Cancel or transfer services

Before you start

You will need the death certificate to cancel or transfer a service. It is usually done by the next of kin, spouse, or executor.

The process to cancel or transfer a service will differ from service to service.  

You will usually need:

• a certified copy of the death certificate
• the person's account details
• to contact or meet with the service.

If you want to transfer the services to your name, you will also need to prove your identity.

Knowing which services to cancel

While some people include information about which services they are members of in their will or with their solicitor, many people do not. 

It's not always clear which services people are members of, and it can be hard to know where to start. 

The government services you should consider notifying include:

• Centrelink 
• the Australian Electoral Commission (electoral roll)
• the Australian Taxation Office
• Transport for NSW (NSW licences)
• Opal cards at Transport for NSW.

Other services there might be accounts with include: 

• banks and insurance companies
• club memberships (for example, RSL, sports and fitness)
• phone and internet 
• energy providers (electricity and gas)
• digital subscriptions, social media and email.

Australian Death Notification Service

The Australian Death Notification Service is a digital service that lets you tell multiple organisations that someone has died. 

Participating organisations include:

• banks
• phone and internet providers
• utility companies

Those organisations will then get in touch within 10 working days to guide you through the next steps.

Notify organisations online that someone has died at the Australian Death Notification Service.