By Catherine Ashton, Founder, Critical Info. Updated October 2026.
When someone dies, there are legal, financial and practical steps to take, often in the first days and while you are grieving. Most people are doing this for the first time. This guide walks through what usually needs to happen in Australia, stage by stage, so you know what comes next and what can wait.
A note from Catherine
Just to be clear, I’m not a legal or financial expert. I’m just someone who’s been through it and wants to make things easier for others. In consultation with legal expert Greg Russo of Greg Russo Law Pty Ltd, a specialist in Wills and Estates Law in Victoria, the National Guide My loved one has died, what do I do now? has been created to give you the clarity you need to take the next steps after a death. While the guide doesn’t replace professional advice, it empowers you with key information to simplify the process. It also comes with a downloadable checklist.
You do not have to work everything out today. Focus first on immediate arrangements and the people who need your support. Many administrative tasks can wait until you feel ready, although some responsibilities have specific timeframes. Take one step at a time and seek help when you need it.
The first 24 hours
If the death was expected, for example at home with palliative care, contact the person’s doctor or palliative care team, who will confirm the death and arrange the medical certificate. If it was sudden or unexpected, call 000. The police may attend and the death may be reported to the Coroner, which can change what happens next.
You do not have to rush. When you are ready, decide who will care for the person and arrange their farewell. That can be a funeral director, but it does not have to be: some families organise a home funeral themselves, some choose a simple direct cremation, and others work with a celebrant or their community. Tell close family and look after anyone who depends on the person, including children and pets. If the person wished to donate organs or tissue, or their body to science, tell the hospital or doctor as early as possible.
If cultural or religious practice sets strict timeframes for how the body is cared for, and this mattered to the person, contact their place of worship or community organisation straight away.
In the guide: what to do if the Coroner is involved, how interim death certificates work, and a prioritised list for the first day.
Registering the death and the death certificate
A death needs to be registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where it occurred. Once the registration process is complete, a death certificate can be issued. If you use a funeral director, they will usually help lodge the registration. If the Coroner is involved, the registration process may be different. If your family is arranging the funeral yourselves, check with the relevant registry about what you need to do. It is worth confirming that the death has been registered.
The time it takes to receive a death certificate varies depending on the circumstances and the state or territory. You may need certified copies of the certificate when dealing with banks, insurers and other organisations. If the certificate is not yet available, ask the relevant organisation what alternative documentation it will accept.
In the National Guide: links to information about applying for a death certificate in every Australian state and territory.
The days and weeks following
Secure the home, car and valuables. Find key documents: the Will, birth and marriage certificates, bank and super details, insurance policies and any funeral plan. Let the person’s employer, school or care provider know. Redirect mail and cancel appointments.
In most states and territories, the Australian Death Notification Service, run through the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry, lets you notify several organisations, such as banks and utilities, at once.
In the guide: a full list of who to notify and the documents each one usually asks for.
Funerals, memorials and ceremonies
There is no need to rush into every decision about a funeral or farewell. A service or memorial may be held later, depending on the person’s wishes, your family’s circumstances and any cultural or religious practices. Check whether the person left funeral wishes, a prepaid funeral plan or funeral insurance.
You can work with a funeral director, engage a celebrant, organise a home funeral with family, or combine these options. A farewell might be a traditional funeral, a memorial service, a graveside service, a scattering of ashes, a private gathering at a favourite place, or a direct cremation, with a memorial held later if you wish. Options for caring for the person’s body may include burial, flame cremation, water cremation, natural burial or donation to science. Availability and requirements vary by location.
Costs depend on the arrangements you choose and what you organise yourself, such as the venue, catering, celebrant and music. Ask for a detailed, itemised estimate and explain your budget so you can understand the available options. Some banks may pay funeral expenses directly from the deceased person’s account, subject to their requirements, so contact the relevant bank to ask.
In the National Guide: who can organise a funeral, options for ceremonies and caring for the person’s body, costs and payment options, bereavement leave, and where to find Funerals Australia, the Australian Home Funeral Alliance and the Funeral Celebrants Association of Australia.
Estate administration
The executor named in the Will is responsible for managing the estate. They identify assets and debts, may need to apply to the Supreme Court in your state for a grant of probate, then pay debts and distribute what is left according to the Will. If there is no Will, a family member can apply for Letters of Administration, and the law decides who inherits.
Superannuation and life insurance are often paid separately from the estate, depending on the nominations the person made. Many super accounts also include life insurance, sometimes called death cover, that families do not know about, and it is paid on top of the account balance. Ask each of the person’s super funds whether they held insurance.
You do not have to make these claims alone. Claims advocacy services can manage life insurance and super death benefit claims for families, dealing with the super fund trustees and insurers on your behalf, which can take much of the paperwork and stress away. Ask how they charge before you start.
In the guide: what the executor does at each step, with and without a Will, and when it is worth getting legal advice.
Final steps
Lodge the final tax return for the person, close or transfer remaining accounts, and deal with digital accounts and social media. Each supplier, such as a bank, utility or phone company, will have its own policy and procedure for closing an account, and for whether probate or Letters of Administration are required. Some of these tasks can take months, which is normal.
In the guide: a checklist for closing accounts and the final tax return.
Why this feels so hard
It is not only the paperwork. It is doing unfamiliar tasks, under time pressure, while grieving, and often without knowing where anything is kept. Knowing who makes decisions, where documents are and who to contact first takes much of the stress away.
Get the full guide for your state
My loved one has died, what do I do now? is a national guide that takes you from the first 24 hours to finalising the estate, with the details for every state and territory, prioritised task lists and a downloadable checklist to tick off as you go. Written by Catherine Ashton, who has been through it herself, in consultation with Greg Russo of Greg Russo Law Pty Ltd, a specialist in Wills and Estates Law in Victoria.
Digital $38, instant download. Printed colour copy $60, includes the digital guide, postage added at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to do when someone dies?
If the death was expected, contact the person’s doctor or palliative care team to confirm the death. If it was sudden or unexpected, call 000. Then, when you are ready, decide who will arrange the farewell: a funeral director, your family, or both.
Who registers a death in Australia?
The death is registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where it happened. A funeral director usually lodges it if you use one; otherwise the Coroner or the family deals with the registry. The registry then issues the death certificate, which can take 4 to 10 weeks.
Do you have to have a funeral in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to have a funeral. Some families choose a direct cremation, a memorial later, a home funeral they arrange themselves, or no service at all.
Is there a checklist for what to do when someone dies?
Yes. The National Guide includes a downloadable checklist that follows every step, from the first 24 hours to finalising the estate.
Do the steps differ between states and territories?
The overall stages are the same, but forms, registries and probate rules differ. The guide covers the details for each state and territory.
Can someone help me claim life insurance held in super?
Yes. Claims advocacy services help families claim life insurance and super death benefits, and deal with the super fund and insurer for you. Check how they charge before you start.
Do I need a lawyer to manage an estate?
Not always. Many simple estates are managed by the executor. It is worth getting legal advice if the estate is complex, there is no Will, or someone may contest it.
A final note
You are not expected to know all of this. Take one step at a time, ask for help, and look after yourself.
If you would also like to prepare your own plans so your family is not left guessing, the free 3 minute Critical Info Check is a good place to start.
