A home funeral is when a loved one is cared for at home (or a prepared space elsewhere eg: a marae) after their death, enabling family and friends to come together and participate in after-death care and rituals such as: preparing the body for disposition; attending to necessary paperwork & logistics as required; planning a fitting funeral or ceremony; celebrating, grieving and farewelling their loved one at their own pace and in their own way.

Absolutely not! It is and always has been your right to care for your own dead at home if that is what you want and there is information and support available to assist you in managing this very natural, and until recent times, traditional, process. The only service that some Funeral Homes are licensed to perform that you cannot, is embalming. You don't have to call a Funeral Director when someone dies, you can collect and transport your loved one's body as long as you have the relevant legal paperwork, and in nearly all instances, you can attend to their after-death care to whatever level you are comfortable with and arrange for their disposition according to their wishes.

In nearly all circumstances, there is no reason why your loved one cannot be kept at home after death and there are no health risks associated with having them there. Despite it being common practice in New Zealand, it is rarely necessary for a body to be embalmed (and your consent is required for this unfortunately invasive and toxic process). However, occasionally the circumstances of death mean that some intervention is required. Usually though, it is possible to wash, dress and prepare your loved one's body for viewing yourselves, and there are natural ways of keeping the body cool and preserving it for up to 5 days, such as using a cooling plate or techni-ice. You can manage these processes yourselves, or access support and resources to assist.

It is a relatively recent development that loved ones are taken to Funeral Homes post-death and there are many associated benefits in reclaiming the right to actively participate in the care and rituals that occur at this time. Families report a sense of completion and readiness that supports their grieving process when leading home funeral arrangements. Everyone can take part, including children, and this normalises death and enriches the relationships with those living at the same time as honouring the dead. There are financial, environmental, cultural and emotional benefits that allow people to feel empowered, connected and effective in ways that out-sourcing the post-death process cannot provide.

There is a lot to navigate when someone dies. It is totally up to you to choose how much involvement you have and what will work best for the situation you are in. Eg: you may feel comfortable having your loved one at home but not with washing and preparing their body; you may want to plan and run their funeral but are not in a position to have them at home - whatever your family wants is what is important and there are different options and resources available every step of the way. The main thing is to take the time to consider your options and make decisions as you go so you can find your way to the choices that suit your family best.

The legal requirements post-death include ensuring the correct paperwork is completed and this can vary according to the circumstances of death. In cases of expected death a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is required to be completed by a medical practitioner as soon as practically possible. For unexpected deaths, usually an autopsy is required after which a Coroner's Authorisation for Release of the Body will be supplied. If you are collecting your loved one's body from their place of death (or a hospital morgue) you'll need a completed Transfer of Charge of Body form and personal ID. Deaths do not need to be registered until after disposition. This great local website helps to demystify and advise on what forms are required and when http://www.diyfuneral.co.nz/death_certificate.php.
There is also paperwork associated with burial/cremation and legal requirements around where and how bodies can be disposed of ie: via crematoriums; approved burial grounds; at sea. These are currently governed by the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 which is soon to be updated. It is possible to apply for exceptions; however it can be a lengthy, stressful and expensive process involving applications to councils, Ministry of Health and/or the District Court, so it is important to be aware of your obligations and consider your alternatives before you are needing to act on them in haste.

There is no legal requirement to have a funeral. Some people choose Direct Cremation where their body goes straight to a crematorium without any kind of ceremony. It is increasingly common to have a small ceremony or ritual for close friends/family in the days after death before the body is disposed of, then a more public memorial or celebration at a later time. In cases where someone knows they are dying, it is possible to have a Living Funeral where people come together to celebrate the person before they die. Lots of us have wishes or expectations about what happens after we die that are important for family and friends to know about and honour - it is also important to consider what processes or rituals we need as grieving loved ones in order to come together to mark the loss and subsequent transition in our own lives so as to facilitate healthy bereavement for all.