Funeral Directives

Honouring Your Legacy and Saying Goodbye — Your Way

Most people don't like talking about funerals. But having a clear plan is one of the kindest gifts you can leave your family — reducing stress, confusion, and disagreements at a very emotional time.

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How to Get Your Funeral Directives

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Standalone via DYOdocs

Use DYOdocs to prepare your funeral directives online at your own pace. You can then ask us to review them or provide advice to make sure they align with your other estate planning documents.

From $23 (1 person) / $46 (couple)

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Use DYOdocs to create a free report on the documents you should have as part of your estate plan.

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Plan Your Farewell — On Your Terms

A funeral directive is a written record of your wishes about how you'd like to be farewelled. It covers practical decisions — burial or cremation, type of service, cultural or religious practices — and personal ones, like music, readings, and how you'd like your life to be celebrated.

Making these decisions now reduces stress and confusion for your family, helps avoid disagreements between loved ones, and lets people focus on grieving and remembering you rather than trying to work out what you "would have wanted".

We see funeral directives as an important part of planning for the future. They help your executors and loved ones understand what you want, instead of having to guess or argue about it later.

A close-up of two people holding hands outdoors during sunset, with trees in the background. One person is wearing a plaid shirt with a fur vest, and the other is wearing a beige sweater with a plaid shirt underneath.

The open rear of a hearse carrying a casket with a floral arrangement inside, parked outdoors with trees and sidewalk in the background.

What Your Funeral Directive Can Include

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Burial or Cremation

Your preference, and where you'd like to be buried or your ashes placed.

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Type of Service

Religious, non-religious, private, public — or no service at all.

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Music & Readings

Songs, hymns, poems, or readings that are meaningful to you.

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Cultural & Religious Customs

Tikanga, religious rites, or cultural practices that matter to you and your whānau.

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Speakers & Participants

Who you'd like to speak, read, or be involved in your farewell.

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Special Requests

Flowers, charitable donations in lieu, dress code, photos, or anything else that reflects you.

Making sure your wishes are followed

A funeral directive only works if people know it exists and can find it. We recommend giving a copy to your executors, sharing it with close family or whānau, keeping a copy with your will and estate planning documents, and telling your loved ones which lawyer holds the original. This ensures your wishes are known quickly and your farewell reflects your values, culture, and beliefs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It gives you peace of mind that your wishes for your funeral and final arrangements are clearly recorded. It also reduces stress, confusion, and disagreements for your loved ones at a very difficult time.

Yes. You can change your funeral directive at any time. It's important to review it periodically and update it if your wishes, relationships, or circumstances change.

Your executors, close family or friends who are likely to be involved in arranging your funeral, and any trustee or professional adviser who helps manage your estate. They need to know it exists and where to find it.

In some situations, a funeral directive may not be followed — for example, if it conflicts with the law or is challenged. Getting proper legal advice and making sure your directive is clear and consistent with your will and other documents helps reduce this risk.

You can include funeral wishes in your will, but it's often better to also have a separate funeral directive. Wills are not always read immediately after death, and a separate document is easier to locate quickly and share with family and your funeral director.