{"id":16933,"date":"2026-10-18T17:02:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T06:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T17:02:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T06:02:37","slug":"what-to-do-when-someone-dies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do When Someone Dies in Victoria: A Checklist for the First 30 Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.ct-page{max-width:880px;margin:0 auto;padding:32px 20px 48px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.85}.ct-page h2{margin-top:1.6em}.ct-page h3{margin-top:1.2em}.ct-page ul,.ct-page ol{padding-left:1.4em}.ct-page li{margin:.3em 0}.ct-answer{background:#fff;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-left:4px solid #C9A26B;border-radius:6px;padding:16px 20px;margin:8px 0 24px}.ct-answer strong:first-child{display:block;font-size:.85em;letter-spacing:.04em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8a6a3b;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-cta{background:#f4f1ea;border-left:4px solid #C9A26B;padding:16px 20px;margin:28px 0}.ct-related{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr));gap:10px;list-style:none;padding:0!important}.ct-related li{margin:0}.ct-related a{display:block;padding:12px 14px;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;height:100%}.ct-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:12px 0}.ct-table th,.ct-table td{border:1px solid #e3ddd0;padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}.ct-table th{background:#f4f1ea}<\/style>\n<div class=\"ct-page\">\n<div class=\"ct-answer\"><strong>Short answer<\/strong>In the first days, arrange the funeral, find the Will and secure the home and valuables. In the first weeks, notify banks, Centrelink and other organisations and list the assets and debts. Within the first month, the executor should get advice on whether probate is needed. Do not distribute or sell anything until then.<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" onclick=\"window.print()\" style=\"background:#8a6a3b;color:#fff;border:0;border-radius:6px;padding:10px 18px;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer\">Print this checklist<\/button><\/p>\n\n<h2>The first few days<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A doctor issues a medical certificate of the cause of death. If the death was unexpected, the coroner may be involved.<\/li>\n<li>Contact a funeral director. In Victoria the funeral director usually registers the death with Births, Deaths and Marriages and helps you order the death certificate.<\/li>\n<li>Look for the Will: home papers, the deceased&#8217;s lawyer and bank, and any country where they lived. If we prepared the Will, we may hold the original. Call us.<\/li>\n<li>Secure the home, car, keys and valuables, and check that insurance stays in place.<\/li>\n<li>Tell close family, including relatives overseas who may need to travel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>The first two weeks<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Notify Services Australia (Centrelink and Medicare) and other organisations. The Australian Death Notification Service can notify several organisations at once.<\/li>\n<li>Notify the banks, super funds and insurers. Accounts in the deceased&#8217;s sole name will usually be frozen.<\/li>\n<li>Redirect mail and keep everything that arrives.<\/li>\n<li>Make a list of assets and debts: real estate, bank accounts, shares, super, insurance, vehicles, loans, credit cards, and anything overseas.<\/li>\n<li>Keep receipts for the funeral and other expenses you pay. They can usually be repaid from the estate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Within the first month<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The executor should get advice on whether a grant of probate (or letters of administration, if there is no Will) is needed. Try our <a href=\"\/en\/do-i-need-probate\/\">2-minute check<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Gather documents: the death certificate, the original Will, identification, title documents and recent statements.<\/li>\n<li>If there are assets or family overseas, start collecting the documents that will need certifying or translating.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Things not to do<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not use the deceased&#8217;s cards or online banking, even to pay the funeral.<\/li>\n<li>Do not throw away papers, mail or devices.<\/li>\n<li>Do not promise or hand out belongings until the Will has been checked.<\/li>\n<li>Do not sell or transfer property before a grant, unless advised.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We help families through each of these steps in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. See <a href=\"\/en\/letters-of-administration-victoria\/\">letters of administration<\/a> and our <a href=\"\/en\/melbourne-lawyer\/legal-services\/wills-and-deceased-estate-administration\/\">probate and estate administration services<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"ct-enquiry\" class=\"ct-eq\" data-no-translation>\r\n<style>.ct-eq{background:#f4f1ea;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:10px;padding:22px 24px;margin:32px 0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6}.ct-eq h2,.ct-eq h3{margin:0 0 6px}.ct-eq p{margin:0 0 12px}.ct-eq form{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:12px}.ct-eq label{display:block;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-eq input,.ct-eq select,.ct-eq textarea{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;border-radius:6px;font-size:16px;background:#fff}.ct-eq .full{grid-column:1\/-1}.ct-eq button{background:#8a6a3b;color:#fff;border:0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 22px;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer}.ct-eq .hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px}.ct-eq small{color:#5f5a50}.ct-eq .ok{background:#e7f3e8;border-left:4px solid #3c8d40;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .bad{background:#fbeaea;border-left:4px solid #b03a2e;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .ct-direct{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin-top:14px}.ct-eq .ct-direct a,.ct-eq .ct-direct button{background:#fff;color:#2b2b2b;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;padding:9px 14px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px}@media(max-width:640px){.ct-eq form{grid-template-columns:1fr}}<\/style>\r\n<h3>Tell us about the estate<\/h3>\r\n<p>A short message is enough. We reply in English, Mandarin or Cantonese, and quote fees in writing before any work starts.<\/p>\r\n<form method=\"post\" action=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-admin\/admin-post.php\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"ct_estate_enquiry\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_ts\" value=\"1792407725\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_lang\" value=\"en\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_page\" value=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/\">\r\n<div class=\"hp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><label>Website<input type=\"text\" name=\"ct_website\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"off\"><\/label><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_name\">Your name *<\/label><input id=\"ct_name\" name=\"ct_name\" required maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_email\">Email<\/label><input id=\"ct_email\" name=\"ct_email\" type=\"email\" maxlength=\"160\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_phone\">Phone, WeChat or WhatsApp<\/label><input id=\"ct_phone\" name=\"ct_phone\" maxlength=\"80\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_language\">Preferred language<\/label><select id=\"ct_language\" name=\"ct_language\"><option>English<\/option><option>Mandarin<\/option><option>Cantonese<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_type\">What do you need help with?<\/label><select id=\"ct_type\" name=\"ct_type\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is a Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is no Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and I am not sure if there is a Will<\/option><option>Making or updating a Will or estate plan<\/option><option>Executor or trustee question<\/option><option>A dispute about an estate<\/option><option>Other<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_state\">Where are the assets?<\/label><select id=\"ct_state\" name=\"ct_state\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Victoria<\/option><option>New South Wales<\/option><option>Queensland<\/option><option>Western Australia<\/option><option>South Australia<\/option><option>Tasmania<\/option><option>ACT<\/option><option>Northern Territory<\/option><option>More than one state<\/option><option>Overseas as well<\/option><option>Not sure<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_time\">Best time to contact you (optional)<\/label><input id=\"ct_time\" name=\"ct_time\" maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_msg\">Brief details (optional)<\/label><textarea id=\"ct_msg\" name=\"ct_msg\" rows=\"4\" maxlength=\"3000\"><\/textarea><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><button type=\"submit\">Send enquiry<\/button><br><small>We use your details only to respond to your enquiry. Sending this form does not create a lawyer\u2013client relationship. <a href=\"\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy<\/a><\/small><\/div>\r\n<\/form>\r\n<div class=\"ct-direct\"><strong style=\"width:100%\">Or contact us directly<\/strong>\r\n<a href=\"tel:+61396023988\">Call +61 3 9602 3988<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"mailto:chuatan@tpg.com.au\">chuatan@tpg.com.au<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/61490369102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp +61 490 369 102<\/a>\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"ct-wechat\" data-msg=\"WeChat ID copied\">WeChat: chuatan262<\/button>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\n<h2>Related guides<\/h2><ul class=\"ct-related\"><li><a href=\"\/en\/letters-of-administration-victoria\/\">Letters of administration (no Will)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">Estate planning: Will, power of attorney, medical decisions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/testamentary-trusts\/\">Testamentary trusts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\">Superannuation and your Will<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/executor-disputes\/\">Executor problems and disputes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/do-i-need-probate\/\">Do I need probate? 2-minute check<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/professional-executor-trustee\/\">Professional executor &amp; trustee services<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/%E9%81%97%E5%98%B1%E4%B8%8E%E9%81%97%E4%BA%A7\/\">Wills &amp; estates fees<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<p><em>General information only, not legal advice. It is based on Victorian law unless stated otherwise; the rules in other states and territories differ. Your circumstances should be assessed individually.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short answerIn the first days, arrange the funeral, fin [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"What to Do When Someone Dies: 30-Day Checklist (Victoria) | Chua Tan","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"A practical checklist for families in the first days and weeks after a death in Victoria: certificates, the Will, banks, property and probate. 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