Estate & Practical Tasks
What actually has to be done after a death, in five areas — and what changes the answer in your circumstances. Nothing here is legal advice.
The practical steps below apply Australia-wide. Probate, intestacy, property transfers and retirement village rules are state and territory law, so the court, the forms and the process depend on where the person lived and where any property is.
Ask ELUMMA in your own words. It answers the practical question first, then points you to the section that goes through it — and it will tell you plainly when something needs legal advice instead.
Ask ELUMMAFive areas of estate administration
Choose the one that matches what you are dealing with. Its detail opens below, and everything else stays out of the way.
Estate tools
Start with your progress, or go straight to the tool you need.
The ten stages of an estate, what is still outstanding, and what to follow up — the place to start if you want the whole picture.
The death certificate, the Will or the grant, your identification and the asset list — the same set every institution asks for.
Finding what the person actually had, and keeping the bills under control while the estate is sorted out.
Who has to be told, what is happening to each account, and when to follow up — including the services that have to stay switched on.
Free help for this area
Verified free and low-cost Australian services relevant to this area. Free options appear first, and nothing here is influenced by payment.
ELUMMA puts useful free and low-cost help first. Paid partnerships do not determine this order.
National Debt Helpline
FREEFree, confidential financial counselling for anyone struggling with debt or financial difficulty — including after a death. Run by Financial Counselling Australia and funded by the Australian Government.
Eligibility: Available to anyone in Australia. Mon–Fri, 9:30am–4:30pm (AEST/AEDT). Live chat and self-help tools are available on the website.
Services Australia — Financial Information Service (FIS)
FREEFree government information service about financial matters, including how aged-care accommodation, superannuation and the Age Pension interact. An information service — not personal financial advice.
Eligibility: Available to anyone. Book a phone appointment or attend a seminar through Services Australia. Confirm current details on the official site.
Carer Gateway
FREEFree Australian Government support for unpaid carers, including counselling, planned and emergency respite, skills courses and tailored support packages.
Eligibility: For people providing unpaid care to a family member or friend with disability, a medical condition, mental illness, or who is frail aged. Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm; emergency respite is available at any time.
Advance Care Planning Australia
FREEFree national advisory line for advance care planning — making your future medical and care wishes known. Can talk through the process and post a free starter pack.
Eligibility: Available to anyone. Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm (AEST). Note: the advisory line is free, but registering or storing an advance care directive may involve a fee in some states and territories — check your local process.
Community Legal Centres Australia
FREEFind a local community legal centre. Most provide free legal advice and some casework, especially for people who cannot afford a private lawyer. Services vary by centre.
Eligibility: Eligibility and services vary by centre. Use the national finder to locate your nearest centre and check what they offer.
ASIC's MoneySmart — Wills & powers of attorney
FREEFree, plain-English government information about making a Will, what makes it valid, and powers of attorney. Information only — it is not a Will-drafting service and does not replace legal advice.
Eligibility: Available to everyone.
Free grief & bereavement helplines
FREEELUMMA's Grief & Support page lists verified free Australian helplines, including Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Griefline and the Suicide Call Back Service. Numbers and availability are kept on that single page so they are never duplicated.
Eligibility: Available to anyone in Australia. Some lines operate 24/7; check the Grief page for each service.
Services Australia — Death of a loved one
FREE IF ELIGIBLEGovernment help after a death: bereavement payments (if eligible), what to tell Centrelink, and how to claim money owed to the estate. You generally need to tell Services Australia within 28 days if the person received a payment.
Eligibility: Bereavement payments depend on your relationship to the person who died and on the payments you or they were receiving. Check eligibility and current details directly with Services Australia.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs — Bereavement & funeral assistance
FREE IF ELIGIBLEBereavement payments and funeral benefits may be available for eligible veterans and dependants. Eligibility depends on the veteran’s service history and the relevant Act (VEA/MRCA/DRCA). DVA also administers official commemoration through the Office of Australian War Graves for eligible veterans.
Eligibility: Eligibility depends on the veteran’s service, the date and circumstances of death, and the relevant legislation. Not all veterans or families qualify. Check current eligibility and amounts directly with DVA.
National Legal Aid
FREE IF ELIGIBLEFree legal information, and — subject to a means test — legal advice and representation. Start with your state or territory Legal Aid commission, which can direct you to the right help for Wills, estates and disputes.
Eligibility: Legal aid advice and representation depend on your legal matter, financial circumstances and state/territory. General legal information is free; ongoing help is means-tested.
Private solicitor (paid professional help)
FEE APPLIESFor complex Wills, estates, disputes, blended families, trusts, businesses, overseas assets or capacity concerns, a private solicitor provides tailored legal advice and document drafting. Free preliminary legal information does not include drafting a Will — drafting is a paid service.
Eligibility: Anyone; fees apply. Ask for an upfront, written estimate before proceeding. Use your state or territory Law Society to find a solicitor.