an ideal funeral saving plan.
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A funeral bond is specifically designed to help you save for future funeral expenses.
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Your contributions and allocated bonuses are capital guaranteed. Your investment is held in a Funeral Bond Fund which is regulated by the Corporations Act 2001 and the Life Insurance Act 1995.
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Annual bonuses are exempt from personal income tax, therefore your personal tax position is not affected at anytime. Upon death, the benefit will be paid to your Estate. The growth component of your benefit (being the difference between your benefit and your contributions) will be assessed in the hands of your Estate.
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A funeral bond investment is exempt from both the Centrelink and the Department of Veteran Affairs Assets and Income Test. Therefore your investment may provide for improved Centrelink benefits depending on your circumstances, and can be paid into the fund as a lump sum or through regular contributions. There is also the option of direct debiting payments.
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A funeral bond can be opened in single or joint names. Monies contributed to a funeral fund policy held in joint names can be used towards one funeral only so we strongly request if a couple wishes to open Funeral Bond accounts that they are done individually to save any confusion later.
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There are no restrictions on age or health.
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Peace of mind in knowing your loved ones will have considerably less to worry about after you're gone.
If you would like any more information or clarification on any of the above topics, would like to start a pre-arrangement or arrangement, please contact our office between 9am-5pm Monday -Friday and we will book you in to speak with one of our arrangers.