Pre-planning

Think ahead for peace of mind

The advantages of planning ahead

Planning your funeral in advance is a practical way of ensuring your wishes are adhered to, as well as sparing your family or loved ones unnecessary stress about funeral arrangements in their time of grief.

Planning leaves nothing to chance and gives you one less thing to worry about. Even once it’s finalised, your plan is not locked in – our funeral planning offers flexibility to make alterations to the arrangements if circumstances change.

Two main options:
pre-planning or pre-paying

Pre-planned funerals

You can choose to pre-plan your funeral, without paying for it. You make your wishes known to us and choose the type of service you want and we’ll record them for the future. There is no charge for this service.

Pre-paid funerals

You can choose to pre-pay for your funeral. Benefits include; limits from asset testing, no financial stress on your loved ones, and the fact that your funds are safe, giving you peace of mind.

Pre-paid funeral funds are lodged in a specific Trust, independent of Marsden House Funeral Services and are fully secured with the bank. They can only be released on presentation of a Death Certificate.

Marsden House Funeral Services makes pre-paying for your funeral easy with a variety of payment options, including paying by instalments. Talk to us about your options.

The benefits of funeral
pre-planning and pre-paying

With our comprehensive information pack, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of our offerings, which include reduced burden on your family and loved ones, peace of mind for you, security of your funds, choices and flexibility, and various payment options.

Reduce the burden on your family

Flexibility

Marsden House Funeral Services will help you carefully document your wishes and you will receive a copy of your plan. It’s important to know that you are free to change your arrangements at any time. If the funeral is to be in another town we can arrange for the funeral to be carried out by another FDANZ member.

Choices

Pre-payment ensures that your express wishes for your funeral are carried out. You’re able to choose the type of funeral service you want — any readings, the funeral celebrant, music, casket, slideshows, video, etc. You get to make these choices in your own time, free from the anxiety and stress that surrounds bereavement.

Help protect your pension or income

There is no financial penalty for your careful planning. If you have to go in to rest home care any money you put in to the Trust will not be used to pay for your care, so the amount you pay for your funeral plan (up to $10,000, as of 2010) will not be assessed as part of your total assets. Your money is prepaid into a trust under your name and interest accrues/compounds back into your trust fund.

Security of your investment

Pre-paid funeral costs are lodged in a specific trust, independent of Marsden House Funeral Services and are fully secured with the ANZ. Marsden House Funeral Services acts as custodian of the Trust and has no financial interest in the trust. In the unlikely event of anything happening to [name], the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand will become the custodians of the Trust.