How to Plan a Funeral in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide

What happens first, who does what, and which decisions can wait. A plain-English guide for Australian families, from the first hours after a death through registering it, arranging the funeral, the service itself and the paperwork afterwards.

By Kate B, reviewed by Andrew M · Last updated 5 October 2026 · Editorial standards

Key points

If a death is expected and at home, call the person's doctor or palliative care team. If it's unexpected, call 000.
In most cases the funeral director registers the death and orders the death certificate for you.
Very little has to happen in the first few hours. Most decisions can wait a day or two.
Tell Services Australia within 28 days if the person received a payment, and use the Australian Death Notification Service for banks and utilities.
Ask for help. Family, friends, the funeral director and the doctor can all take tasks off your list.

When someone dies, the list of things to do can feel enormous, and it arrives at the worst possible time. The good news is that it follows a fairly predictable order, and very little of it has to happen straight away. This guide walks through that order, step by step: the first hours, choosing who will help you, registering the death, planning the service, the day itself, and the paperwork afterwards. Each section links to a fuller guide when you're ready for more detail.

What Happens in the First Hours After a Death?

What you do first depends on where and how the person died.

If the death was expected and happened at home, call the person's doctor or palliative care team. According to healthdirect, the Australian Government's health information service, you don't need to call an ambulance or the police for an expected death at home, and if it happens during the night you can wait until morning. The doctor will confirm the death and complete a medical certificate of the cause of death.

If the death was unexpected, call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

If the person died in hospital or an aged care home, the staff will confirm the death and talk you through what happens next. You don't need to arrange anything that night.

There's no rush to call a funeral director in the first hours of an expected death. Many families take some time to sit with the person, to call close family, or simply to rest. That time is yours.

Our guide to what to do in the first 24 to 48 hours goes through these hours in more detail, including what to do if you're on your own.

When Is a Coroner Involved?

Some deaths must be reported to a coroner, who investigates the cause. In general, a death is reportable if it was violent or unnatural, sudden with an unknown cause, happened in unusual or suspicious circumstances, or was not the expected outcome of a medical procedure. The exact rules are set by each state and territory.

If a coroner is involved, the doctor won't issue the usual certificate, and the person may be taken into the coroner's care for an examination. It can feel unsettling, but it doesn't stop you from contacting a funeral director or starting to plan. The funeral may just take a little longer to schedule. The coroner's office and the police will keep you informed.

Who Will Help You Organise the Funeral?

For most Australian families, the funeral director is the person who brings everything together. They collect and care for the person who has died, help you plan the service, handle the legal paperwork for burial or cremation, and usually register the death.

Some things worth doing before you choose:

Check for existing arrangements. The person may have a prepaid funeral, funeral insurance, a funeral bond, or written wishes in their will or a separate letter.
Ask for an itemised quote. It shows what's included and makes it easier to compare.
Ask what they'll handle for you. For example, registering the death, death certificates, newspaper notices and the venue.
Take someone with you. A second person often remembers questions you'll forget.

You can also involve a celebrant, a minister or another faith leader to lead the service. Many funeral directors can recommend one, or you might already know who you'd like.

How Is a Death Registered?

Every death in Australia must be registered with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state or territory where it happened. In most cases you don't do this yourself. The funeral director registers the death for you, using details you give them, and orders the death certificate at the same time.

The deadline is set by each state or territory. In New South Wales, for example, the funeral director or person who arranged the burial or cremation must notify the registry within 7 days after it takes place. Other states use 7 or 14 days, and some count from the date of death.

You'll be asked for details such as the person's full name, date and place of birth, address, occupation, parents' names, marriage or relationship details and children's names. It helps to gather these early.

Our guide to registering a death in Australia has a table of every state and territory's rules, with links to each registry.

What Decisions Do You Need to Make About the Funeral?

Once a funeral director is helping you, the main decisions are about what kind of farewell suits the person and your family. There are no right answers, and the person's own wishes, if you know them, are a good place to start.

The main choices usually are:

Burial or cremation. Some families also choose a cremation with no service, sometimes called a direct cremation, and hold their own gathering later.
The type of service. Religious, non-religious, a celebration of life, a graveside service, or something small and private.
Who leads it. A celebrant, a minister or faith leader, or a family member.
Where and when. A chapel, church, hall, park or the family home, and a date that gives people time to travel.
Who speaks. One person, or several, giving a eulogy or sharing memories.
Music, readings and pictures. The songs played, any poems or readings, photos on display, and perhaps a memorial video.
Flowers or donations. Some families ask for donations to a cause the person cared about instead of flowers.
After the service. A wake or gathering, at a venue, a club or at home.

You don't have to decide everything at once. Many funeral directors suggest settling the date, venue and burial or cremation first, then filling in the details over the following days.

How Much Does a Funeral Cost?

Costs vary widely depending on where you live, burial or cremation, the venue, and how much the funeral director handles. Before you agree to anything, ask for an itemised quote and check what's included.

If the person had a prepaid funeral, funeral insurance or a funeral bond, find the paperwork early, because it may cover part or all of the cost. If money is tight, tell the funeral director at the start. Most are used to working within a budget and can suggest simpler options.

If you or the person who died received a Centrelink payment, Services Australia explains what help may be available when someone dies, such as a bereavement payment for some partners and carers.

How Do You Make the Service Personal?

The details are what make a funeral feel like it belongs to the person. A few ideas families often use:

A eulogy that tells true, specific stories rather than a list of qualities.
Their music, the songs they actually loved, even if they're not traditional funeral songs.
A memory table with photos and objects: their hat, a trophy, a well-thumbed book.
A dress code in their footy colours or their favourite colour.
An order of service with a photo and a few words about their life.
Something to take home, like seed packets or a copy of their favourite recipe.

For more ways to remember someone, at the funeral and in the years after, see Memorial Ideas Beyond Flowers.

If you're writing a death notice or obituary, start with the facts (full name, date of death, age, service details) and add a few true details about who they were. Leave out their full date of birth and home address.

What Happens on the Day of the Funeral?

On the day, the funeral director looks after the practical side: transporting the person, setting up the venue, running the order of service, and guiding people through the day. Your job is mostly to be there.

A few things that help:

Ask someone to be your helper for the day: to greet people, hand out orders of service, or keep an eye on children.
Ask a friend or neighbour to stay at the house while everyone is at the service, if the home will be empty.
Have the details written down: the run sheet, who's speaking, and the funeral director's mobile number.
Test anything on a screen (music, a slideshow or a video) at the venue beforehand.
Eat something. It sounds obvious, and it's often forgotten.

Who Do You Need to Tell After the Funeral?

After the funeral, a number of agencies and organisations need to know. You don't have to do it all in one go.

Services Australia. If the person received a payment, Services Australia asks to be told within 28 days. It updates their Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support records.
The Australian Death Notification Service. A free government service at deathnotification.gov.au that lets you tell several organisations at once, such as banks, super funds, phone and internet companies, and energy and water providers. The death has to be registered first.
The Australian Taxation Office, which has its own notification form and a checklist for deceased estates.
Others the person dealt with: their employer, landlord, insurers, doctors and specialists, clubs and subscriptions.

Our guide on who to notify when someone dies has a full printable checklist.

What Happens to the Will and the Estate?

If the person left a will, it usually names an executor: the person responsible for managing the estate and carrying out the wishes in the will. If there's no will, state and territory laws decide who can inherit.

The executor's work often includes:

finding the will and any important documents
applying for probate if it's needed
notifying the tax office and lodging a final tax return, if one is required
paying debts and bills from the estate
dealing with superannuation, which is handled separately from the will in many cases
distributing what's left.

This can take months, and it's normal to get advice. The public trustee in your state, a solicitor, or the person's accountant can help.

What If the Family Doesn't Agree?

Disagreements about a funeral are common, and they're usually about love rather than logistics. One sibling wants a church service, another wants something casual. One person wants a big gathering, another can't face it.

A few things that tend to help:

Start with what the person wanted. If they left written wishes, or said something clear while they were alive, that's a good tie-breaker.
Know who has the final say. In New South Wales, for example, Legal Aid NSW explains that the executor named in the will is responsible for organising the funeral, and that disputes can go to mediation. The rules differ between states and territories, so check where you live.
Split the decisions. One person chooses the music, another the readings, another the venue. People feel heard when they've shaped part of the day.
Make room for more than one farewell. A private family service followed by a bigger memorial later, or a service now and a scattering of ashes next year, can meet different needs.
Ask the funeral director or celebrant to help. They see this often and can suggest options that work for everyone.

If a disagreement becomes serious, for example about burial or cremation, talk to the funeral director early, and get legal advice before anything is booked.

What If You're Planning From a Distance?

More families now arrange a funeral from interstate or overseas, or have relatives who can't travel in time. It's very manageable.

Most of the planning can be done by phone and email. Funeral directors are used to working with families who aren't local.
Choose one local helper to visit the venue, drop off photos or clothing, and be your eyes on the ground.
Consider livestreaming the service. Many venues and funeral directors can arrange it, so people far away can watch live or later.
Allow time for travel. If key people need to fly in, pick a date that gives them a fair chance to get there.
If the person died overseas, or will be buried overseas, extra paperwork is involved. Ask a funeral director about it early, as it can take longer.

Looking After Yourself and Each Other

In the middle of all the arranging, it's easy to forget that you're grieving too. The days around a funeral are often busy enough to hold the feelings off, and the weeks after can be harder. That's common.

Let people help. Say yes when someone offers to cook, drive, babysit or make phone calls. Sleep when you can. And if things feel too heavy, our page on grief support in Australia lists free services you can call at any hour, including Lifeline on 13 11 14.

A Planning Timeline

Every family's timeline is different, but this is a rough guide to what tends to happen when.

When	What usually happens	Who usually does it
First hours	The death is confirmed. Close family are told.	Doctor, nurse or ambulance; you
First day or two	Choose a funeral director. Check for a will or prepaid funeral.	You, with family
First week	Plan the service: date, venue, burial or cremation, who speaks. Write a death notice.	You and the funeral director
The funeral	The service, and a wake or gathering if you're having one.	The funeral director runs the day
Within 7 to 14 days	The death is registered and the death certificate ordered.	Usually the funeral director
Within 28 days	Tell Services Australia if the person received a payment.	You or the executor
Weeks to months	Notify banks and organisations. Deal with the will, estate and tax.	The executor, with advice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing to do when someone dies at home? If the death was expected, call the person's doctor or palliative care team. You don't need to call an ambulance or the police, and if it happens overnight you can wait until morning. If the death was unexpected, call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

Do I have to register the death myself? Usually not. In most cases the funeral director registers the death with your state or territory's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and orders the death certificate for you. You give them the personal details they need.

How soon after a death does the funeral happen? There's no single rule. Many funerals in Australia take place within one to two weeks, but it depends on the family's wishes, faith or cultural practice, the availability of venues, and whether a coroner is involved.

Who should I tell when someone dies? Start with close family and friends. Then tell Services Australia within 28 days if the person received a payment, and use the free Australian Death Notification Service to tell banks, super funds and utilities at once.

Can I plan a funeral without a funeral director? It's possible in Australia, but uncommon, because the person who arranges the burial or cremation takes on legal tasks such as registering the death. Most families use a funeral director for at least part of the process.

This guide is general information for people in Australia, not legal or financial advice. Rules differ between states and territories, so check with the relevant agency for your situation. How we write and check our guides is set out in our editorial standards.

Where to next

First steps after a death

What needs doing in the first hours and days, and who to tell.

What to Do in the First 24 to 48 Hours After Someone Dies
A calm checklist for the first day or two after a death in Australia. Who to call depending on where and how the person died, what can safely wait, what happens when a coroner is involved, and the small practical things worth doing.
How to Register a Death in Australia, State by State
Every death in Australia has to be registered, and in most cases the funeral director does it for you. This guide explains how it works, the deadline in each state and territory, the details you'll be asked for, and how the death certificate is ordered.
Who to Notify When Someone Dies: The Full Checklist
A practical, printable checklist of the people, government agencies and organisations to tell when someone dies in Australia, in a sensible order, with the free government service that lets you tell many of them at once.

Memorial, tribute and grief

Memorial videos, slideshows and music, keepsakes, and support after the funeral.

How to Create a Memorial Video: The Complete Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide to creating a memorial or funeral video: what to include, how many photos you need, choosing music, and whether to DIY or ask for professional help. Written for Australian families planning a funeral, memorial service or celebration of life.
Memorial Video Ideas: 15 Ways to Tell Their Story
Fifteen practical, adaptable ideas for structuring a memorial or tribute video: from life-stage timelines to humour, voice recordings and cultural identity. Choose the two or three that genuinely reflect the person, rather than following one fixed template.
Best Songs for a Funeral Slideshow or Memorial Video
A practical guide to choosing music for a funeral slideshow, memorial video or celebration of life, covering personal meaning, tone, instrumental options, family disagreement and copyright, without ranking songs as objectively "best."
What to Include in a Memorial or Funeral Video
A practical checklist for deciding what belongs in a memorial or funeral video: photographs, home videos, music, captions, voice recordings and personal objects, plus guidance on what you don't need to include, and how to choose between similar photos.
How Many Photos Do You Need for a Funeral Slideshow?
How many photos does a funeral slideshow actually need? A practical guide to photo counts, timing per image, video length and pacing, with guidance for both large photo archives and smaller collections, and no false claims about "correct" numbers.
How to Create a Memorial Video When You Only Have a Few Photos
Worried you don't have enough photos for a memorial video? A practical guide to making the most of a small or imperfect collection, using pacing, captions, music, voice recordings and personal objects to build something genuinely meaningful.
Funeral Slideshow vs Memorial Video: What's the Difference?
Funeral slideshow, memorial video, tribute video, memorial film or celebration-of-life video: what's actually different? A practical, neutral guide to help you choose based on material, purpose and setting, not just terminology.
DIY Funeral Slideshow or Professional Tribute Video?
Should you make a funeral slideshow yourself or use a professional tribute-video service? A balanced comparison of time, cost, technical skill, privacy and emotional workload, with no assumption that one option is always the right choice.
How to Prepare Photos, Videos and Information for a Memorial Video
A practical, low-stress checklist for gathering photos, videos, audio, music preferences and family messages for a memorial video, plus what you genuinely don't need to have ready before you start.
Funeral and Memorial Video Technical Checklist
A practical, non-technical checklist for preparing a memorial or funeral video for playback, covering file format, aspect ratio, audio, backups and venue confirmation, to help reduce avoidable problems on the day.
What Happens to a Memorial Video After the Funeral?
What should you do with a memorial video once the funeral is over? A practical guide to private sharing, keepsakes, future remembrance events and long-term preservation, with no assumption that publishing online is the right or expected next step.
How to Write an Obituary in Australia (Free Template)
What to include in an obituary, how it differs from a death notice, how long it should be and where families usually publish it, with a free template you can print and fill in, and a short example to start from.
Memorial Ideas Beyond Flowers: Keepsakes, Tribute Pages and Videos
Flowers fade within a week. These are ideas for remembering someone in ways that last: things to keep, things to make, things to do together, and ways to mark the dates that matter, for the funeral and for the years after.
Coping With Grief After a Funeral: Support in Australia
The weeks after a funeral can be the hardest part. This guide lists free Australian support services, explains what grief can feel like, and suggests small things that help, for you and for the people around you.

Sources

healthdirect (Australian Government), Preparing for a death at home (checked 5 October 2026)
Queensland Courts, Reportable deaths (checked 5 October 2026)
NSW Government, Funeral directors (Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages) (checked 5 October 2026)
Services Australia, What to do when someone dies (checked 5 October 2026)
Services Australia, Who to tell when someone dies (checked 5 October 2026)
Australian Government, Australian Death Notification Service (checked 5 October 2026)
Moneysmart (ASIC), Wills and powers of attorney (checked 5 October 2026)
Legal Aid NSW, Funerals (checked 5 October 2026)
Australian Taxation Office, Checklist: what to do when someone dies (checked 5 October 2026)

About the author

Kate B writes and edits Mixtape Memories' guides on planning and personalising a memorial video, with a focus on the family-facing side of the process: what to include, working with limited material, and what comes after the service. The aim is always the same: practical, calm guidance that doesn't add to an already difficult week.

Reviewed by Andrew M.