What to do when someone dies in Australia — complete guide

When someone dies in Australia, the days and weeks that follow involve a long list of practical responsibilities — at a time when grief makes everything harder. This guide walks through every step clearly, in order, so you know exactly what to do and when.

Immediate steps — within 24 to 48 hours

If the death is unexpected

If the death is sudden, unexpected, or suspicious, call 000 immediately. A police officer will attend and, where required, refer the matter to the Coroner. Do not move the person until authorities arrive.

If the death is expected

If your loved one was in hospital or a care facility, staff will guide you through the immediate steps. The treating doctor will issue a cause of death certificate, which the funeral director needs to begin arrangements.

Contact a funeral director

Your first practical call should be to a funeral director. They arrange transfer of the body and handle formal registration of the death with your state's Births, Deaths and Marriages registry.

Register the death and obtain the death certificate

All deaths in Australia must be registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where the death occurred. Your funeral director typically handles this. Order multiple certified copies immediately — you will need them for banks, super funds, government agencies and insurance companies. Getting 10 or more copies upfront saves significant time.

State Births, Deaths and Marriages registries

• NSW: bdm.nsw.gov.au — (02) 9374 4000
• VIC: bdm.vic.gov.au — 1300 369 367
• QLD: qld.gov.au/law/births — 13 74 68
• WA: bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au — (08) 9264 1555
• SA: sa.gov.au/bdm — 1300 814 669
• TAS: bdm.justice.tas.gov.au — 1300 135 513
• ACT: accesscanberra.act.gov.au — 13 22 81
• NT: nt.gov.au/births — 1800 019 677

Week 1 — notify family and arrange the funeral

• Notify immediate family and close friends personally before any public announcements
• Check the will for funeral instructions
• Check whether a prepaid funeral plan exists
• Confirm whether the deceased was a registered organ donor via the Australian Organ Donor Register
• Arrange care for dependent children, elderly relatives or pets
• Secure the deceased's home and property

Week 2 — notify government agencies

Start with the Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS)

The ADNS at deathnotificationservice.com.au lets you notify multiple government agencies in one step — ATO, Centrelink, Medicare, DVA and others.

Australian Tax Office (ATO)

Call 13 28 61 or notify online at ato.gov.au. The deceased's final tax return covers 1 July to the date of death and is due by 31 October of the following year.

Centrelink / Services Australia

Call 132 300 within 14 days of the death. If the deceased was receiving payments, these must be cancelled immediately. Ask about bereavement payment entitlements when you call.

Medicare

Cancel the Medicare card by calling 132 011 or visiting a Services Australia centre.

Department of Veterans' Affairs

If the deceased was a veteran receiving DVA benefits, call 1800 555 254 as soon as possible.

Month 1 — banks, super and financial accounts

Banks and financial institutions

• Commonwealth Bank: 1800 686 153
• NAB: 1800 033 382
• Westpac: 1300 130 467
• ANZ: 1800 237 170

For accounts over approximately $50,000, most banks will require probate before releasing funds.

Superannuation

Superannuation does not pass under the will. Each super fund must be contacted directly. Use the ATO Super Lookup at ato.gov.au to find any lost or unclaimed super accounts.

Month 1 to 2 — apply for probate if required

You will generally need probate if the estate includes real property, bank accounts over approximately $50,000, or if financial institutions request it. Legal fees are paid from the estate, not your own pocket.

Month 3 to 12 — finalise the estate

• Collect and value all estate assets
• Pay all debts and liabilities
• Lodge the deceased's final tax return
• Distribute assets to beneficiaries

The full process typically takes 6 to 12 months.

Making the account notifications easier

One of the most time-consuming parts of estate administration is notifying all the organisations the deceased had accounts with. WithPassage automates this — generating personalised bereavement letters, sending them to each provider, and tracking every response from your dashboard.