Funeral and Burial Instructions: Consultation Paper (pdf and Word)

In this community law reform inquiry, the Commission considered the extent to which a deceased person’s wishes about their funeral, burial or cremation should be legally binding. Currently, the law gives the executor or likely administrator of a deceased person’s estate the right to decide what happens to the deceased person’s body, regardless of their wishes.  Victorians today, with their diverse cultural practices, complex family arrangements and support for individual choice, may want greater recognition of their wishes concerning their funeral, burial or cremation.

In November 2015, the Commission produced this Consultation Paper outlining the issues, suggesting options for reform, and asking for public submissions.

Download Funeral and Burial Instructions: Consultation Paper (pdf)

Download Funeral and Burial Instructions: Consultation Paper (Word)