1. Organising the funeral and completing the paperwork
2. Receiving the death certificate
3. Using the certificate – closing accounts and estate management
When your loved one dies, there are a few steps you may need to take to organise the funeral and manage the estate.
This page sets out some of these steps, including:
- What to expect
- Who might get involved
- Key documents you might encounter at each stage.
This can be an emotional time. It’s important that you seek grief support if you need it.
On this page
1. Organising the funeral and completing the paperwork
What you can expect
Choose a funeral home to help organise the funeral.
The funeral director will ask you for certain details about your loved one. You can find these details on documents like birth, marriage and relationship certificates. If you have access to these, we encourage you take them along to the funeral director.
- The funeral director uses this information to complete a Death Registration Statement. They will provide this to BDM. This is so we can register the death and issue a death certificate.
Your funeral director will order the death certificate(s) on your behalf. You may wish to discuss certificate options with them.
There are two legal death certificates in Victoria:
- One with the cause of death and burial information.
- One without this sensitive information.
There is also a death certificate package that includes both certificates.
Learn more about Death certificates and packages.
What if the death is referred to the coroner?
There are a range of circumstances where deaths are referred to the coroner. These are reportable deaths (External link) and reviewable deaths (External link).
A police officer or medical practitioner may report a death. BDM may also refer a death to the coroner.
Refer to the Coroners Court’s information for families (External link).
Who might get involved and their role at this stage?
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| Next of kin | Engage a funeral director and provide necessary information |
| Medical practitioner | Complete Medical Certificate Cause of Death and submit to BDM |
| Funeral director | Organise the funeral and provide relevant information to BDM |
| BDM | Receive and assess relevant information to prepare the death certificate(s) |
| Coroner’s Court of Victoria | Review or investigate a death, when notified |
Key documents in this stage
You may hear these documents mentioned at this stage.
Medical Certificate Cause of Death
Document that verifies the details of the death. It is completed by a medical practitioner.
Death Registration Statement
Document that details your loved one’s personal information. It is usually completed by the funeral director.
Coronial documents (if applicable)
Information from the Coroner’s Court relating to their investigation if there is one.
These documents allow us to issue the Death Certificate.
Other circumstances
Death overseas of a Victorian resident
If a Victorian resident dies overseas, you usually don’t need to register the death in Victoria. The death should be registered in the country where the person died.
There are some these cases where an overseas death can be registered in Victoria. Learn more about overseas deaths.
Returning a person’s body to another country
Sometimes a person, or their family, may want their body returned to their home country. This is known as ‘repatriation’. Please ask your funeral director if you are seeking repatriation.
Donation to science
Sometimes a person has made the decision to donate their body to science upon their death. If your loved one organised this, the facility will contact BDM when they receive the body. We will then contact you about the next steps.
2. Receiving the death certificate
What you can expect
BDM will issue the death certificate(s), if your funeral director ordered them.
Learn more about Certificate turnaround times.
We send the death certificate(s) by express post.
You will need the death certificate for tasks such as:
- Closing accounts
- Managing the estate.
If there is an error on the certificate, learn more about correcting a death certificate.
What if the death is referred to the coroner?
If you are waiting for a death certificate – cause of death and the case is being investigated by the coroner:
- Refer to the Coroners Court’s 'after a death has been reported' (External link).
- Contact the Coroners Court (External link) for further information
If the coroner's investigation is still ongoing:
- We can issue a death certificate. Please speak to your funeral director about this.
- We can’t issue the death certificate - cause of death until the coroner has determined the cause of death.
Who might get involved and their role at this stage?
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| Next of kin | Receive the death certificate(s) |
| BDM | Issues the death certificate(s) |
| Coroners Court | Investigates deaths that are reportable and determines the cause of death. |
Key documents in this stage
Death certificate package
The package includes a death certificate and a death certificate - cause of death.
Death certificate – cause of death
Accepted as a legal Australian death certificate.
Learn more about death certificates and packages.
Death certificate
Accepted as a legal Australian death certificate.
It does not include the cause of death.
Learn more about death certificates and packages.
3. Using the certificate – closing accounts and estate management
What you can expect
Your loved one may have had accounts with different organisations. You may need to settle or close these accounts.
Organisations you might need to contact include:
- Banks
- Superannuation
- Insurers
- Utilities
- VicRoads
- Australian Electoral Commission
- Australian Tax Office.
Services Australia has a checklist of who to tell when someone dies (External link).
Death certificates in Victoria
There are two legal death certificates in Victoria:
Death certificate
Can be used by organisations that don’t need to see the cause of death. These organisations may include banks, utility companies, telecommunication providers, local councils.
Can’t be used by organisations that do need to see the cause of death
Death certificate – cause of death
Includes sensitive information about your loved one. For example, it includes the cause of death and details of burial.
Can be used by organisations that don’t need to see the cause of death
Can be used by organisations that do need to see the cause of death. These organisations may include superannuation and insurance companies.
Who might get involved and their role at this stage?
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| Next of kin | Contact organisations that need to be informed of the death. |
| Organisations that your loved one held accounts with | May need a death certificate to help you close accounts or manage the estate. These organisations may include banks, insurance companies or local councils. |
| Solicitors/Lawyers | May assist you with probate or managing the estate. |
| Supreme Court of Victoria - Probate Office | Can assist with wills or guidance about the management of the estate. Learn more about wills and probate (External link). |
Key documents in this stage
Death certificate package
The packages include a death certificate and a death certificate - cause of death.
Death certificate – cause of death
Accepted as a legal Australian death certificate.
Learn more about death certificates and packages.
Death certificate
Accepted as a legal Australian death certificate.
It does not include the cause of death.
Learn more about death certificates and packages.
Grant of probate or Letters of administration
These documents:
- Provide assurance that the person managing the estate is the correct legal representative
- Confirm the validity of the will.
Other documents
Some organisations will need extra information or documents to settle the estate. The organisation will let you know what they need.