Frequently Asked Questions
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Your questions answered on cremations, memorials, funerals, burials, prepaid plans and probate. All explained clearly, without the jargon.
After you have finished filling out your Will Form it must be printed then signed. Signing the Will correctly is vital to ensure it is valid.
The Will-maker (testator) and both witnesses must be present at the same time of signing. They must also use the same pen to sign and date the Will Form, including any additional pages or correction notations (codicils) added to your Will. Use a black or dark blue pen.
Signing each page of the Will is extremely important, to ensure absolute certainty that extra pages have not been inserted, removed or replaced later. You and each of your witnesses MUST be present together to sign the Will Form. The three of you will need to sign the bottom of each page of your Will. The witnesses will need to write in their full name and address, this usually is done on the last page of the Will. Don’t forget, the three of you must use the same pen, so take turns signing and filling in the details.
Aside from not having a witness sign the document, the Will-maker can sometimes pass away without themselves having finalised and signed it. If it’s not signed, it’s simply not valid. So ensure you don’t forget this vital step.
Yes we collect anytime day or night. Sometimes we will be dictated by the location of collection, for example certain hospitals will have dedicated collection times that we must adhere to. Needless to say, we will always collect as soon as possible – and there are never any out of hours hidden fees.
The memorial table at your service is important as it represents the unique life and personality of your loved one. You can display photographs, personal items, mementos and keepsakes. These items provide a tangible connection to the person and help to bring their story to life during the service. We've had memorial tables that have included sporting memorabilia, cook books, war medals, favourite records and everything in between.
Wills and estate plans shouldn’t be a ‘set and forget’ approach, but reviewed every few years or whenever there is a significant change to your personal or financial circumstances. For example, it’s wise to make a new Will, as soon as possible, if:
- there is a change in your relationship: if you marry, divorce, separate, have children, or enter into or end a de facto relationship;
- you buy or sell a major asset like a house or car. Any items that you’ve listed as specific bequests will need to be updated if they are no longer in your possession;
- you, or anyone else named in your Will changes their name;
- your executor has died since you wrote your Will, or if they are unable to execute your Will for some reason.
Absolutely - we’ve partned with The Prepared Company, who use military-grade security to safely store and encrypt all data stored in the Digital Vault.
You can. Many families choose to hold a funeral service, such as a religious or secular ceremony, followed by a burial. This is called a Dual Service Burial. The funeral allows a larger group of family and friends to gather and pay their respects, while the burial provides a moment for final goodbyes. Both can be arranged to suit your family and loved one’s wishes. There are endless ways to give these services a personal touch – we’ll help you celebrate your loved one’s life story just the right way.
Once we collect your loved one, we take them into our care. This is typically the mortuary of our service provider, where they will be cared for while we arrange for the cremation to take place. Throughout their time with us, rest assured that your loved one will be treated as if they were our own.
If you’re currently paying funeral insurance, you have three options. The first is to cancel your funeral insurance payments, and convert to a prepaid cremation plan. This means you forfeit your potential payout, but this is likely the cheapest option if you’re unlikely to require our service for three years or more. The second option is to continue paying your funeral insurance premiums, and also take out a prepaid plan. As funeral insurance simply pays out a lump sum of cash, this could be used by your family for anything (as a gift for a car, holiday, education etc) if you’ve also prepaid your funeral. The final option is to keep paying funeral insurance, and simply use that payout to arrange a Bare cremation when the time comes. This is what we recommend if you’re expecting to require our service in the next three years.
Catering is an optional extra, as some families choose not to provide any catering. We will tailor our venue recommendations to your preference, as some venues require catering, such as restaurants.
Timeframes vary depending on cultural or religious customs, family preferences and venue availability. Generally, burials occur approximately a week after death, but your Bare arranger can assist with alternative planning if more time is needed for family to travel or to fulfil other arrangements. We’ll guide you through your individual situation and circumstances – reach out to our team at any time, day or night.
We have a dedicated aftercare team that will act as your concierge throughout this process. While they work closely together, this will be a different person from your funeral arranger. Your arranger will remain your primary contact throughout the cremation and Bare funeral / memorial service.
A Bare Funeral package is a simple funeral that includes everything in Bare Cremation, a funeral coffin, and a service at one of our recommended venues. We also coordinate a photographic slideshow tribute with your selected music to remember your loved one, all curated in a way that best celebrates the life they lived.
While a Bare Funeral package covers the essentials for a simple yet meaningful service, we understand that every individual and family has different preferences. You can tailor the service to your preferences with optional extras such as a celebrant, flowers, stationery, or catering, available for an additional cost.
