What to Do After Someone Passes Away

Immediate practical steps

In the days after a bereavement, families often face an overwhelming list of tasks. While legal and financial steps require professional advice, there are practical actions you can take at the property itself.

Ensure the home is secure — check locks, windows and that mail is collected. If no one is living at the property, consider notifying a trusted neighbour and arranging for lights to be on timers if the house will be vacant for a period.

Locate important documents such as the will, birth certificate, marriage certificate and any funeral pre-arrangement paperwork. These are typically needed by the solicitor handling the estate.

• Secure the property and arrange mail collection
• Locate the will and key identity documents
• Notify relevant parties at an appropriate time
• Avoid disposing of belongings until roles are clear

Who to notify

Beyond immediate family and friends, there are organisations that may need to be informed — banks, utilities, Medicare, Centrelink, superannuation funds and insurers. Your solicitor can advise on the correct order and timing.

If the deceased was receiving home care or medical services, notify those providers. Australia Post offers a mail redirection service that executors often arrange once probate or letters of administration are underway.

We are not legal advisers. For a complete notification checklist, consult the solicitor managing the estate or visit official resources such as Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.

Managing the property

The physical property often needs attention early — especially if it will be vacant. Gardens can become overgrown, rubbish may accumulate, and general maintenance may be overdue.

Families and executors frequently engage practical assistance to tidy the property, remove perishables, maintain gardens and prepare for eventual clearance or sale. This is where services like ours can help.

Take photographs of each room before major changes if the estate may be contested or if beneficiaries will want to review contents remotely. A simple phone camera record can prevent disputes later.

Sorting belongings — take your time

There is no universal deadline for sorting a deceased person's belongings, though sale or settlement timelines may create practical pressure. Many families find it helpful to set aside obvious keepsakes early and defer bulk decisions.

Walk through the property and identify items of clear sentimental or financial significance. Set these aside in a labelled area. Everything else can be sorted in stages with professional help if needed.

Charitable donation is often appropriate for usable furniture, clothing and household goods. We can help coordinate donations as part of a broader clearance plan.

When to seek professional help

If the property is interstate, if family members live overseas, or if the volume of contents is simply too large to manage alone, engaging experienced estate assistance can reduce stress significantly.

Executors with demanding jobs or multiple beneficiaries to coordinate often find that professional clearance and preparation services pay for themselves in time saved and disputes avoided.

Contact us for a confidential discussion about practical property support. We work alongside your solicitor and agent — we do not replace them.