What to do when someone dies in Australia

The practical steps after a death can feel impossible to navigate when you're grieving. This guide covers what needs to happen and when, so you can focus on the people who matter.

In the first hours

If the death was expected — at home with palliative care — call the attending GP or palliative care nurse. They will come to certify the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

If the death was unexpected, call 000. Police will attend, and depending on the circumstances, the State Coroner may be notified. The body may not be released immediately if an investigation is required.

Once death is certified, contact a funeral director. They will arrange collection of the deceased and guide you through the registration process. You do not need to make final arrangements immediately.

Registering the death

The funeral director registers the death with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry on your behalf, using the MCCD from the doctor. You can then apply for certified copies of the death certificate. Order at least 8 to 10 copies — you will need one for each bank, insurer, and government agency you contact.

BDM offices by state: NSW (bdm.nsw.gov.au), VIC (bdm.vic.gov.au), QLD (qld.gov.au/law), WA (bdm.wa.gov.au), SA (sa.gov.au), TAS (justice.tas.gov.au), ACT (accesscanberra.act.gov.au), NT (nt.gov.au).

In the first days

Notify close family and friends. If the deceased had an employer, contact HR to ask about any leave entitlements for you, unpaid wages owed to the estate, or life insurance through the workplace.

Locate the will. Check filing cabinets, home safes, or contact the deceased's solicitor. The will names an executor who has legal authority to manage the estate. If there is no will, the estate is administered under intestacy laws in the relevant state.

In the first week

Services Australia

Call 132 300 to notify Centrelink and ask about any bereavement payments you may be entitled to. Medicare is automatically cancelled when the death is registered with BDM, but it is worth confirming. If the deceased was receiving Centrelink payments, these must stop — overpayments will need to be repaid.

Australian Taxation Office

Call 13 28 61 or speak to a tax agent. A "date of death" tax return must be lodged for the income year in which the person died. If the estate earns income after death, a separate estate tax return will also be required.

Superannuation

Contact each super fund the deceased held. Super does not automatically form part of the estate — it is distributed according to a binding death benefit nomination (if one exists) or at the trustee's discretion. Request a claim form promptly.

Department of Veterans' Affairs

If the deceased was a veteran or DVA recipient, call 1800 555 254. Stop any DVA payments and ask about survivor entitlements and the funeral benefit.

Documents you will need

• Certified copies of the death certificate (at least 8–10)
• Tax File Number (TFN) of the deceased
• Medicare card
• Will and any trust documents
• Superannuation statements or member numbers
• Insurance policy documents
• Birth and marriage certificates (if applicable)

In the weeks ahead

Probate — the court process that validates the will and grants the executor authority to act — is required in most states when the estate includes real property or significant assets. The Supreme Court of the relevant state handles this. A solicitor experienced in estates can manage the process for you.

If the estate is simple (no real property, few assets), a formal grant of probate may not be required. Contact each institution and ask what they need.