Cost and payment

Cost of a funeral

The cost of a funeral depends on factors like your choice of casket and additional items such as flowers, newspaper notices, cemetery or cremation fees, and catering. These form part of the account and the total cost will vary according to the choices made.

We will also charge for our professional services. This includes receiving instructions concerning funeral arrangements, personal care and attention of deceased, mortuary care, obtaining the death

certificate from the doctor, preparing necessary documentation, attending to registration of death, provision of funeral home facilities and services, further transfers, after hours fees, paying disbursements and conducting other services in accordance with instructions.

Please talk to us at Lychgate Funerals so that we can provide a service to suit both your needs and your finances. We are more than happy to provide a free, no obligation estimate. If you have any financial worries, please let us know as soon as possible. There are agencies we can refer you to.

Financial agreement

Once you have had the arrangement meeting, your Funeral Director will provide an estimate of costs, either immediately or shortly after seeing you. This estimate will be used on the “Authority to Embalm, Cremate/Inter & Financial Agreement” form. When you sign this form it gives Lychgate the legal authority to act on your behalf, and it is an agreement to pay the costs of the funeral services. Whoever signs this form is legally responsible for paying the account.

While organising the service, your Funeral Director will keep an eye on costs. If they change significantly (more than 10% difference) then the Funeral Director will be in touch to discuss this with you. However, this is rare and the estimate should provide you with a realistic expectation of the costs of each element of the service.

Payment

The account invoice will be sent out within a week of the funeral and will be dated the day of the service. An Administration Fee is charged on all accounts, but if the account is paid within 21 days from the invoice date this fee will be deducted.

Unless specific arrangements have been made, the due date for full payment is 28 days from invoice date. If the invoice has not paid after 28 days this account becomes overdue and there will be penalties charged for late payment.

Lychgate Funerals are proud to be able to accommodate most budgets. We provide a discrete and sensible service where you should not feel awkward about discussing costs.

Paying when the estate is still in Probate

When someone dies their bank accounts are frozen and, in some cases, cannot be accessed until after Probate is granted. To ensure ongoing access by a partner, it is better for the bank accounts to be in joint names.

When settlement of an estate is delayed by lack of Probate, families should pay the funeral account by the due date and recover the funds from the estate when it is settled.

Most funeral firms send the account directly to the family and, if required, will send a copy to the solicitor.

The person making the arrangements with the funeral director remains responsible for paying the account.

Funeral grants

ACC Funeral
Grant

When someone dies as a result of an injury, ACC can help towards the costs of the burial or cremation. A funeral grant can be paid out for both New Zealanders and overseas visitors to New Zealand. The funeral does not have to be in New Zealand and this grant can also be used for memorial costs if the body is not recovered.

Work and Income
Funeral Grant

A funeral grant can help pay for some of the costs when someone close to you has died. WINZ will assess your assets and decide how much they are willing to contribute up to $2,280.72.

Entitlements for ex-service
personnel and their families

Veterans’ Affairs may be able to provide support when someone dies who had Qualifying Service.