What to do when a parent dies: a checklist

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• Tell your siblings and close family

  Agree who tells which relatives and friends, so nobody hears it from social media. Our guide to telling people has wording you can copy.

• Find the will and who the executor is

  It may also hold funeral wishes. Look among their papers, and ask their solicitor, bank or the public trustee in their state.

• Know that power of attorney has ended

  A power of attorney stops when the person dies. From now on, the executor manages their affairs. NSW Government

• Choose a funeral director and plan the service

  Our funeral planning checklist covers costs, quotes and the decisions to make.

• Secure their home, car and pets

  Lock up, collect valuables and spare keys, and arrange care for pets. Check the home and car stay insured while empty.

• Take leave from work

  Employees get two days of compassionate leave when a parent dies. It's unpaid for casuals. Fair Work Ombudsman

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• Tell Services Australia

  If they got the Age Pension or another payment, tell Services Australia as soon as you can. They also handle Medicare. If you were their carer, you may get Carer Payment for up to 14 weeks. Services Australia

• Contact their bank

  Their bank may release money from their account to pay the funeral bill. Joint accounts work differently depending on the account, so ask the bank. Moneysmart

• Contact their super fund

  Super isn't automatically part of the estate. A binding nomination decides who gets it; otherwise the fund's trustee does. Moneysmart

• Search for unclaimed money and lost super

  It's free. Search ASIC's unclaimed money register and your state's unclaimed money register. Moneysmart

• Aged care: the refundable deposit

  If they lived in an aged care home and paid a refundable accommodation deposit, the provider must refund it within 14 days of being shown probate or letters of administration. My Aged Care

• Veterans and NDIS

  Tell DVA on 1800 838 372 if they were a veteran or war widow(er), and the NDIS on 1800 800 110 if they had a plan. DVA

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• Register the death and order certificates

  The funeral director usually does this. Order a few certificates: banks, super funds and insurers each want to see one. See your state's guide for fees.

• Use the free Australian Death Notification Service

  One form tells the banks, telcos and utilities you choose. deathnotification.gov.au

• Redirect their mail

  Executors may be able to redirect a deceased person's mail free for up to 12 months. Australia Post

• Their home

  If they rented, the lease rules depend on the state. In NSW, the tenancy doesn't end when a tenant dies, and the executor can give notice to end it. Tenants' Union NSW If they owned it, the executor decides whether to sell or keep it once probate is granted.

• Tax, passport and accounts

  They may need a final tax return. Take their passport and the death certificate to a post office to cancel it. Their myGov account closes on its own. myGov For email and social media, eSafety explains how to close or memorialise accounts. eSafety

• Share out the estate

  The executor pays debts and tax first, then follows the will. Getting legal advice is worth it if the family disagrees.