Funeral Planning Checklist

What you will need

• Are you planning a funeral now, or recording your own wishes?: Changes the wording and which sections are shown.
• Money available from policies, burial society and savings (R): Add up funeral policy payouts, burial society and cash you can use without borrowing.
• Funeral parlour quote plus other costs (R): Include the parlour, catering, tent, transport and grave or cremation fees.
• Burial or cremation (More detail): Cremation needs extra forms; the funeral parlour will guide you.
• Faith or cultural rites to include (More detail) (multi-select: church service / night vigil / umkhapho / janazah / Hindu rites / memorial only / other / none): No option is expected; choose what fits your family.

How it works

sections = [Documents, Funeral parlour, Service and rites, People and roles, Budget, After the funeral] Documents: IDs of the deceased and informant; notification of death (doctor or forensic pathology); death certificate and burial order from Home Affairs; policy and burial society documents. Funeral parlour: at least two written quotes if possible; confirm what is included; confirm whether the policy pays the parlour directly. If disposition == 'cremation': add 'Ask the parlour about the additional cremation forms and authorisation'. Service and rites: for each selected rite add a planning item (who leads, date, venue); always add 'Agree as a family which rituals happen now and which can happen later (for example the unveiling)'. People and roles: one person for payments and receipts, one for family communication, one for the programme. If mode == 'my own wishes': replace Documents and Budget with 'Where my documents are', 'My policies and burial societies', 'My wishes: burial or cremation, place, rites, music, readings, organ donation', 'Who I would like to lead or speak'. shortfall = quote_total - money_available If shortfall > 0: suggest ways to reduce costs (simpler catering, fewer hired items, rites later) and warn against quick loans. Keep all receipts: reasonable funeral costs can be claimed from the estate.

What you get

• Your funeral checklist
• Gap between costs and money available
• Who is doing what

What it means

• The plan fits the money available; keep all receipts for the estate.
• Costs are higher than the money available; look at simpler options before borrowing, and speak to an NCR-registered debt counsellor if a loan is being considered.
• Share this with the person who will act for you and keep a copy with your will.

Next step: Want help interpreting this? Speak to a counsellor through the Cleared Mind Careline, or see the Money hub guide on funeral cover and costs.

Runs on the device. Nothing is saved unless the member chooses.