Funeral Wishes Beyond Burial and Cremation

Your funeral can reflect who you are. That might mean a natural burial, donating your body to science or going out with a bang. Literally.

Whatever you have in mind, there are a few things to look out for before leaving the family to organise it.

Don’t leave it all in your Will

Your Will can record your funeral wishes, but those wishes generally aren’t legally binding. Your executor usually has responsibility for arranging your funeral.

Cremation directions have particular legal significance in SA. A direction in your Will or another signed and witnessed document can allow cremation despite certain family or executor objections.

Tell your executor and family what you want. Make sure they can find the instructions promptly. Your Will might not be found until after the funeral.

A natural burial

Natural burial usually involves no embalming and a biodegradable shroud or coffin. The aim is to allow the body to decompose naturally.

Enfield Memorial Park and Smithfield Memorial Park offer natural burial areas. There are still burial rules to follow, so check the requirements before making arrangements.

Water cremation

Also called aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, this uses water, heat and an alkaline solution to break down the body. The remaining bones are processed into a powder that can be returned to the family.

Check availability, where the procedure would happen, what approvals are needed and any transport costs. Don’t assume every funeral provider offers it.

Going out with a bang

Ashes can be scattered, and some people arrange for them to be included in a fireworks display. This is one to leave to licensed professionals!

For scattering on private land, get the owner’s permission. For beaches, parks and other public places, check with the council or land manager. A favourite spot isn’t automatically a permitted spot.

Donating your body to science

Contact Adelaide University’s Body Donation Program beforehand and complete the required paperwork. Tell your executor and family too.

Acceptance isn’t guaranteed, even if you’ve registered. Have a backup plan for burial or cremation so your family knows what to do if donation can’t proceed.

Jewellery and keepsakes

Ashes can be placed in jewellery or other keepsakes. Make clear who should receive them, whether the ashes can be divided and who’ll pay.

Some businesses also market diamonds made using ashes. The National Council of Jewellery Valuers cautions consumers about claims that these contain their loved one’s carbon. Ask what you’re buying and how that claim can be verified.

Cryonics

Cryonics involves preserving a body at extremely low temperatures after death, in the hope that future technology might allow revival. No person has been revived after cryonic preservation.

It requires specialist arrangements, funding and a rapid response after death. A sentence in your Will won’t organise all that.

Burial on the family property

It may be possible on a rural property in SA, but the location must meet legal requirements. You’ll need the landowner’s permission and council approval if the property is in a council area. Burial and environmental rules also apply.

Owning the land doesn’t give you an automatic right to be buried there. Check before promising the family a particular spot.

Burial at sea

Burial at sea requires a Commonwealth permit and, in SA, Attorney-General approval. It involves very deep water and substantial planning.

Scattering ashes at sea doesn’t require the same Commonwealth permit. Still check the rules for your chosen location and make suitable arrangements with the boat operator.

Human composting and promession

Human composting, also called natural organic reduction, is offered in parts of the US. The body breaks down in a controlled environment with plant material. Remaining bones are ground into powder and returned to the compost.

Human composting is not currently available as an approved funeral option in Australia. A bill to allow it was introduced in NSW on 25 June 2026, but it had not passed as at 16 September 2026. SA would need its own law changes before it could be offered here.

Promession is a different idea: freezing the body, then using vibration to break it into particles before drying and burial. It remains a proposed method, rather than an established funeral service. Don’t assume an option discussed overseas is available or approved in SA.

Make a plan your executor can follow

Discuss your wishes, check the costs and decide how they’ll be paid. Include a backup if your first choice can’t happen.

Varga Lawyers specialises in Wills and estate planning, estate administration and Will disputes, with offices in Adelaide and Modbury. To arrange an appointment, visit varga.com.au/contact or call (08) 8212 2135.

This article provides general information about South Australian law as at 13 October 2026. It is not legal advice. Advice about your circumstances is essential.

By Varga Lawyers | Wills + Estates