The cost of a funeral will essentially reflect the personal, cultural and financial needs of your family, and the choices you make. France Family Funerals has a flexible pricing structure, which allows families to choose from a range of services and options. Some people prefer to obtain information on services, options and prices before engaging a funeral director. That’s why our specialist Funeral Planners provide obligation-free guidance and advice. Our specialist Funeral Planners will provide you with an itemised fee proposal, outlining all of the services and costs involved with the funeral that best reflects the life of your loved one and your family’s needs. To talk with one of our Funeral Planners contact us on (02) 40581960.
There are generally three main costs associated with a funeral:
Professional and Service Fees
Merchandise and Casket Costs
Disbursement and Third Party Expenses
In the section below, we detail what each cost includes.
professional fees
These are charged to recoup the expenses incurred in arranging and coordinating a funeral service. Like any professional, a Funeral Director requires trained and experienced staff in order to carry out these arrangements. The logistics involved normally requires between 30 and 60 individual staff hours. Professional Fees include: Arrangement and Consultation; Coordination of the Funeral (including third parties); Collation and Lodgement of Statutory Information; Clerical and Administrative Duties; Payment of Disbursement and Third Party Expenses; Overhead Cost linked to the Provision of Services; Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. A Funeral Director is required to have specialized facilities and equipment in order to operate. Often these are valued at several hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars and this charge is levied to cover overheads incurred in providing and maintaining these facilities and equipment. Facilities and Equipment Charges include: Property and Equipment Overheads; Repairs and Maintenance; Availability and Access to Staff 24 Hours a Day; Staff Wages and Allowances.
For the provision of staff and vehicles at the actual funeral service. It may include: Provision of Staff required to Assist and Conduct the Funeral Service; Use of Vehicles (Hearse and/or Mourning Car); and Use of Our Chapel where applicable (as Facilities and Equipment is a fixed charge relating to general overhead costs).
TRANSFER AND MORTUARY CARE
These fees are charged for all services relating to the transportation of the deceased from the place of death to our premises as well as organizing relevant documentation and certificates from the medical professional or coroner. These fees include: Transportation and Transfer of the Deceased; Essential Personal Protection and Safety Equipment; Organisation and Collection of Documentation and Certificates.
Mortuary Care and Preparation is for the use of our mortuary and any preparation work performed. Mortuary Care and Preparation may include: Shelter and Care of the Deceased (including use of our secure mortuary with alarm monitoring 24 hours a day); Essential Identification Procedures (including for Medical Referees Cremation Permits); Hygienic Cleansing and Preparation (including confirmation of surgical implants - required for Cremation); Preparation for Viewing (if requested); Dressing or Provision of Shroud (if requested); Embalming (if requested or required by regulations).
VIEWING
This includes the costs involved to coordinate, carry out and supervise a viewing.
merchandise and casket costs
Merchandise costs may include the preparation and provision of: Service Records or Mass Booklets; Sourcing and Provision of Music; Photo (Slide Show) Presentations; Photographs and Display Frames; Recording, Videoing and Livestreaming of Services; Thank You Cards.
The coffin or casket is not the only item of merchandise that may be selected by a family. In some cases legislation and regulations dictate that certain provisions and/or additional items may be required. We offer a selection of coffins and caskets to suit all wishes and customs. Additional items available include: Attendance Registers and Memorial Books; Coffin and Casket Drapery; Timber Grave Marker Crosses; Urns and Jewellery for Cremated Remains; Bronze and Slate Memorial Plaques; Remembrance Candles; Mounted Crucifixes and Crosses; Shrouds for Viewing.
disbursement and third party expenses
Disbursement and Third Party Expenses are expenses incurred by the Funeral Director with external or third parties. These expenses may be necessary for the type of arrangements chosen, for example cemetery or cremation charges, or they may be incurred by the Funeral Director upon request of the family such as flowers or newspaper notices. By their nature Disbursement and Third Party Expenses may be varied but wherever possible France Family Funerals will provide you with an estimate of each. These expenses may include: Flowers; Cemetery and Cremation Charges; Clergy and Celebrant Fees; Church and Venue Costs; Organist and Musicians; Catering Costs; Births, Deaths and Marriages Charges (Death Certificate); Newspaper Notices and Radio Calls; Doctors Fees for Certificates.
