How to Choose a Funeral Director in Australia
What a funeral director does, whether you have to use one, the price information they must give you, the questions worth asking, and how to compare two or three without feeling rushed.
By Anne G, reviewed by Andrew M · Last updated 8 October 2026 · Editorial standards
Key points
- You don't legally have to use a funeral director in NSW or Victoria, but most families do.
- Ask for a written, itemised quote, and ask what is optional and what the law actually requires.
- NSW, Queensland and Victoria require funeral directors to publish their prices, including in NSW their least expensive package.
- Getting more than one quote is normal, and the ACCC suggests it.
- Choose someone who listens, explains clearly and never pressures you.
Choosing a funeral director is often the first big decision after someone dies, and it usually has to be made quickly. It helps to know what a funeral director actually does, what information they have to give you, and what to ask. This guide covers all three, so you can choose someone you trust without feeling rushed.
What Does a Funeral Director Do?
A funeral director looks after the practical and legal side of a funeral, so the family doesn't have to. Most will:
- collect the person from the place they died and care for them until the funeral
- complete the paperwork, including registering the death in most states
- help you plan the service, book the venue and arrange a celebrant or minister
- organise the cremation or burial, including the permits and certificates needed
- arrange the coffin, transport, notices, flowers and printing, if you want them.
You can ask them to do as much or as little as you like. Some families hand over almost everything. Others keep the planning themselves and use the funeral director only for the parts they can't do.
Do You Have to Use a Funeral Director?
Do you have to use a funeral director in Australia? Not always. In NSW there is no legal requirement to use one, and in Victoria the steps can be done without one. Whoever arranges the funeral then takes on the legal and health requirements, so most families choose a funeral director.
The NSW Government's guide to arranging a funeral sets out what's involved if you do it yourself, including registering the death and arranging the burial or cremation. Victoria's Department of Health says the same steps can be completed without a funeral director, as long as the person doing it meets all the legal requirements. It's a real option, but it's a lot to take on at a hard time.
What Price Information Do Funeral Directors Have to Give You?
In several states, the law now requires funeral directors to be open about their prices.
| State | What the rules require |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Itemised prices shown at their premises, during home visits and on their website, including the price of their least expensive package and what it includes. An itemised quote before any agreement. |
| Queensland | Prices shown at their premises and on their website. An itemised quote within 48 hours of asking, or before you sign if that comes first. |
| Victoria | A price list on their website and at their premises. |
In other states, you can still ask for the same information, and a good funeral director will happily give it. If you're not sure of the rules where you live, your state or territory's fair trading or consumer affairs office can tell you.
What Should You Ask For in a Quote?
What should a funeral quote include? Each item and its price, whether GST is included, and whether the quote is the total you will pay. Ask which items are legally required and which are optional, such as flowers, catering or a printed booklet.
The ACCC suggests asking for the quote in writing and checking whether it's the total price or an estimate. Some costs are paid to other people, such as the cemetery, crematorium or the doctor who completes certain certificates, and these are sometimes listed separately. Ask about them so there are no surprises.
How Many Funeral Directors Should You Contact?
Should I get more than one funeral quote? Yes, if you can. The ACCC suggests considering more than one quote. Ask each funeral director for a written, itemised quote so you can compare what is included, not just the total.
Two or three is usually enough. You can call or email, and many funeral directors now publish their prices online, which makes a first comparison quick. If time is short, ask a friend or relative to make the calls for you.
It's easiest to compare before you commit. If you've already called a funeral director and want to change, ask them how a transfer would work and whether anything would be charged.
Questions Worth Asking
- What does your least expensive package include, and what doesn't it include?
- Which costs are paid to other people, such as the cemetery or crematorium?
- Is the quote the full price, including GST?
- Can we hold the service at a place of our choosing, or do you have your own chapel?
- Can we bring our own celebrant, music, photos or a funeral video?
- Can family see the person before the funeral, and is there a cost for that?
- When do you need payment, and do you offer payment plans?
- Are you a member of an industry association?
Members of Funerals Australia (formerly the Australian Funeral Directors Association) agree to its code of ethics, which includes giving written estimates of charges and respecting the family's religious and cultural wishes.
Are Funeral Directors Licensed?
Are funeral directors licensed in Australia? It depends on the state. In NSW, funeral directors don't need a licence, though they are regulated by NSW Fair Trading. In Victoria, funeral providers must register with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Because the rules differ, it's worth asking how long a funeral director has been operating, whether they're a member of an industry association, and whether they can give you the names of families they've helped.
What If You Feel Pressured?
You should never feel pushed into spending more than you want to. The ACCC says funeral providers must not mislead you, use unfair contract terms or act unconscionably.
A few phrases that are completely fine to use:
- "We'd like to keep it simple."
- "Can you show us the least expensive option first?"
- "We need to talk about it as a family before we decide."
- "Please put that in writing."
A caring funeral director will respect all of these. If something goes wrong, your state or territory's fair trading or consumer affairs office can help; the ACCC itself doesn't resolve individual complaints.
Choosing the Right Person
Price matters, but so does the person. Notice how they speak to you. Do they listen, explain things clearly and give you time? Do they respect your family's culture and beliefs? You'll be working closely with them for a week or two, often on the hardest days of your life, so it's worth choosing someone you feel comfortable with.
What Comes Next?
Once you've chosen a funeral director, the next big decisions are usually how the person will be laid to rest and who will lead the service. Our guides to cremation vs burial, direct cremation and choosing a celebrant or a religious ceremony walk through each one. If cost is a worry, How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Australia? explains what makes up the price.
For the whole process in order, see our step-by-step guide to planning a funeral in Australia. And if the decisions are feeling like too much, our page on grief support in Australia lists free services you can call at any hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to use a funeral director in Australia? Not always. In NSW there is no legal requirement to use one, and in Victoria the steps can be done without one. Whoever arranges the funeral then takes on the legal and health requirements, so most families choose a funeral director.
Should I get more than one funeral quote? Yes, if you can. The ACCC suggests considering more than one quote. Ask each funeral director for a written, itemised quote so you can compare what is included, not just the total.
What should a funeral quote include? Each item and its price, whether GST is included, and whether the quote is the total you will pay. Ask which items are legally required and which are optional, such as flowers, catering or a printed booklet.
Are funeral directors licensed in Australia? It depends on the state. In NSW, funeral directors don't need a licence, though they are regulated by NSW Fair Trading. In Victoria, funeral providers must register with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
This guide is general information for people in Australia, not legal or financial advice. How we write and check our guides is set out in our editorial standards.
Sources
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Arranging a funeral service (checked 8 October 2026)
- NSW Government, FAQ for funeral directors (checked 8 October 2026)
- NSW Government, A guide to arranging a funeral (checked 8 October 2026)
- NSW Fair Trading, Using a funeral director (checked 8 October 2026)
- Queensland Government, Supplying funeral services (checked 8 October 2026)
- Consumer Affairs Victoria, Price list requirements (checked 8 October 2026)
- Funerals Australia (Australian Funeral Directors Association), Code of ethics (checked 8 October 2026)
- Victorian Department of Health, What to do after someone dies (checked 8 October 2026)
About the author
Anne G writes Mixtape Memories' guides on the first steps after a death, from the first hours to registering the death and telling the people and organisations who need to know. She also reviews guides before they are published, checking that each one is accurate, clear and kind to read for someone in the middle of arranging a funeral. If a step could be simpler, or a word could land harder than intended, it gets changed.
Reviewed by Andrew M.