What to do when someone passes away? The all-inclusive checklist to assist you and your family following the death of a loved one.

When someone passes away, you may be overwhelmed with googling ‘what to do next’. At Antunes Lawyers, we have dedicated Wills and Estates Lawyers to assist you with this process. As part of our services, we can provide you with a tailored plan and assist you every step of the way. Check out our all-inclusive checklist to help you get started.

Who to Notify
Before you get started, there are a range of people and organisations you need to notify about the death of your loved one. A non-exhaustive list of who to notify is below:

1. Friends and family
2. The beneficiaries of the estate
3. The Australian Taxation Office
4. Centrelink
5. Pension providers
6. The deceased’s Medical Practitioners
7. Asset holders and creditors (noting that as soon as you advise the bank, all accounts will be frozen so this should be done when it will cause the least disruption to the administration of the estate. We will assist with advice on when the most appropriate time to do this is as every estate is different and will have different considerations)
8. Subscription providers (such as Foxtel or Netflix)
9. The property manager for any rental properties
10. Employers
11. Educational institutions
12. The deceased’s accountant and financial planner
13. Insurance companies
14. Antunes Lawyers – we will assist you throughout this process

The Checklist
Now that you have notified the appropriate people and organisations, follow the below checklist to get started:

☐ Organise the funeral

☐ Lodge the death certificate application with the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages

☐ Find out if there is a Will and obtain a copy

☐ Gather all of the information you can on the assets and liabilities of the estate

☐ Have an estimated value of each of the assets as of the date of death

☐ Receive the original death certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

☐ Gather the contact details for each of the beneficiaries

☐ Gather your identification documents, such as a driver’s licence and passport

☐ Make an appointment with our office to discuss the estate

☐ Meet with our Wills and Estates experts and we will handle the rest

What’s next?
Each and every estate is very different and it is important to receive bespoke advice and assistance from a dedicated Wills and Estates Lawyer so that the administration of the estate runs smoothly and you are at ease during the entire process. Once you have gathered your information pursuant to the checklist above, contact our expert Wills and Estates team today, to get started.

If you have questions, contact our team today.