What to do
Losing a loved one is never easy, and we understand that managing their estate can be an overwhelming and confusing experience. We're here to support you through every step of the process.
First Steps
When you're ready, we're here to help. Simply get in touch with us and we'll guide you through the next steps.
You can contact us by:
We also partner with the Australian Death Notification Service, which can help you notify multiple organisations of your loved one’s passing, including Queensland Country Bank. Please visit the Australian Death Notification Service website to learn more.
Documents and information to supply
After you notify us, we'll ask you to provide original or certified copies of certain documents so we can assist with the deceased's accounts. Every situation is different and the documents we request will vary depending on the circumstances, and we'll guide you through what's required.
Documents we may request include:
- Death Certificate
- Will
- Letters of Administration
- Grant of Probate
- Letter of Indemnity
We may also require contact details for those involved in managing the estate, such as the:
- Administrator(s)
- Solicitor(s)
- Executor(s)
- Deceased's Next of Kin
In addition to the above, we may request additional documentation and information where necessary.
What we will do
After you notify us of your loved one's passing, we will guide you through the process and help manage the next steps:
- We'll take immediate steps to help protect your loved one's accounts and cards.
- We will then confirm the identity of the Executor(s) or Administrator(s) of the estate.
- We’ll let the Executor(s) or Administrator(s) know what documents and information are required to progress the estate.
- Once we have received everything we need, we’ll work with the Executor(s) or Administrator(s) to finalise the estate’s accounts.
Other ways we can help
We're here to support you with other aspects of estate management, including:
- Helping to pay funeral expenses from the estate's accounts (where funds are available); or
- Opening an Estate account to help the Executor(s) or Administrator(s) manage and distribute estate funds.
If you have any questions or concerns, our team is here to help and support you throughout the process.
Glossary of Terms
You may come across the following terms during the estate management process:
Administrator
Where the deceased dies:
- Intestacy (without a Will); or
- Did not appoint an Executor; or
- The appointed Executor is unwilling or unable to act.
persons who have a beneficial interest in the Deceased Estate may apply to the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration. The Court then has the authority to appoint a person, referred to as the Administrator, to administer the estate.
Beneficiary
A person who is entitled to take a benefit under a Will or under the intestacy rules.
Death Certificate
A recognised identity document that informs government agencies and financial institutions of a person’s death.
Deceased Estate
The property and assets belonging to a person who has died is called their Deceased Estate. The Deceased Estate is held in trust from the death of the person until the transfer of the property and assets to the beneficiaries.
Estate Account
An account opened with a financial institution for the purposes of administering a deceased person’s estate. The account is usually opened by the person(s) named as the Administrator(s) or Executor(s) in the deceased’s Will.
Executor
The person appointed to administer the estate of a deceased person under their Will.
Grant of Probate
The formal document issued by the Supreme Court when the deceased left a valid Will, officially authorising the named Executor to manage the estate.
Intestacy
When a person dies without leaving a valid Will.
Letter of Indemnity
A document required to be completed by the Executor(s), Administrator(s) and other parties claiming an interest in the Deceased Estate in which the person signing the document agrees, without production of Probate or Letters of Administration, to: (1) indemnify Queensland Country Bank Limited against any loss, including direct and indirect damage, loss or cost it may suffer as a consequence of making payment from the deceased person’s account(s) to such persons represented as being entitled to a receipt of the payment; and (2) pay all debts and other expenses of the deceased person.
Letters of Administration
A document issued by the court appointing an Administrator to administer the Deceased Estate in circumstances where the deceased person died without a valid Will; or left a Will but no Executor(s) was appointed or an Executor(s) was appointed and has already died or is unwilling or unable to act.
Next of Kin
A person’s closest living relative either by blood or by marriage.
Will
A document which sets out a person’s wishes about how their property, assets, and dependents should be managed after they pass away.