After a death, there are dozens of organisations that need to be told — government departments, financial institutions, service providers, and more. The sheer volume is one of the most exhausting parts of the weeks after a loss.
This guide covers the essential notifications for Australian families — what's required by law, what's time-sensitive, and what can wait.
Start with one service — the Australian Death Notification Service
The fastest way to notify multiple agencies at once is through the Australian Death Notification Service at deathnotification.gov.au. This free government service allows you to notify multiple financial institutions and government agencies in a single online session. Not every organisation is connected yet, but it saves significant time for those that are.
The death certificate (or the certificate number), the deceased's full name and date of birth, and their Australian address. Have these ready before contacting any agency.
Legal requirements first
Register the death
Deaths in Australia must be registered with the relevant state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In most cases, the funeral director handles this on your behalf — confirm this is included in their service. Once registered, you can order certified copies of the death certificate, which you'll need for most of the steps below.
Notify Medicare
Contact Services Australia to cancel the deceased's Medicare card. This prevents fraudulent use and updates health records. You can do this online via myGov, by phone on 132 011, or at a Services Australia service centre.
Centrelink and government payments
If the deceased was receiving any Centrelink payments — Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, or others — these must be cancelled immediately. Continuing to receive payments after death is an overpayment that the estate will need to repay.
Contact Services Australia on 132 300 or notify them via myGov. Also ask about the Bereavement Payment — a lump sum available to eligible partners and family members of people who were receiving certain Centrelink payments.
Australian Taxation Office
The ATO needs to be notified so they can update their records and flag any outstanding tax obligations. If the deceased had a tax file number, notify the ATO by calling 13 28 61 or lodging a notification through myGov. A final tax return may need to be lodged for the financial year in which the person died — the executor is responsible for this.
Superannuation
Notify the deceased's superannuation fund as soon as possible. Super death benefits do not automatically form part of the estate — they are paid at the trustee's discretion (guided by any binding nomination) and can be time-sensitive. The fund will have its own claims process and documentation requirements. If no beneficiary nomination exists, the fund may pay to the estate or to dependants at their discretion.
If you're unsure which fund the deceased was with, check their payslips, tax returns, or contact the ATO's superannuation search service.
Electoral Commission
Notify the Australian Electoral Commission to remove the deceased from the electoral roll. You can do this at aec.gov.au or by calling 13 23 26. Some state electoral commissions have separate processes — check your state registry if needed.
Passport and licence
Notify the Australian Passport Office to cancel the deceased's passport, and notify your state's transport authority to cancel their driver's licence. These aren't legally required immediately but prevent identity fraud.
Private organisations to notify
Beyond government agencies, the following typically need to be notified in the first few weeks:
- Banks and financial institutions — to freeze or close accounts and access estate funds
- Insurance providers — to lodge claims or cancel policies
- Utilities and telecommunications — to transfer or cancel accounts
- Employer or superannuation fund — if still employed at time of death
- Private health insurance — to cancel or transfer
- Australia Post — to redirect or hold mail
- Subscriptions and memberships — cancel to stop ongoing charges
For accessing bank accounts and financial assets, most institutions will require a certified copy of the death certificate and evidence of the executor's authority (either probate or letters of administration). The Beyond the Service section of Remember Well• covers estate administration in detail.
Digital accounts
Digital accounts are increasingly important and often overlooked. Email accounts, social media profiles, streaming services, and online storage all need to be managed. Each platform has its own process for memorialising or removing accounts. Facebook and Instagram allow accounts to be memorialised; Google allows a trusted person to access accounts via the Inactive Account Manager.
Keep track of everything in one place.
Remember Well•'s Beyond the Service checklist walks you through every notification — with direct links to the relevant government services and a checklist to track your progress.
Get started — it's free →