What is the first thing to do when arranging a funeral in Australia?

The first priority is contacting a funeral director to arrange transfer of the deceased. You don't need to have made any decisions yet — a good funeral director will guide you. If the death was unexpected, call 000 first; police will attend and the coroner may be involved before the body can be released.

How soon does a funeral need to happen in Australia?

In Australia, there is no fixed legal deadline, but most funerals take place within 3–7 days. Burial typically needs to happen sooner than cremation due to preservation requirements. If a coroner is involved, timing depends on when the body is released.

Who needs to be notified when someone dies in Australia?

Notify immediate family first, then contact a funeral director. Legal notifications include registering the death with the relevant state authority. Government notifications include Centrelink, the ATO, Medicare, and the electoral commission. The Australian Death Notification Service can help notify multiple agencies at once.

What paperwork is needed to arrange a funeral in Australia?

You will need a medical certificate of cause of death (provided by a doctor or the coroner), which is used to register the death and obtain a death certificate. The funeral director handles most of this paperwork. You will need certified copies of the death certificate for banks, super funds, and government agencies.

Funeral Checklist Australia — Everything You Need to Arrange

Most people arrange one or two funerals in their lifetime, usually while in acute grief. The process is unfamiliar, the decisions are significant, and there is very little time. This checklist is designed to help you see the whole picture at once, so nothing gets missed and nothing feels more overwhelming than it needs to be.

Not everything on this list is urgent. Some items need to happen within hours. Others can wait days or weeks. The order below reflects a typical sequence.

In the first 24 hours

Immediate steps

Confirm the death is certified by a doctor
Notify immediate family and close friends
Contact a funeral director to collect the body
If the death was unexpected or sudden, contact 000 — the coroner may need to be involved before the body can be released
If the person died at home, secure the property
If the person died in hospital or aged care, arrange to collect belongings when ready

For more detail on the first hours, see our guides to what to do when someone dies at home, in hospital, and in aged care.

Choosing a funeral director

The funeral director you choose will guide much of what follows. They handle collection of the body, preparation, death registration, coordination with the cemetery or crematorium, and the logistics of the service. Take a few minutes to compare options if you can — costs and approaches vary significantly.

Choosing a funeral director

Get a general price guide from two or three directors before committing
Confirm they service your area and can collect promptly
Ask whether they handle all arrangements in-house or outsource some services
Check Google reviews or comparefuneraldirectors.com.au for independent feedback
Confirm everything in writing before signing an authority form

See our full guide to choosing a funeral director in Australia.

Deciding on burial or cremation

This is the first significant decision and it affects many of the choices that follow. If the person left any instructions — in a Will, a letter of wishes, or a conversation you remember — start there. If not, the decision falls to the next of kin.

Burial or cremation

Check whether the person left any written or spoken wishes
Consider religious or cultural preferences
Confirm whether a burial plot is already owned or needs to be purchased
If cremation, decide what will happen with the ashes
Consider cost — direct cremation is significantly cheaper than a full burial service

Our guide to burial versus cremation in Australia covers the practical, financial, and emotional considerations in detail.

Planning the service

A funeral service can take many forms. It does not need to be held in a church or follow a traditional format. The decisions below will shape the kind of farewell you create.

Service decisions

Type of service — funeral, memorial, celebration of life, graveside service, or no service
Venue — funeral home chapel, church, community hall, outdoor space, or family property
Date and time — typically 5 to 10 days after the death, depending on family availability and the coroner's involvement if applicable
Officiant — celebrant, religious minister, or family-led
Speakers and eulogists — who will speak and for how long
Music — for entry, reflection, and exit
Order of service — printed or digital program
Floral arrangements
Reception or gathering after the service
Livestream for those who cannot attend
Coffin or casket selection

See our full guide to how to plan a funeral in Australia for more on each of these decisions.

Writing and tributes

Writing tasks

Eulogy or tribute — who is writing it and who will deliver it
Death notice or obituary for a newspaper or online publication
Social media post or family notification
Order of service text
Thank you cards for after the service

Our guides to writing a eulogy and writing a death notice or obituary cover these in detail.

Understanding costs

Funeral costs in Australia vary widely depending on the type of service, the state, and the funeral director. It is worth having a clear picture early so you can make decisions with confidence.

Financial planning

Request an itemised quote from your funeral director
Check whether the person had funeral insurance or a pre-paid funeral plan
Confirm whether the estate can cover costs upfront, or whether family will contribute
Check eligibility for the Centrelink bereavement payment if applicable
Keep all receipts — funeral costs may be claimable from the estate

See our guides to understanding funeral costs in Australia and the Centrelink bereavement payment.

Paperwork and notifications

Admin tasks

Death registration — your funeral director typically handles this with your input
Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate (you will need at least 5 to 10)
Notify Services Australia to cancel Centrelink and Medicare payments
Notify the ATO
Notify banks and financial institutions
Notify superannuation funds
Cancel Medicare, driver's licence, passport
Notify the Australian Electoral Commission
Cancel utilities, subscriptions, and online accounts

Our guide to who to notify when someone dies covers each of these in detail with direct links to the relevant forms.

You do not need to do everything at once

The first week is for the immediate steps and the funeral. The paperwork and notifications can happen in the weeks that follow. Be realistic about what you can manage at a time of grief, and ask for help where you can.

Work through it all in one place.

Remember Well• gives you a structured planner for the service decisions, writing tools for the tributes, and a checklist for everything that follows the funeral.

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