A little clarity. One step at a time.

Plain answers for every stage, from the first hours after a death to the farewell, the months that follow, and planning ahead.

Someone has passed

What to do first, the funeral, and everything after, in order.

Guides for after a death

I am planning ahead

Your wishes, your will and the conversations that help your family.

Guides for planning ahead
All guides Money and legal Grief support Government help

Practical guides for when it matters.

Plain-language articles on the things Australians search for most, but rarely find clear answers to.

Advance care directives in Australia: your medical wishes, in writing Advance care directive in NSW: how to make one Advance care directive in Victoria: how to make one Advance Health Directive in Queensland: how to make one The Australian Death Notification Service: tell many organisations at once Bereavement leave in Australia What you're entitled to, and how to ask for it Burial or cremation? Costs and differences in Australia Centrelink bereavement payments: what you may be entitled to Digital estate planning in Australia: your online accounts when you die Direct cremation in Australia: costs and how it works Eco-friendly funeral options in Australia An end of life planner so your loved ones aren't left guessing Enduring guardian in NSW: how to appoint one Enduring power of attorney in Australia, explained Enduring power of attorney in NSW: how to make one Enduring power of attorney in Queensland: how to make one Enduring power of attorney in Victoria: how to make one Enduring power of attorney in WA: how to make one Funeral checklist for Australian families Funeral music ideas for Australian services Your funeral wishes checklist, ready to print How long after a death is the funeral? What sets the timing, and what can wait How much does a funeral cost in NSW? Funeral costs in Queensland Funeral, burial and cremation costs in Victoria How much does cremation cost in Australia? How much is a burial plot in Australia? How to choose a funeral director in Australia How to close a bank account after someone dies How to get a death certificate in Australia How to make a will in Australia: what it needs, and your options How to plan a funeral in Australia, step by step How to plan your own funeral, one decision at a time How to register a death in Australia How to share funeral details with family and friends How to store important documents so your family can find them How to support a grieving friend: practical things you can do How to support someone who is grieving How to talk to your parents about their funeral wishes How to write a eulogy: structure, length and tips How to write a death notice or an obituary in Australia How to notify government agencies after a death in Australia Prepaid funerals, funeral bonds and funeral insurance: how they differ Probate in Australia: what it is and when you need it What happens to super when someone dies in Australia Funeral costs in Australia: what families actually pay What happens if you die without a will in Australia What is an end of life doula? Support for the person and their loved ones The first 24 hours after someone dies: what to do and what can wait When someone dies at home: what to do, calmly and in order When someone dies in aged care: what happens and what to do When someone dies in hospital: what happens and what to do When someone dies unexpectedly: what happens next What to do with ashes in Australia Who to notify when someone dies in NSW Who to notify when someone dies in Queensland Who to notify when someone dies in South Australia Who to notify when someone dies in Victoria Who to notify when someone dies in Western Australia What to say when someone dies: messages, cards and calls What to wear to a funeral in Australia Who to notify when someone dies: a checklist for Australia

Government & support organisations.

Official links and helplines for every stage, from estate administration to grief counselling.

What happens after someone dies in Australia. The practical steps

When someone passes away, a death must be registered with the relevant state or territory registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, typically arranged by the funeral director. Once registered, certified copies of the death certificate can be obtained, needed for notifying banks, super funds, and government agencies.

If the deceased had a Will, the executor administers the estate. Without one, the court appoints an administrator. Both may require probate through the Supreme Court. Our Beyond the Service guide covers the full checklist.

Support Plus
Support Plus gives unpaid carers a simple way to capture everything about the person they care for: their routines, comfort needs, and the details only you know. If a handover is ever needed, the next person steps in knowing exactly who they are. A practical tool for future care planning.
Unpaid carer support
Free to use
Salveo HomeCare
At Salveo HomeCare, genuine care goes beyond meeting needs: it’s about compassion, dignity, and empowering you to live life your way. Services include clinical support, independence, everyday living, assistive technology and home modifications, restorative care, and end of life pathways. Available across Australia.
Home care
Nationwide
Aged Care with Archie
An aged care navigator helping Australian families find the right provider and plan ahead with confidence. Archie brings the perspective of both a registered aged care operator and a family member who has navigated the system for his own ageing parents, so you get guidance from someone who has truly lived it from both sides.
Aged care navigator
Nationwide
Navigate Aged Care
Navigate Aged Care helps families reduce the stress of accessing aged care services, so they have more time to spend with the people they love. Based in South Australia, Kate supports families to create a plan as their loved ones age, including help seeking assessment for in-home aged care services, identifying when care needs to increase, and applying for respite or permanent residential care options.
0402 353 426
South Australia

Guidance, reminders and stories from people doing this work, shared each week.

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Someone has passed

What to do first, the funeral, and everything after, in order. Who to call, what can wait, and help with each step.

Start with First Steps Or tell us what's happened so far, no account needed

I'm planning ahead

Record your wishes, keep your will and important documents in one place, and leave a letter for the people you love, so no one has to guess later.

Start planning ahead Or see how Remember Well• works