HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

Expressing your funeral wishes is a thoughtful way of easing the stress on your family in making decisions on the type of funeral you would want.

Your Will is a convenient way to make your wishes known concerning your funeral or how you would like your body dealt with after your death.

Clear directions can be included in your Will and your preferences could consider some of the following:

• Instructions allowing your body to be used for medical purposes (eg organ donation or research and education)
• Funeral arrangements – burial or cremation (including where you would like your body buried or your ashes buried or scattered)
• Your choice of funeral director
• The amount of funeral expenses (whether expenses are to be kept to a minimum)
• Religious service requirements
• ‘In memoriam’ gifts (whether donations are to be made to a particular charity in lieu of flowers)
• Payment of funeral expenses (eg prepayment options such as prepaid funeral, burial plots, funeral bonds; to be taken out of your estate)
• Any general directions (including what music you would like played at the funeral service)

Talk to your loved ones about your funeral wishes

It can also be a good idea to ensure your loved ones are aware of your wishes in case your Will is not reviewed until after the funeral.

You can also record your wishes in the Public Trustee’s personal record book. Please click on this link to download an electronic copy of our personal record book

 If the Public Trustee is contacted by family prior to the funeral, the family will be advised of any wishes set out in your Will.

Funeral Wishes Are Not Binding

It is important to understand that funeral wishes under a Will are not legally binding on your family or your executor, but rather demonstrate your preferences.