The Executor’s First 48 Hours: What to Do Right Now
Have a question about this? Ask the Guide → the chat widget at the bottom-right of this page can answer it. Reading time: 8 minutes | The Executor’s Guide — Plain English. Step by step. Written for the person who just found out.
The next 48 hours matter more than they probably should. Most of the estate administration process can wait weeks. A handful of things genuinely can’t.
This guide tells you what to do first, what to leave alone for now, and what common mistakes to avoid in the immediate aftermath of a death.
What Cannot Wait
1. Get the medical cause of death certificate.
Before anything else can happen — before a funeral, before accounts can be accessed, before probate can begin — a doctor, coroner, or medical officer must certify the cause of death. If the death occurred in a hospital or aged care facility, the staff initiate this. If the death was sudden or at home and unexpected, call 000. Do not move the body until authorities have attended.
This medical certificate is different from the death certificate you’ll register later. Both matter. The medical certificate comes first.
2. Secure the property if the deceased lived alone.
If the deceased lived alone, their home needs to be secured before you do anything else. Mail should not accumulate in a visible letterbox. Valuables should be noted and protected. The property insurance may have clauses about unoccupied dwellings — check with the insurer, but don’t leave it unsecured.
You don’t need to move anything yet. Just secure it.
3. Find the will.
The will names the executor and sets out who gets what. It may be with the deceased’s personal papers, at their bank, with their solicitor, or lodged with the Public Trustee in their state.
Common places to look: filing cabinet or desk drawers, safety deposit box at the bank, digital files (search for “will” in email and documents), their solicitor’s office, the Public Trustee in their state.
4. Notify immediate family and close friends.
There is no right order for this and no script. Take help when it’s offered. You will need support over the coming months.
What to Do in the First 24–48 Hours
Get multiple certified death certificates.
Once the death is registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in the relevant state, you can order certified copies of the death certificate. You will need these for almost every subsequent step — the bank, the ATO, Centrelink, super funds, insurers, the court.
Order at least 10 copies. Each costs around $30–$60 depending on the state, but having them ready saves weeks of delays. The funeral home often assists with registration — confirm what they’ll handle.
Notify Centrelink.
If the deceased was receiving any Centrelink payment, Centrelink must be notified as soon as possible. Overpayments become a debt against the estate. The sooner you notify, the less you have to repay.
Use the Australian Death Notification Service at deathnotification.gov.au to notify multiple government agencies in one step.
Handle pets and immediate property needs.
If the deceased had pets, arrange care. If the property has plants, livestock, perishable items, or anything time-sensitive, deal with it now.
What to Leave Alone For Now
This is equally important.
Do not access the deceased’s bank accounts using their credentials.
Even if you know the PIN or have access to their online banking login, using those credentials without legal authority is a risk. Wait until you have probate (or letters of administration) before accessing sole accounts. If you urgently need funds for funeral expenses, call the bank’s deceased estates line and ask about their emergency release process — most banks have one.
Do not distribute any assets to beneficiaries.
Not yet. Not even small things that seem clearly intended for a specific person. The estate must pay its debts before distribution, and you won’t know the full picture of debts for weeks.
Do not sign legal documents without reading them carefully.
Read everything before signing. You are acting in a fiduciary capacity — the decisions you make now have legal consequences.
Do not throw anything away.
Financial documents, letters, bank statements, receipts — keep everything for now. Shred nothing. Documents that seem irrelevant now may become important.
The Executor’s First 48 Hours: Summary Checklist
Must happen immediately:
- Medical cause of death certificate obtained or in progress
- Property secured if deceased lived alone
- Will located (or actively being searched for)
- Immediate family notified
- Pets and perishables dealt with
Do in first 48 hours:
- Funeral home contacted
- Death registration initiated (funeral home usually handles)
- Centrelink notified if applicable
- Death Notification Service used (deathnotification.gov.au)
- 10+ certified death certificates ordered
- Log started: date, actions taken, who you spoke to
Do NOT do yet:
- Do not access sole bank accounts using deceased’s credentials
- Do not distribute anything to beneficiaries
- Do not sign documents you haven’t read carefully
- Do not throw away any financial documents
Download the Full Checklist
The Executor’s First 48 Hours Checklist is free. It covers everything in this article in a clean, printable format you can mark off as you go.
The Executor’s Guide provides general information about estate administration in Australia. It is not legal advice. For complex estates, disputed wills, or significant property matters, seek qualified legal advice from a solicitor registered in your state.
Related guides
- What to Do When Someone Dies in Australia
- What Is an Executor?
- Executor Duties in Australia: The Complete Legal Guide
- Do I Need Probate? A Plain-English Guide
If you would rather not piece this together article by article, the Complete Executor’s Handbook walks through the whole estate from start to finish in one place.
Get the Complete Handbook (A$79)Or get the free checklist