How to notify Australian government agencies after a death

Notifying every government agency after a death used to mean weeks of phone calls and photocopied death certificates. Australia now has some free centralised services that dramatically cut the load. Here is who to contact, in what order, and which shortcuts to use.

The death certificate

Almost every agency below will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate. Order at least five copies through the funeral director when they register the death with Births, Deaths and Marriages. Certified copies from a JP are usually acceptable in place of extra originals.

Services Australia (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support)

Call Services Australia's Bereavement Line on 132 300. One call closes Centrelink payments, Medicare, and Child Support arrangements. Bereavement payments may be available if the deceased was on a pension.

The ATO

Notify the ATO in writing once the estate is being administered. The executor becomes responsible for the deceased's final tax return, and any estate income earned after the date of death. Do not close the tax file until the final return is lodged.

Passports and citizenship

The Australian Passport Office should be notified so the passport can be cancelled. The passport itself can be kept by the family after cancellation.

State agencies

• Transport authority: cancel the driver's licence and transfer or dispose of vehicle registrations.
• Electoral commission: remove from the electoral roll.
• Public trustee, if named executor.
• Housing agency, if the deceased was a public housing tenant.

The Australian Death Notification Service

The Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS) is a free federal government service at deathnotification.gov.au. One online form notifies multiple banks, super funds, insurers, utilities, and other private organisations. It does not cover government agencies, but it saves days of phone calls to the private sector.

Suggested order

1. Services Australia (bereavement line).
2. Australian Death Notification Service (private organisations).
3. Main bank (freeze accounts, pay funeral director).
4. Super fund and life insurer.
5. ATO.
6. State transport authority and electoral commission.
7. Utilities, subscriptions, and memberships not covered by ADNS.

Keep a log

For each agency, note the date you called, the reference number, and who you spoke to. If a problem surfaces months later, the log will save you from starting over.