How To: Redirecting Mail of a Deceased Loved One

When someone close to you passes away, redirecting their mail is unlikely to be at the top of your to do list.  However, unless you live at the same residence as the deceased this is something that needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later.

Why mail redirection is important

It can be hard to comprehend, but when someone dies, their bills don’t automatically stop. So, if you have been nominated as the executor of someone’s Will or appointed as the administrator by the Supreme Court, it will be your responsibility to notify any of the deceased’s service providers and pay any outstanding bills and debts prior to providing the beneficiaries of the estate with their allotted assets.

Redirect mail to your residence

If you don’t reside at the same address as the deceased, it’s advisable to redirect their mail to your home address. This will enable you to stay abreast of all incoming bills and notifications and enable you to start the long-process of administering the deceased estate. 

How much does mail redirection cost?

To lodge a mail redirection application for someone who has died, you need to visit an Australia Post office in person. Under normal circumstances, the cost of redirecting mail within Australia is usually $33 per month (or $19.80 concession) for those moving addresses. However, Australia Post offers free 12-month mail redirection for special circumstances. You may be eligible for free mail redirection if you’re in charge of a deceased estate, or are a victim of domestic violence or a natural disaster within Australia.

In the case of a deceased estate, you must be:

• the executor of the Will OR
• the administrator of the estate OR
• a family member, if where the deceased passes away without a Will (intestate).

What to bring to the Post Office

When attending the Post Office you must bring the following 3 items:

1. A completed mail redirection form which may be downloaded from the Australia Post website or collected at the post office itself.  

2. Proof of identity - a document with your name and Australian residential address (like a utility notice), and a document with your signature (eg. a Keypass or Statutory Declaration).

3. A copy of the grant of Probate or Letter of Administration to prove you are the person responsible for administering the deceased estate.

If you wish to extend the mail redirection service beyond the free 12 month period, you can do so, but you will be required to pay the abovementioned monthly fees.

Wrap up

When a loved one passes away, in addition to arranging their funeral and grieving their loss, there are many administrative tasks to complete. Redirecting their mail is one of them. Thankfully Australia Post offers this service for free for 12 months. This way you can set up the redirection and then deal with each bill and service provider as the mail arrives over the course of the following year.