Deceased estates

Step 1: 
Contact us  to advise us who has passed away

• Call 1800 686 153 to provide notification of death; OR
• Visit a branch to complete a Deceased Customer Notification form and present your identification details.
  
• TIP: You can download the Deceased Customer Notification form and checklist. Completing this form and ensuring you have the necessary documents will help to fast track the finalisation of the customer's accounts/services. Please note the completed Deceased Customer Notification form will still need to be presented to a branch with your identification details.

Step 2: 
The Commonwealth Bank will write to you

• If you are the executor/administrator/next-of-kin.
• We will provide a listing of the accounts and services held by the customer.
• Where possible, we will finalise the accounts/services at this point.
• Note: Each estate's circumstances will be taken into consideration and in certain cases there may be a requirement for a grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (LOA) document to be provided.  If we do not have all of the required information, we will let you know what we need.
• If you are not the executor/administrator/next-of-kin.
• We will acknowledge your advice and seek your assistance in contacting the executor/administrator/next of kin to contact the Bank.

Step 3: 
Provide us with any additional documents
(if required)

• Upon receipt of our requirements, we will finalise the estate’s accounts, or advise if further documentary requirements are needed.

Step 4: 
The Commonwealth Bank will release any funds and send a letter

• We will release any funds via direct credit to a nominated account or via a bank cheque.
• We will finalise the customer's accounts and services.
• You will receive a letter, with cheques (if applicable) and details of the finalised accounts and services.

Form

Purpose

Deceased Customer Notification

• To advise the Bank that a customer has passed away.
• To make a claim if applicable, for reimbursement or payment of a funeral account for the deceased customer.
• To authorise finalisation of the estate (if applicable).

Authority To Release Assets From A Deceased Estate

• For the Executor(s)/Administrator(s), immediate next-of-kin or beneficiary to authorise the Bank to:
  
  1. Release assets from the estate for payment of funeral expenses, or other debts held in the name of the deceased
  2. Release assets from the estate and disburse funds to the claimants
  3. Finalise the estate’s accounts

Consent by a Beneficiary/Executor/Next-of-Kin

•  For Executor(s)/Administrator(s), beneficiaries or immediate next-of-kin to authorise the Bank to release assets from the estate to a claimant.

Claim for Assets Held on Behalf of Deceased Customer

• To enable us to process a claim for you when you are an Executor/Administrator, beneficiary or immediate next-of-kin of the deceased.

Certified Copies Identification Form

• To enable us to verify a person’s identity where the person is not able to present original identification documents to the Bank.