Perth Cremations & Burials

Frequently Asked Questions

• I’ve never done this before. Where do I start? What’s the process?

  No matter which funeral home you decide to go with, the following information is applicable and will give you a step-by-step guide through the process of arranging a funeral for your loved one.

  1. If a death is expected, do your research prior to the event so that your mind is not clouded with emotions and grief.
  2. Once you have chosen your Funeral Home and a death has occurred, the Funeral Home will arrange for the transfer of your loved one from their place of passing.
     1. If the deceased passed away in a facility that has cold storage, then transfer will occur during that facility’s regular operational hours.
     2. If the deceased passed away at a facility (or at home) where there is no cold storage, the general rule is to have the body transferred within 6 hours from time of passing.

  NOTE - If the death is subject to a Coronial Inquest then transfer will be made by the Coronial Team, not your nominated Funeral Director.

  3. Meet Face to Face with your Funeral Arranger. Ensure all family members who wish to take part in the Funeral Arrangements are present at this meeting, as this is when you will choose the date, time and location for the Funeral Service as well as selecting the coffin, flowers etc from the options offered.
  4. If you requested that a Funeral Notice be placed in the West Australian Newspaper and/or online, it will be placed by your Funeral Arranger as soon as the date, time and location of the Funeral Service has been confirmed. If you have a preferred date for placement of the Funeral Notice, make sure you let your Funeral Arranger know.
  5. Face to Face meeting with your Funeral Celebrant (if requested). Again, gather all family members who wish to be a part of this meeting as this is where the fine details of the Service will be discussed; from Pall Bearers to Eulogies, Memories to Poems, a Religious to Non-Religious feel; the celebrant will guide you through everything you hadn’t thought of, to make the Service a true reflection of your loved one’s life.
  6. You may have requested to include a ‘Photo Tribute’, ‘Order of Service’ booklet and/or other Video/Printed material for your loved one’s Funeral Service. If your Funeral Home is taking care of these arrangements on your behalf, be sure to provide them with the requested information by the dates specified. As these products and services are often supplied by third party specialists, it’s important to give them enough time to complete your order to the highest quality.
  7. Your Funeral Arranger and Celebrant will continue to liaise with you right up to the commencement of the Funeral Service so be sure to return any queries from them as soon as possible, and likewise, they will ensure they address any of your queries or last minute changes as a priority.
  8. For Ashes and Death Certificate Information, see below.
• When and where do I collect my loved one’s ashes after the cremation?

  Unless alternative arrangements were made with your Funeral Director during the sign up process, your loved one’s ashes will be available for collection from the Main Office of the Cemetery where the cremation took place, 2 business days after the date of cremation. Only the signatory on the paperwork can collect the ashes (unless an alternative person was nominated) and will need to present valid ID (Driver’s Licence etc) at time of collection.

  *Note - No one will contact you to let you know that your loved one’s ashes are ready for collection but you can contact any of the Metropolitan cemeteries on 1300 793 109 if you want to confirm prior to collecting.

  It is the responsibility of your Funeral Home to lodge the application for a Death Certificate for your loved one once the cremation/burial has taken place.

  NOTE - Lodgement cannot take place prior to the cremation/burial date.

  One of the documents you will fill out during the sign-up process will be the ‘Death Information Form’ which, once completed, contains all the information that will appear on the Death Certificate.

  The Death Certificate is issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages WA within 3-5 business days from the date lodged by the Funeral Home. The original is posted to the Funeral Home ONLY, and then the Funeral Home will post on to you, unless other arrangements such as collection in person or postage to a solicitor/Public Trustee have been made.

  Allow 5-7 business days postage time (on top of the time to issue) as Australia Post are not the service provider they once were. 10-14 days is the general time between burial/cremation and receipt of the Death Certificate.

  Note - A Priority issue of the Death Certificate can be ordered if required. Discuss with your Funeral Arranger as additional fees are payable.

• What happens to the coffin when a body is cremated?

  In Western Australia all bodies for cremation must be transferred to the Crematorium in an approved and sealed coffin. Once a coffin has entered the grounds of any of the Metropolitan or Regional Crematoria it is prohibited to be opened again and therefore all coffins are cremated with the deceased within.

• Is it better to get cremated or buried?

  This is an entirely PERSONAL decision based on an individual’s preference, religion, culture and/or customs. It is important to follow the deceased’s wishes if they have stipulated whether they wish to be cremated or buried in their Last Will & Testament, even if this is not what you or your family (or religious/cultural beliefs) would have expected.

• How soon should a funeral be held?

  There is no set time period when a funeral must be held. Keep in mind that it takes approximately 5 days to organise a Full Service Funeral and not all your requirements may be able to be met if deciding on holding the funeral within a shorter time. However, the most important thing is that you take the time you need to find the right funeral service provider to suit your needs. With 100% free quotes and 10% Price Beat guarantees, we’re here to help you make that decision.

• How much does a funeral cost?

  While funeral costs vary, some vendors charge in excess of $8,000 for a funeral. We appreciate that cost is the last thing on your mind, and that funerals can be expensive for many Perth families. For this reason we offer funeral packages starting at $1,295 and typically provide a full service package for between $3,000 to $5,000 less than our competition.