Can you use the deceased person's bank account to pay for the funeral?
Answered byJames DanielsFuneral ArrangerWatch · 0:51Banks will often release available money from a deceased person’s account to pay a funeral invoice, even while ordinary access to the account is restricted. Contact the bank’s bereavement team and provide the invoice and any documents it requests. The bank may pay the funeral director directly or issue a bank cheque. This does not give relatives general access to the account; other estate requirements still apply.
For related guidance, see what happens if a family cannot afford a funeral in Australia?.
Read the video transcript
Absolutely. So most banks understand that funerals are quite an expense. So you can take a funeral invoice to your loved one’s bank, and they will usually pay out one funeral invoice for funeral related expenses. That means the account will then be frozen and it won't be able to be closed or accessed again until you receive the death certificate after the funeral has occurred. So it's just as simple as taking the funeral invoice to the bank, letting them know the situation, and they will usually issue you with either a bank cheque, or they'll be able to transfer the funds on your behalf.
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