Who to tell after a death

So many people and places need to know, and telling each one can feel like too much. Fill in a few details, tick who needs to know, and we'll draft a message for each one. Take it one at a time.

Start here

Tell many at once, for free

The Australian Death Notification Service is a free government service. You fill in one online form and choose who to tell from its list, which includes many banks, phone and internet companies, utility providers, councils and some government agencies. You can use it once the death certificate has been issued.

Not every organisation is on its list, so use the messages below for anyone it doesn't reach.

Go to the Death Notification Service 

For the first steps, and the support you may be able to get, read Services Australia's guide What to do when someone dies.

About them and you

Only their name and yours are needed. Add anything else you have handy, and it will go into each message.

Your details stay on this device. We only count that the tool was used, never what you write. Nothing is sent anywhere unless you copy, email or print a message yourself.

Where they lived. Only used to tailor the tips on who to contact.

Helps organisations find the right record.

For example: daughter, husband, friend.

The person named in the Will to look after the estate.

Needed to draft your messages

Who needs to know?

Tick everyone you'd like to tell. If you've used the Death Notification Service, you only need messages for the ones it didn't reach. You can come back and add more later.

Government

Registering the death: you usually don't need to do this yourself. The funeral director registers it with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where they died. If you're not using a funeral director, myGov explains how to register a death.

Money

Home and utilities

Driving

Health

Online

Subscriptions and memberships

Who to tell · Gaia

Your messages

Your messages

Each message is ready to change if you'd like. Copy it into an email, letter or web form, open it in your email app, or print it. Tick it off once it's sent.

Add their name and your name above, and tick who needs to know. We'll draft a message for each one here.

Your details stay on this device.

GRIEF SUPPORT

Grief is real, and it can hit hard. Griefline is now part of SANE Australia. SANE's free Service Enquiries line, 1800 187 263 (weekdays except public holidays, 10am to 8pm AEST/AEDT), can help you find grief support. Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 224 636) are there any time, day or night, and Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) supports children and young people. In an emergency, call 000.

You don't have to figure everything out at once.

Gaia can support you through what follows, with care and guidance when you need it most.

Executor toolkit

A gentle guide through every job that falls to the executor.
Death notice generator

Share the news with family, friends and community.
Gaia memorial

Give their story a place to live with photos and heartfelt messages.

Still have questions?

It depends on their life, but it often includes Services Australia, the ATO, their bank, super fund and insurers, their energy, water, phone and internet companies, their doctor, and the road authority if they drove. If they were a veteran, tell the Department of Veterans' Affairs. You don't need to do it all at once, and many organisations can be told together through the Australian Death Notification Service.

It's a free government service at deathnotification.gov.au. You fill in one online form and choose which organisations to tell from its list, which includes many banks, phone and internet companies, utility providers, councils and some government agencies. The death certificate must have been issued by the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry before you can use it. Not every organisation takes part, so you may still need to contact some yourself.

Usually not. The funeral director normally registers the death with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the state or territory where the person died. If there is no funeral director, you register it with that registry yourself.