We acknowledge that this is a difficult time for you. We recognise you may feel overwhelmed at present and find it difficult to remember a lot of information.
This guide aims to answer some commonly asked questions and provide helpful information. Take your time to consider all your options to make the decisions that's right for you.
The guide is a joint publication from the palliative care services and social work departments of Auburn, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals.
Viewing the person who has died is an option which is very much an individual choice. Viewings can be organised in the hospital, the mortuary or at the funeral home.
Viewings can be a helpful part of the grieving process, giving you a chance to say your personal goodbyes. Your ward social worker can help you with this process.
There's a lot to do when someone close to you dies. You may need to inform a number of people and organisations to finalise the affairs of the deceased person (person who has died).
Before you contact the relevant people or organisations, you will need the person's personal records and important reference numbers. Check if the person who died kept a filing cabinet or folder with documents, letters and bills.
You may want to remove the deceased person's details from marketing lists used by members of the Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA). To do this, contact ADMA online.
Learn more about what to do when someone dies
If funeral arrangements have not been pre-planned, the executor of the will is legally responsible for organising the funeral. Usually, the closest next of kin make the practical arrangements.
If there is no will or identified next of kin, then a family member or friend may organise the funeral. Funeral directors can assist you with planning the funeral service and the burial or cremation. While the funeral director can help with most details, you may choose to make some arrangements yourself, e.g. flowers, clergy, the service, etc.
The hospital will not recommend any funeral directors. You can find a list of funeral directors online, or family or friends may be able to recommend someone or give advice.
Funeral costs can vary considerably. We suggest calling 2 or 3 funeral directors for quotes before making a decision. It may be hard to ‘shop around’ for funeral services, but it makes sense to find a funeral director you are comfortable with.
Read the guide to arranging a funeral and what to consider when organising a funeral or memorial service.
Under the law, all NSW funeral directors must provide you with an itemised quote. These quotes should make it easier for you to compare services and prices.
It is important to discuss the costs and options for paying the account at the beginning of your discussions with the funeral director. Be aware, the person who arranges the funeral is legally responsible for the account.
Learn more about your consumer rights when dealing with funeral products and services on the NSW Fair Trading website.
As it is difficult to obtain financial assistance after the funeral has been paid for, it is important to commit to what is affordable. The following points could help when looking at the costs.
If a person dies in or as a result of a motor vehicle accident and is not at fault, the Third-Party Insurer may pay the costs.
For more information, contact the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) in NSW for resources for individuals and families affected by motor accidents.
If a worker dies as a result of a work-related accident, the employer’s insurance company may cover the costs under WorkCover.
WorkCover NSW was replaced by 3 agencies in 2015. The work previously done by WorkCover is now managed by SafeWork, icare or SIRA.
Learn about the agencies that replaced WorkCover NSW and how they can help you.
Centrelink must be notified when a recipient of a pension or benefit dies. They can advise you of any entitlements you may be eligible for.
To learn more, go to the Centrelink page on the Services Australia website.
The DVA may be able to offer a bereavement package to assist close relatives following the death of a person receiving DVA pension.
Learn more about bereavement payments from the DVA.
If a person dies as a result of an act of violence, it is possible that there can be provision of financial support.
Learn about support for family members of a homicide victim from Victims Services NSW.
The 'Medical Certificate Cause of Death' (cause of death certificate) is completed by a medical practitioner who certifies the facts and circumstances of the death.
This certificate is provided by the hospital to your chosen funeral director who will, if requested, submit an application for the official death certificate from the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
In some situations, the circumstances surrounding a death may need to be investigated. You will be informed by hospital staff if this is required. The police are notified of the death and will attend the hospital.
Coroners make sure all deaths are properly investigated, including deaths that are:
Learn more about the first steps, examinations, investigations and the Coronial process and the help and support available to you.
There may be situations where the death is not required to be reported to the coroner. However, the medical team or the senior available next of kin (SNoK) might wish to find out more information about the person’s illness or death.
In this case, a hospital postmortem may be discussed. An autopsy does not proceed without consent from the SNoK. A postmortem can be a limited or full internal and external examination of someone’s body after they have died. It is conducted by medical experts with a great amount of care for the deceased.
Postmortem results can take time. It will be sent to a doctor of your choice and the hospital’s treating doctor, who can explain the postmortem results and findings.
For more information, ask for or contact the hospital's postmortem liaison officer.
We do not go ahead with organ and tissue donation without consent from the senior available next of kin. Organ donation is only considered in very specific circumstances, and raised if appropriate, before someone’s death.
Tissue donation is considered for everyone after death. You may be contacted by the coordinator from the Lions Eye Bank by telephone to ask about your relative’s intention to donate.
For more information, ask for or contact the hospital's organ and tissue donation coordinator or your social worker.
Find out more about organ donation at DonateLife.
A will is a legal document that sets out a person’s instructions regarding what is to happen to their body and how their property is to be distributed after their death.
The will appoints an executor and lists any special instructions to be followed. The executor of the will is responsible for distributing the person’s assets to the people named in the will as beneficiaries.
Some people die without having a valid legal will. If a person has not left a will, their property is distributed under a formula set by law, regardless of what the person may have wished.
If there is no will, the administration of the estate may be more difficult and expensive. In this case contact a solicitor (lawyer) or the NSW Trustee and Guardian for advice.
Grief support services are available to help understand and process the death of someone close. Learn more about grief support when someone dies.
Use the links below for more grief support resources.
If you have any accessibility feedback or concerns related to this resource, please contact us.
