Many families know a loved one planned ahead for their funeral, but can’t find any paperwork to prove it. If you suspect a funeral bond, prepaid funeral plan, or life insurance policy exists but you don’t have the details, this guide explains how to trace it — and what to do if you’re not sure where to start.
Can’t find a funeral plan, bond, or policy? My Funeral Care can help you trace it — start your search here or call 1300 402 236, 24/7.
What Counts as a “Lost” Funeral Plan?
A lost or missing funeral plan usually falls into one of three categories:
- Funeral bonds — money invested with a friendly society or bond provider specifically to cover funeral costs.
- Prepaid funeral plans — a funeral service paid for in advance with a specific funeral director.
- Funeral-related insurance policies — life insurance or standalone funeral insurance intended to cover funeral expenses.
It’s common for families to know one of these exists — from a comment made years earlier, an old bank statement, or a filing cabinet document — without knowing the provider’s name or how to make contact.
How to Trace a Lost Funeral Plan
- Search the home and personal papers. Check filing cabinets, drawers, and any folder of “important documents.” Bond and insurance paperwork often gets filed away and forgotten.
- Review bank and financial records. Regular or one-off payments to a friendly society, funeral home, or insurer are one of the strongest clues — check statements going back several years.
- Ask family members and the deceased’s solicitor or accountant, if any. A financial adviser or solicitor may have record of a policy taken out on the person’s behalf.
- Use a dedicated lost-plan search service. eziFunerals’ Find a Lost or Missing Funeral Plan service can search across providers on your behalf, which is often faster than contacting individual companies one by one.
- Contact providers directly, once you have a name to go on. Most require a certified death certificate and proof of your relationship to the deceased before releasing details.
Once you’ve located a bond, plan, or policy, you’ll still need to choose who carries out the funeral. Funeral bonds and most insurance payouts can be used with any provider — browse funeral directors in Australia to compare options in your area. Find a Funeral Director in Australia
What If You Still Can’t Find It?
It’s common for older bonds or policies to be difficult to trace — especially if the original provider has since been acquired, renamed, or merged with a larger company. In these cases:
- Check whether the provider name on old paperwork still exists, or has been absorbed into a larger friendly society or insurer.
- Ask the funeral director handling the arrangements — many have seen similar cases and may recognise an old provider name.
- My Funeral Care can help you trace it through eziFunerals’ lost plan search — call 1300 402 236.
Does It Matter If the Bond or Policy Has Expired?
Not necessarily. Funeral bonds generally don’t expire, though very old policies from providers that no longer exist can take longer to trace. It’s still worth searching — many families are surprised to find a bond or policy is still valid and payable, even decades after it was taken out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to search for a lost funeral bond or plan?
The search fee through eziFunerals’ Lost Funeral Plan Search Service is a flat $49, with no additional or hidden fees.
How long does a lost plan search take?
Timeframes vary depending on how much information you already have (such as a provider name or approximate purchase date), but most searches can be completed within a few business days.
What information do I need to start a search?
Ideally the deceased’s full name, date of birth, and date of death. Any partial detail — an old provider name, a rough date, or a location — can also help narrow the search.
Can I search for a lost plan before someone has died?
Yes — if you know a family member set up a bond or plan years ago and want to confirm it still exists, the same search process applies.
How My Funeral Care Can Help
You don’t have to work through this alone. My Funeral Care provides:
- 24/7 phone support from the moment you start looking
- Independent guidance, with no pressure to choose a particular provider
- Help with paperwork — certificates, forms and notifications
- Help tracing lost or forgotten funeral bonds, prepaid plans, and insurance policies
Call 1300 402 236 any time, or start your search for a lost funeral plan through eziFunerals.
Already know what to do next? Read our full checklist for what to do when someone dies, or learn how to claim a funeral bond once you’ve found the paperwork.
