Pre-planning a funeral

Planning a funeral in advance can relieve family and friends of the burden of planning and financing arrangements at a stressful and emotional time. Pre-planning a funeral enables you to leave clear instructions to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Brisbane City Council has three crematoria and nine cemeteries with available burial plots 

Pre-purchasing a burial site, cremation or ashes memorial ensures you pay at today's current prices. There will be no further costs from the cemetery. 

You can make part-payments on a pre-purchased cemetery site online.

Pre-planning for a burial

When pre-planning a burial at a Council cemetery, carry out and consider the following points.

  1. Contact the cemetery to arrange an appointment to:
    • pay for interment in an already pre-purchased family grave, or
    • view available burial plots including the type and location of the grave
    • have a Council officer show you the allocated lawn beam grave and complete paperwork (lawn beam graves are allocated by the next available grave).
  2. Where the service will be held:
    • at a private church
    • in a chapel in the cemetery grounds (can be pre-purchased with your burial plot at Pinnaroo, Hemmant and Mt Gravatt cemeteries), or
    • at the graveside.
  3. Contact a funeral director about:
    • arranging a coffin
    • flowers
    • funeral notifications
    • legislative paperwork
    • transport
    • the location of the cemetery and pre-purchased grave location.
  4. Update your will with information about:
    • your funeral arrangements (with clear instructions for your executor).

Ensure your next of kin or carer knows where you keep your private papers.

Pre-planning for a cremation

When pre-planning a cremation at a Council crematorium, carry out and consider the following points.

  1. Contact Pinnaroo, Hemmant or Mt Gravatt crematoria to arrange an appointment to pre-purchase your cremation.
  2. Where the service will be held:
    • a private church, or
    • in the chapel on the cemetery grounds (can be pre-purchased with your cremation deed).
  3. Where you ashes will be laid to rest. Options include:
    • memorial wall or garden site in a Council cemetery (can be paid in advance)
    • interment in a family grave (can be paid in advance)
    • a memorial urn for your family to keep (can be pre-purchased and taken in advance)
    • scattering at a favourite or meaningful location (ask the Council officer about location and permission).
  4. Contact a funeral director about:
    • a memorial urn for your family to keep (can be pre-purchased and taken in advance)
    • arranging a coffin
    • flowers
    • funeral notifications
    • legislative paperwork
    • transport
    • the location of the cemetery and pre-purchased grave location.
  5. Update your will with information about:
    • your funeral arrangements (with clear instructions for your executor).

Ensure your next of kin or carer knows where you keep your private papers.

More information

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Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.