What to do when your partner dies: a checklist

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• Let others carry some of this

  Ask a family member or friend to make calls, field messages and organise meals. A meal roster is one of the most useful things people can do for you.

• Find the will and funeral wishes

  Check their papers, and ask their solicitor or the public trustee in your state.

• Choose a funeral director

  Our funeral planning checklist covers costs, quotes and who pays.

• Take leave from work

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

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• Tell Services Australia

  Tell them within 28 days. If you get the Age Pension, you have 14 days to report the change. They handle Medicare too. Services Australia · Age Pension

• Ask about bereavement payments

  If you were both getting a pension, or both getting another income support payment for at least the previous 12 months, you may get a bereavement payment, calculated over 14 weeks. Services Australia

• If your partner was in the Pension Bonus Scheme

  You may be eligible for the Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment if your partner was registered for the Pension Bonus Scheme. Claim within 26 weeks. Services Australia

• If you were their carer

  Carer Payment can continue for up to 14 weeks, and Carer Allowance may be paid as a lump sum. Services Australia

• Update your Medicare card

  Services Australia won't automatically send you a new Medicare card. Call 132 011 to ask for one.

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• Joint bank accounts

  Joint accounts work differently depending on the account, so ask the bank. It may release money from your partner's account to help pay for the funeral. Moneysmart

• Talk to your lender

  Talk to your lender early about joint loans and the mortgage. If you're worried about repayments, they may be able to help. Moneysmart

• Your home

  If you owned it as joint tenants, it passes to you. If you were tenants in common, their share goes through their estate. Land Use Victoria If you rent, tell the landlord. Rules for leases differ by state.

• Their super and life insurance

  Super isn't automatically part of the estate. A binding nomination decides who gets it; otherwise the fund's trustee does. Insurance held in super is paid with it. Ask the fund what it needs to process a claim. Moneysmart

• Bills and accounts in their name

  Move utilities, insurance and phone plans into your name. The free Australian Death Notification Service tells several organisations at once. deathnotification.gov.au

• Update your own will and nominations

  Your partner is probably named in your will, super nomination and power of attorney. Review them once things settle.

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• The ATO

  Your partner may need a final tax return. ATO

• DVA and NDIS

  DVA: 1800 838 372. NDIS: 1800 800 110.

• Their mail, passport and accounts

  Executors may be able to redirect mail free for up to 12 months. Cancel the passport at a post office with the death certificate. myGov eSafety explains how to close or memorialise social media. eSafety