Who to Notify When Someone Dies in Australia

There is no single place in Australia where a death notification flows automatically to all relevant agencies. Each organisation must be notified separately, usually with a certified copy of the death certificate as evidence. This process can take weeks or months — and that is normal.

Notify first — no death certificate needed

Some notifications should happen in the first few days, before the death certificate arrives:

• Centrelink / Services Australia — to cancel any pension, benefit, or concession card payments. Call 132 300. Overpayments must be repaid, so early notification limits liability.
• The person's employer — if the deceased was still working. Notify HR directly. This may trigger entitlements such as unpaid leave payouts.
• Medicare — cancel the Medicare card by calling 132 011 or visiting a service centre.
• Private health insurer — to cancel the policy and claim any outstanding benefits.

Notify once you have the death certificate

These notifications require a certified copy of the death certificate:

• Banks and financial institutions — to freeze accounts, close accounts, or transfer funds to the estate. Each bank has its own bereavement process. Call the main number and ask for the bereavement team.
• Superannuation funds — to notify of the death and begin the death benefit claim process. Each fund has different forms and timeframes.
• Australian Taxation Office — to notify of the death and, if you are the executor, to lodge any outstanding tax returns. Call 13 28 61.
• Life insurance providers — to make a claim. You will need the policy number, the death certificate, and in some cases a medical report.
• Share registry and investment accounts — if the deceased held shares or managed funds, notify the relevant registry or fund manager.

Property and vehicle registrations

If the deceased owned property, the transfer of title is handled through the probate process and the relevant state land titles office. Vehicles can be transferred through your state's transport authority once the estate is settled.

Digital and subscription services

This category is easy to overlook and can result in ongoing charges being drawn from an estate. Services to cancel include: streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.), email accounts, social media accounts, and any automatic billing. Many platforms have a formal process for notifying them of a death.

Utilities and household accounts

If the person was living alone, notify: electricity and gas providers, phone and internet provider, council rates (local council), and any rental or lease agreements.

Clubs, memberships, and subscriptions

Check for gym memberships, club memberships, magazine subscriptions, and any other regular payments. Bank statements are the most reliable way to identify these.