When a Family Member Dies: From Death Registration to Bereavement Support
From what to do immediately after losing a family member to death registration, the funeral, repatriation of remains, administrative follow-up, and support for the bereaved — a calm, step-by-step guide so you do not have to rush.
Immediately After a Death: Who to Contact and What Happens
No amount of preparation makes losing a close family member easy to bear. Thankfully, there are fewer things the family must handle immediately after a death than you might expect, and most of the administration can be worked through gradually over several days. The first thing needed is official verification of the death. If the death occurs in a hospital or aged care facility, the medical staff will guide you through the verification process; if an expected death (for example due to illness) occurs at home, contact the person's regular GP or palliative care team. For a sudden death, an accident, or a death from an unknown cause, however, you must call 000 (police/ambulance) immediately, and in that case the police will report the matter to the coroner.
Who certifies the death — doctor vs coroner
If it is an expected death where a doctor who has been treating the deceased can confirm the cause of death, that doctor issues a medical certificate of cause of death, and the funeral and death registration proceed on the basis of that document. On the other hand, for a sudden death, an accident, an unknown cause, or where a doctor cannot certify the cause, the matter falls under the coroner, and the relevant documents are issued and the body released to the family only after the investigation (including an autopsy if required) is complete. In a coronial case, do not tidy the scene or move the body on your own — follow the instructions of the police. Each state's Coroners Court has family support staff who can keep you informed of progress.
Death Registration and the Death Certificate (State BDMs)
Every death that occurs in Australia must be registered with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) of the state or territory where the death occurred. In practice, it is standard for the funeral director to lodge the registration paperwork on your behalf, so families rarely need to handle the registration themselves. Once registration is complete, you can obtain the official death certificate from the BDM for a fee, and this certificate becomes the starting point for almost every administrative task that follows.
Where the death certificate is needed
Closing bank accounts, claiming the superannuation death benefit, making life insurance claims, notifying Centrelink and Medicare, visa-related notifications, ending tenancy and utility contracts, and applying for probate — most organisations require the original death certificate or a certified copy. Counting the places you will need it in advance and preparing plenty of certified copies makes the whole process much smoother.
- Confirm with the funeral director whether they will lodge the BDM death registration for you, and when
Arranging the Funeral: Burial vs Cremation and Costs
For the funeral, you can choose between burial and cremation, according to the deceased's wishes and the family's religion and culture. Funeral costs in Australia vary enormously — based on the government's moneysmart guidance, a basic cremation starts at around $4,000, while a formal funeral including a cemetery burial can cost $15,000 or more (check moneysmart for the latest figures). Even in grief, comparing itemised quotes from several providers is your legitimate right as a consumer, and you will not be disadvantaged for doing so.
- Get itemised quotes from at least two providers and compare what is included (transfer of the deceased, coffin, cremation/burial plot, paperwork handling, etc.)
- First check whether the deceased left a will, a prepaid funeral contract, or funeral insurance
Four Situations, Four Processes
Even for the same death, the process and timeframe differ depending on the circumstances. See which of the four situations below applies to you.
Medical staff verify the death and the treating doctor issues a medical certificate of cause of death. Once you contact a funeral director, they can guide you through the next steps such as transferring the deceased and registering the death — this is the situation that places the least burden on the family.
After a 000 call, the police report the death to the coroner. The investigation and autopsy may delay the release of the body, and family support staff at each state's Coroners Court can keep you informed of progress.
Contact the consulate of the deceased's country of nationality to confirm the required documents (death certificate, embalming certificate, sealed-coffin certificate, etc.) and the process. A funeral director experienced in international repatriation can help with the preparations, and because the cost is substantial, check whether insurance covers it.
Choose a cemetery burial or cremation and hold the funeral in Australia. After cremation, the ashes can be placed in a memorial facility, scattered, or carried to the home country — you will need to check the location's rules, the airline, and the destination country's regulations.
Administrative Checklist: Super, Banks, Visas, and the Will
Once you have the death certificate, you can work through the items below one by one. There is no need to finish everything at once — most organisations will take the family's circumstances into account and guide you through the process.
- Notify Services Australia — inform Centrelink and Medicare of the death. A single notification is often processed across linked services, and check your eligibility for the bereavement payment at the same time.
- Claim the superannuation death benefit — contact each super fund the deceased belonged to and claim the death benefit. If there is a binding death benefit nomination it is paid accordingly; if not, the trustee decides who receives it. Also check for life insurance held within the super.
Things to Watch Out For and Common Difficulties
The points below are where others who have been through the same experience found things difficult. Knowing them in advance can lighten the load a little.
- Do not rush to lock in dates for a coronial case — the investigation and autopsy may delay the release of the body. Set the funeral date and book flights for family from overseas only after confirming when the body will be released.
- Running out of certified copies of the death certificate — organisations often ask to sight and verify copies, so they run out quickly. Preparing a generous number from the start saves you the trouble of reapplying.
Useful Official Links
- NSW 출생·사망·혼인 등록소 (BDM)(opens in a new window)
The official NSW channel for death registration and death certificates — in other states, the same process is handled by that state or territory's BDM.
- Services Australia — 유족 지원(opens in a new window)
The official site explaining how to notify Centrelink and Medicare after a family member's death, and the eligibility requirements for support such as the bereavement payment.
- Moneysmart — 장례 비용(opens in a new window)
The Australian Government's moneysmart guide to funeral costs — covering cost ranges, comparing itemised quotes, and payment options such as prepaid funerals.