What to do when someone dies in Australia

0 of 4 done

• If the death was unexpected, call 000

  Police attend, and may report the death to the coroner. A death is reported to the coroner when it was unexpected, violent or accidental, or when the cause isn't clear. Nothing should be moved until you're told it's OK. NSW Government

• If it was expected at home, there is no rush

  You don't need to call anyone straight away. Contact their doctor or palliative care team (Queensland Health says within 48 hours) so a doctor can complete the medical certificate of the cause of death. In hospital or aged care, the staff start these arrangements. Queensland Health

• Ask about organ and tissue donation early

  Organ donation is usually only possible in hospital, but eye and tissue donation can be possible up to 24 hours after death. Raise it with the medical team as soon as you can. DonateLife

• Tell the closest people first

  Call partners, children, parents and close friends before anything goes in a group chat or online. Our guide to telling people has wording you can copy.

0 of 5 done

• Choose a funeral director

  They care for the person, explain what has to happen before the funeral, and usually register the death for you. The NSW Government suggests comparing prices before you commit. If money is tight, don't sign with a funeral director you can't pay: the bill goes to whoever arranges the funeral. Legal Aid NSW

• Look for the will

  It may include funeral wishes and names the executor. Check at home, with their bank or solicitor, or with the public trustee. NSW Trustee & Guardian has a searchable wills register. NSW Government

• Arrange care for children, dependants and pets

  The will may say who should look after them.

• Take leave from work

  All employees, including casuals, are entitled to compassionate leave when an immediate family or household member dies. Fair Work Ombudsman

• Put the details in one place

  Once the service is booked, one page with the time, place, livestream and meal roster saves dozens of calls. Make a free page.

0 of 8 done

• Make sure the death is registered

  The funeral director usually lodges the registration with your state's Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. The deadline depends on the state: for example 7 days after the burial or cremation in Victoria, and 14 days in Queensland. Without a funeral director, the person arranging the burial or cremation does it. BDM Victoria · Queensland Government

• Order the death certificate

  You'll need it for banks, super and the estate. It costs roughly $58 to $105 depending on the state and how fast you need it, and fees change each July. Order it with the registration to save time. NSW BDM fees

• Hold the funeral, and ask about help with costs

  Funerals are usually held one to four weeks after a death. If there is no money for a funeral, ask the hospital social worker: each state has a scheme for people who can't pay, such as Queensland's Funeral Assistance Scheme. Eligible veterans' families can claim a DVA funeral benefit. Queensland Coroners Court · DVA

• Tell Services Australia (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support)

  Do it within 28 days, online, by phone or with the Advice of death form. Partners and carers may be able to get a bereavement payment. Services Australia

• Use the free Australian Death Notification Service

  Once the death is registered, one online form tells the banks, telcos, utilities and other organisations you choose. Participating organisations should contact you within 10 working days. deathnotification.gov.au

• Tell the Tax Office

  Phone 13 28 65 to let the ATO know informally, which stops letters to the person. The executor later lodges the formal notification. ATO

• Other people to tell

  The electoral roll, passport office (take the passport to a post office), DVA, NDIS and My Aged Care if they applied. The myGov checklist links to each one. Their myGov account closes on its own.

• Redirect their mail

  Australia Post redirects a deceased person's mail free for up to 12 months. The executor applies in person. Australia Post

0 of 5 done

• The executor works through the estate

  Probate is the court's approval of the will. It's usually needed when there are assets in the person's sole name, such as a house, and not usually for jointly owned assets. In NSW, apply within six months or explain the delay. If there's no will, letters of administration are needed instead. Legal advice is worth getting. NSW Government

• Contact their super fund

  Super isn't automatically part of the estate, so the will doesn't decide who gets it. A binding nomination does; otherwise the fund's trustee decides. Insurance held in super is paid with it. Moneysmart

• Banks, debts and insurance

  Moneysmart explains joint accounts, debts, life insurance and how to search for unclaimed money. Moneysmart

• Finish the tax before sharing out the estate

  There may be a final "date of death" tax return, and trust returns if the estate earns income. Estates commonly take six to twelve months. ATO checklist

• Licences, cars, firearms and accounts

  Cancel their driver licence through your state (in NSW, Service NSW has a form). Firearms need a licensed person and a transfer form. For email and social media, Google and Facebook both have requests for a deceased person's account. Service NSW · Google