Step 6 – Deceased Estate Administration Guide

Transporting a Dead Body in Australia

  • Last Updated: March 2024

This step explains everything you need to know about transporting a dead body in Australia and if you should make use of a Funeral Director, a Licensed Transport and Storage provider for local or statewide mortuary transfers.

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Overview
Now that you have determined the Executor or Administrator of the Estate and if any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance are in place, the following activities need to be undertaken to:
  • agree with the family that the body can be transported to a funeral home or licensed storage facility;
  • decide who will complete the transport; and
  • decide whether the family wishes to hold a viewing of the deceased after transportation.

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6.1 General Considerations

The Executor or Administrator as determined in Step 5 – The Role of Executor of a Will or Administrator of Estate is responsible for the transportation and disposal of the body.

You will need to decide whether or not to engage:
  • a Funeral Director for the body transport and storage only; or
  • a Funeral Director for the body transport, storage and all related services including the funeral.

Based on Step 4 – How to Find a Will & Funeral Insurance Information you have also determined if any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral or funeral insurance plans are in place and have contacted the provider. The provider will be able to inform you of any specific requirements such as selecting a specific Funeral Director or any other restrictions on the level of service to consider.

6.2 Choosing a Funeral Director

With all this in mind, you can now approach a Funeral Director in your area or with the provider required as per the pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral or funeral insurance. You will need to discuss your needs and request itemised quotes. If the deceased person's body is currently still at:
  • home, then make sure you focus on the body transport first to make sure you can transfer the body to a refrigerated storage facility and discuss other services in a second phase; or
  • a mortuary of a nursing home or hospital, then you may have negotiated a bit more time to discuss your options with a Funeral Director in more detail including all services relating to transport, storage and the funeral.

If no pre-arrangement is in place, you should request two to three itemised quotes to compare prices.

simplyEstate recommends using our Trusted Partners listed to the right or below, or Gatheredhere, allowing you to search hundreds of Funeral Directors in Australia and request quotes online.

6.3 Choosing a Licensed Transport & Storage Provider

If you are not ready or unsure about discussing all the services offered by a Funeral Director at this moment but are mainly concerned with the transport and storage, then a licensed transport and storage provider may be a good option.

However, please consider that you will most likely need to hire the services of a Funeral Director and the body will need to be transferred again.

Read Further

You are currently on Step 6 – Transporting a Dead Body in Australia. Other steps of interest may be:

> Step 7 – How To Organise a Funeral in Australia > Step 19 – What Happens to a Bank Account When Someone Dies > Step 25 – Claiming Life Insurance & Other Benefits
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Actions and Decisions to Complete Step Yourself

If you have decided to complete this Step yourself, some actions and decisions may be to:

  1. Agree with the family that the body can be transported to a funeral home or licensed storage facility;
  2. Confirm the deceased person's bank can make payment from the account (see Step 19.2 – Can an Executor Use a Deceased Bank Account to Pay for Expenses?) or who will make payment until reimbursed from the Estate can be made;
  3. Contact the relevant insurance company or Funeral Director to enquire about the pre-arrangement, how it can be accessed and what the inclusions and exclusions of the plan are (see Step 6.1 above);
  4. Decide if you will use the services of a Funeral Director or a Licensed Transport and Storage provider where no Will or specific pre-arrangements are in place (see Step 6.2 or Step 6.3 above);
  5. Source two to three quotes for the body transportation from providers, if no pre-arrangements are in place; and
  6. Inform the family of the details.

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Cost & Effort

Reading: 5 mins
Preparing: 1-2 hrs
Completing: 1 hr
Total: 2-3 hrs
Cost: $0

Effort and cost are general estimates only and are based on the assumption that you complete this step without experienced support.

Instructions

To find out how this Process Guide works, access the instructions here.

Glossary

To find out what the capitalised words mean, access the glossary here.

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Forms

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Other forms not listed here may be required based on your specific circumstances.

Checklists & Tools

Download Australia's most used Testamentary Costs & Executor Expense Tracker (part of the Essential Executor Checklists & Tools Package) to keep track of all testamentary, funeral and administration expenses to seek reimbursement once all Estate funds are available.
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Legislation & Rules

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Other legislation and rules not listed here may apply to your specific circumstances.

Guidance & Support

Executor Checklists & Tools

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Don't forget important tasks with Australia's most used Executor Handbook, Checklists and Tools. We recommend the Testamentary Costs & Executor Expense Tracker to track all expenses and seek reimbursement from the Estate. This document is part of the Essential Executor Checklists & Tools Package.
Download Here

Trusted Support

Have you encountered a challenge needing professional support, or are you unsure about how to proceed? Find out about our support options and personal guidance to get you back on your way with confidence.

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logo of simplyestate australia's number one administration of a Deceased Estate portal for executors and administrators to administer an Estate in Perth WA Western Australia Sydney NSW New South Wales Melbourne VIC Victoria Brisbane QLD Queensland

Executor & Administrator Support NSW

We can help with:
  • understanding how to organise a funeral
  • assessing your approach and best way forward
  • engaging a Funeral Director

Review our services and book a free phone appointment.

Find Out More
Trusted Partner logo of simplicity funerals to support with funeral arrangements in Perth Western Australia WA Sydney New South Wales NSW Melbourne Victoria VIC Brisbane Queensland QLD

Funeral Director NSW

Our trusted partner can help with:
  • transporting and storing the body
  • cremation and/or burial
  • organising and holding a funeral
Request an obligation free phone call to discuss your situation. Find Out More
logo of simplyestate australia's number one administration of a Deceased Estate portal for executors and administrators to administer an Estate in Perth WA Western Australia Sydney NSW New South Wales Melbourne VIC Victoria Brisbane QLD Queensland

Executor & Administrator Support VIC

We can help with:
  • understanding how to organise a funeral
  • assessing your approach and best way forward
  • engaging a Funeral Director

Review our services and book a free phone appointment.

Find Out More
Trusted Partner logo of simplicity funerals to support with funeral arrangements in Perth Western Australia WA Sydney New South Wales NSW Melbourne Victoria VIC Brisbane Queensland QLD

Funeral Director VIC

Our trusted partner can help with:
  • transporting and storing the body
  • cremation and/or burial
  • organising and holding a funeral
Request an obligation free phone call to discuss your situation. Find Out More
logo of simplyestate australia's number one administration of a Deceased Estate portal for executors and administrators to administer an Estate in Perth WA Western Australia Sydney NSW New South Wales Melbourne VIC Victoria Brisbane QLD Queensland

Executor & Administrator Support QLD

We can help with:
  • understanding how to organise a funeral
  • assessing your approach and best way forward
  • engaging a Funeral Director

Review our services and book a free phone appointment.

Find Out More
Trusted Partner logo of simplicity funerals to support with funeral arrangements in Perth Western Australia WA Sydney New South Wales NSW Melbourne Victoria VIC Brisbane Queensland QLD

Funeral Director QLD

Our trusted partner can help with:
  • transporting and storing the body
  • cremation and/or burial
  • organising and holding a funeral
Request an obligation free phone call to discuss your situation. Find Out More