When someone close to you dies, there is a lot to think about at an already difficult time. If you're the deceased person's partner, next of kin, or close friend, you may find yourself responsible for a long list of practical tasks that you need to complete while still grieving. Admin is not easy even at the best of times, so make sure to take care or yourself. While every situation is different, there are some key people and organisations that need to be notified as soon as possible to ensure legal requirements are met and financial affairs can be sorted out.
Before you begin making calls and completing paperwork, remember that you do not have to do everything on your own. Do you have someone in mind that could help you notify family, friends and organisations? Having a trusted person help communicate the news means you won't have to have as many difficult conversations on repeat.
Below, you can find a step-by-step guide to help you work through the process, along with links to some helpful organisations that can make it all a bit easier for you.
First steps immediately after a death
Who you contact first will depend on if the person dies in your presence, and where the person dies.
- If the person dies in a rest home, hospice or hospital, notify the medical staff on duty.
- If the person dies at home and the death was expected, contact their doctor.
- If the death was unexpected, call emergency services and ask for an ambulance and police officer.
- If the death occurs overseas, contact the nearest New Zealand embassy for assistance.
Before contacting banks, government agencies, or other organisations, take the time to notify the people closest to the person who has died. This may include:
- Immediate family members
- Close friends
- Whānau
- The person's partner
- Religious or community groups that were important to them
Registering the death
Deaths need to be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages within three working days of the burial or cremation. There is no fee to register a death.
If you’re using a funeral director, they should take care of this for you.
Find the will and executor
If you are unsure where their will is held, or if they even had one at all, you can try:
- Asking the person’s lawyer
- Asking their family members
- Asking a trustee organisation, such as the Public Trust
- Asking a lawyer to check the NZ Will Registry
The will names an executor, which is the person authorised to manage the person’s affairs, pay any debts, and distribute assets according to their wishes.
Notify banks and financial providers
Contact the person's bank as soon as possible. Banks will usually:
- Freeze individual bank accounts
- Stop direct debits and automatic payments
- Cancel or restrict access to credit cards
- Explain what documentation is needed to release funds
You should also contact:
- KiwiSaver providers to arrange payment of funds to the estate or eligible beneficiaries
- Life insurance providers
- Funeral insurance providers
- Any other investment or finance companies the person used
Each provider will advise what documents are required, such as a death certificate or proof of authority from the estate.
Stop pensions and benefits
If the person was receiving a New Zealand Superannuation payment, Veteran's Pension or other benefit, notify Work and Income as soon as possible. Continuing payments after someone has died can result in money needing to be repaid later.
You should also contact Inland Revenue to update the person's tax affairs.
Personal documents
Depending on the person's circumstances, you may need to contact:
- Passport Office to cancel their passport
- New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regarding their driver's licence
Firearms licence holders
If the deceased held a firearms licence, someone must contact Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority as soon as practical after the death.
The authority will explain the requirements for securing and managing any firearms in the estate.
Contact employers and property-related organisations
If the person was employed, notify their employer. They can:
- Arrange final pay and leave entitlements
- Discuss any workplace life insurance or death benefits
- Provide information about KiwiSaver contributions
If the person was renting a property, contact:
- The landlord or property manager
- Tenancy Services if required, including arrangements relating to bond refunds
Manage insurance, utilities and memberships
There are often many organisations that need to be updated, including:
- House, contents, vehicle and health insurers
- Electricity, gas and internet providers
- Telephone companies
- Subscription services
- Professional memberships and clubs
Don't forget digital accounts
Many people leave behind an extensive digital footprint. Consider notifying or closing:
- Email accounts
- Social media accounts. Some social media platforms allow accounts to be memorialised or permanently removed once evidence of the death is provided.
A simpler way
Working through a long list of organisations can feel overwhelming. There are services that can help by notifying multiple organisations at once. myTrove is a free service that works closely with government and private organisations to start the accounts closure process with each notified organisation.
Depending on the service and participating organisations, this may include:
- Government agencies
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Utility providers
Using a central notification service can save time and reduce the stress of repeating the same information to multiple organisations.
The Skylight Trust also has a helpful checklist to help you navigate through the difficult road following the death of a partner.
Take it one step at a time
Settling someone's affairs rarely happens overnight. Focus first on immediate legal and practical requirements, then work through financial, government, property and digital notifications when you're able.
Keeping a checklist and recording who you've contacted, when, and what documents they've requested can make the process more manageable during what is often a very emotional time.
Updated: 22 Jul 2026