Executor's first 30 days: a practical checklist
Been named an executor in Australia and not sure where to start? Here's a practical, non-legal walkthrough of the first month.
Last changed: 19 October 2026Being an executor is as much an administrative role as it is a legal one. This isn't legal advice — for anything court-related, a solicitor is essential — but here's a practical shape for the first 30 days, based on what typically needs doing early.
Week 1: The immediate essentials
- Order several official copies of the death certificate — many institutions also accept certified copies
- Secure the person's home and property
- Locate the will, and check whether it names you formally as executor
- Notify immediate family and any joint account holders or business partners
- Redirect mail if needed, and check for anything time-sensitive (bills, renewals)
Want this done for you? See the Guided Inventory ↓
Weeks 2–3: Notifications and access
- Notify banks, super funds, and insurance providers of the death
- Begin the probate application if the estate requires it (not every estate does — a solicitor can confirm this)
- If a digital estate inventory exists, this is where it becomes invaluable — work through it account by account rather than trying to reconstruct the person's digital life from scratch
- Cancel or transfer subscriptions and recurring charges to stop unnecessary ongoing costs
- Notify government agencies — Services Australia (including Centrelink), the ATO and the electoral roll
Week 4 and beyond: Settling in for the longer process
Most estates take considerably longer than 30 days to fully administer — probate alone can take weeks to months depending on the state and complexity. By the end of the first month, a realistic goal is having secured the estate, notified the key institutions, and having a clear list of what's still outstanding.
Where most delays actually come from
In practice, the slowest parts of estate administration are rarely the legal steps — they're the discovery process. Tracking down every account, every subscription, every super fund, and every digital asset the person held, with no central record to work from. This is exactly the gap a digital estate inventory is designed to close.
Dealing with this after a death?
- How to close or access someone's bank accounts after they die
- What happens to myGov, Centrelink and the ATO after someone dies
- How to find and claim someone's super after they die
All 14 account-by-account guides →
The Guided Inventory includes a one-page Executor Guide — a clear, ordered handover so whoever you've named knows exactly what to do first, without having to piece it together themselves.
- Includes the $49 Digital Estate Kit
- Generates your finished inventory, ready to print
- Encrypted on your device with your own passphrase — we never see your answers
- Sign in with your email and a one-time code · 12 months’ access
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For anything specific to your situation — probate requirements, disputes, or complex estates — consult a qualified solicitor.