Costs & Choices

Paying for your funeral

We want to ensure that we provide a service that suits both your needs and your financial circumstances.

Financial concerns

If you have any financial worries, please let us know. Agencies that can help with the cost of a funeral are:

• Work & Income – a funeral grant may be available depending on assets and income of the deceased
• ACC provides a grant for accidental deaths
• Other entitlements are available for ex-service personnel and their families

What if the estate is tied up?

When a death occurs, bank accounts in the name of the deceased are frozen and in some cases cannot be accessed until probate is granted. However, some bills can be paid before probate is granted and most NZ banks have a process for deceased estate access. However, if settlement of an estate is delayed due to probate, families should pay the funeral account by the due date and recover the funds from the estate when it is settled.

We will send the account directly to the family, and if required, can send a copy to a solicitor. The person who has signed the financial page of the funeral arrangement document is responsible for paying the account.

Payment

The account will be prepared within a few days of the funeral, when all costs incurred on behalf of the family have been finalised. This will be posted to the family, with a due date two weeks after the date of the invoice. If the invoice is paid before the due date, a $200 discount can be deducted before payment. Please note: there is no discount allowable for a simple cremation or simple burial

If the invoice has not been paid within 28 days, the invoice becomes overdue and a late penalty of $50 will be added.

If the invoice is more than three months late, interest of 4% will be charged on a monthly basis until the account is settled.

We can arrange a payment plan if necessary.